Takeda Pharmaceutical Company has announced the official groundbreaking of its first building to follow the Singapore Green Mark Zero Energy certification scheme within the company's global manufacturing and supply network in Woodlands, Singapore.
The building, a US$14 million expansion of Takeda's manufacturing operations in Singapore, is the first 'net zero carbon emissions' building in its global network and a first-of-its-kind investment within the biotechnology industry in Singapore.
"The groundbreaking of our first zero energy building demonstrates Takeda's commitment to deliver on our environmental goals," said Thomas Wozniewski, global manufacturing and supply officer of Takeda. "Takeda achieved carbon neutrality in 2020, now we are focused on our next step to become net zero by 2040. We are honoured to have the opportunity to work with our partners in the region and to support the Singapore government's efforts in tackling climate change."
Takeda's new zero energy building is planned for occupancy by 2022
"Singapore is an important hub for Takeda. In addition to serving as our regional headquarters, our Asia Pacific Area Office is also based here. We are excited to celebrate this momentous groundbreaking event, as this milestone is a remarkable testimonial to the strides Singapore has made to ensure a safe and sustainable environment for our employees, patients and partners," said Ricardo Marek, president, Growth and Emerging Markets Business Unit, Takeda. "Singapore will continue to play an essential role in our objective to increase patient access to Takeda's life-changing treatments across the region, and to promote sustainable growth of our business and people, all while helping to play a role in safeguarding our planet."
Located next to Takeda's biologics manufacturing plant in JTC's Woodlands Wafer Fab Park, Takeda's new zero energy building is planned for occupancy by 2022.
The building follows standards from the Singapore Building Construction Authority's (BCA) Green Mark (GM) certification scheme and sets the bar for green energy design. The GM scheme is an internationally recognised green building rating tool tailored for the tropical climate to evaluate a building's environmental impact and performance throughout its lifecycle, and is aligned with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.
The approval processes includes the design, piling, construction, occupation and completion phases. The 60-hectare Woodlands Wafer Fab Park caters to the stringent operating requirements of global semiconductor and biomedical firms.
"Takeda's new zero emissions building in Woodlands Wafer Fab Park is an environmentally sustainable advanced manufacturing support facility that complements our efforts in greening Singapore's industrial estates," said Cheong Wee Lee, director, Biomedical and Electronics Cluster, JTC. "Such close partnerships with companies are critical to our success in reducing Singapore's carbon footprint and creating a conducive work environment."
To achieve the zero energy building status, comprehensive energy studies were conducted to consider Singapore's tropical, very hot and humid equatorial climate.
The project includes over 660 solar photo voltaic (PV) panels to fully offset the building's energy consumption, CO2 sensors to regulate fresh air demand, a hybrid AC system with assistance of ceiling fans and thermal diffusers to optimise energy usage and improve air circulation and air flow to ensure user well-being. Additionally, the building also utilises rainwater harvesting and the use of green concrete.
As a science-based company, Takeda is committed to preserving and protecting the health of the planet. This groundbreaking is an important step in Takeda's sustainability efforts, rooted in the company's purpose of creating better health for patients and a brighter future for the world.
