The Chennai based pharma major Orchid Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Ltd have been conferred with an award for Environment and Community Service for the year 2003, for its efforts to minimize industrial pollution and for its corporate commitment towards the society.

Instituted by the Rotary Club of Madras, the award was received by K.Raghavendra Rao, managing director of Orchid from D.Sudhakara Reddy, president of Rotary Club of Madras, at a function held here in Chennai, this week.

Speaking at the function, Raghavendra Rao said Orchid was driven by a corporate philosophy that places people first before its products and profits. The company has invested more than $ 14 million to set up advanced environment friendly manufacturing premises. Orchid was the first pharmaceutical company in the country to pioneer and strive towards the concept of ‘zero effluent discharge’.

Now the liquid effluents discharged by the company undergo various treatment processes to convert and separate as harmless waste and the recycled water is again used for various in-house operations. With a view to minimize solid wastes, the company uses solid effluents for bio-composting to produce manure, proven as a non-toxic, safe and effective manure, said Rao.

It is to be noted Orchid is claimed to have manufacturing facilities which are the first and among the few 'zero discharge' pharmaceutical facilities in India. Orchid is also the first Pharmaceutical Company in India to have been awarded the coveted ISO 14001 quality certification for its environmental management systems.

Orchid Trust, the social development arm of Orchid, undertakes community development in seven villages in and around its manufacturing facility in Aalathur near Chennai, besides sponsoring schools, undertaking various healthcare care programmes, self employment, capacity building, youth development etc.