Lilly’s Limerick site achieves LEED Gold certification, first facility worldwide to do so

LILLY'S Limerick manufacturing site has reached a major sustainability milestone with the achievement of LEED Gold Certification, becoming the first Lilly facility worldwide to meet the internationally recognised standard for green building design and operation.

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) system recognises excellence in areas such as energy efficiency, water conservation, waste reduction and indoor environmental quality, placing the Limerick campus at the forefront of sustainable biopharmaceutical manufacturing.

The state-of-the-art facility integrates energy-efficient design, high-performance building systems, renewable energy planning and a strong focus on minimising reliance on fossil fuels.

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The certification demonstrates that next-generation GMP manufacturing facilities can be developed with sustainability embedded from the outset, without compromising on quality, resilience or operational performance.

Construction of Lilly Limerick began in January 2023 and the site is on track to produce biologic active ingredients for the company’s Alzheimer’s disease portfolio and other advanced medicines.

As a fully integrated digital campus, it incorporates the latest automation, manufacturing execution systems and data technologies to ensure both product quality and environmental efficiency, while also supporting Lilly’s wider 2030 Sustainability Goals.

A key element in securing LEED Gold status has been the site’s innovative Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS), designed to manage rainwater in a way that closely mimics natural hydrological processes.

Rather than relying solely on conventional drainage, the system allows rainfall to infiltrate the ground, helping to protect local aquifers and preserve natural water cycles.

Vegetated swales across the campus slow surface water flow and promote infiltration, while during periods of heavy rainfall water is directed to a detention basin where it is temporarily stored and released gradually back into the ground.

An additional infiltration basin provides extra capacity during extreme weather events, further reducing flood risk.

The benefits of SUDS include improved water quality through natural filtration, reduced pressure on traditional drainage networks, enhanced biodiversity through green corridors, and long-term cost savings through reduced infrastructure and maintenance needs.

The achievement further strengthens Limerick’s reputation as a centre of excellence for sustainable, high-value manufacturing, demonstrating that environmental leadership and world-class production can go hand in hand.

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