Sanofi and GDF Suez expand energy collaboration

Sanofi has expanded its three-year contract with energy firm GDF Suez in order to further enhance the energy efficiency and sustainability of its global network.

The new five-year agreement will involve the implementation of renewable energy production and distribution system projects across Sanofi's industrial sites, including those in the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, China and Singapore.

All of Sanofi's production lines – including chemicals, pharmaceuticals, vaccines, biotechnology and animal health – will be covered by the contract, thus aiding the firm's efforts to reduce its energy consumption by 20 percent by 2020.

The companies commenced their collaboration in March 2012 and have rolled out five projects in France, Italy and Germany, including the installation of cogeneration or trigeneration gas turbines and the construction of biomass boilers.

Christopher Viehbacher, chief executive officer of Sanofi, said: "Thanks to the global footprint of Sanofi and GDF Suez, this innovative partnership enables us to improve our competitiveness and achieve our environmental objectives."

Headquartered in Paris, Sanofi operates 112 industrial sites in 40 countries and employs more than 110,000 people worldwide.