Aspen Australia
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Pharmaceuticals
Aspen commenced operations in Australia in May 2001 and since then has acquired many established brands of medicines. They operate four manufacturing plants in Australia. Bought the Sigma pharmaceuticals business in 2011, taking over the Herron brand. Aspen acquired a portfolio of 25 products from GSK for the Australian market in 2012. Sold Herron to Perrigo in 2014.
Company Ownership
Aspen Asia Pacific Pty Ltd | AUS | website | ||||
Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Ltd ![]() owns 100% of Aspen Asia Pacific Pty Ltd |
ZAF | website | ||||
Pharmaceutical manufacturer Based in South Africa, Aspen are Africa's largest pharmaceutical manufacturer, and the ninth largest pharmaceutical company in the world. Aspen has businesses in Australia, India, South Africa, the United Kingdom and a start-up operation in the United States. Products available in more than 150 countries. GlaxoSmithKline acquired a 19% stake in 2009, which it reduced to 12% in 2013, and further reduced to 6% in 2015. |
Company Assessment
PRAISE | CRITICISM | INFORMATION | ||
Aspen Asia Pacific Pty Ltd | ||||
Signatory to the Australian Packaging Covenant, a voluntary agreement to encourage waste minimisation.
Source: Australian Packaging Covenant (2020) |
Named and shamed in the 2014 CHOICE Shonky Awards. S-26 Gold Toddler and Junior powdered milk formula proclaims it provides 'nutritional support for young kids', even though health professionals advise that toddler and junior milks aren't needed for healthy kids over the age of one. It used the following wording in marketing to retailers in an industry trade magazine: 'Keep mums buying with our extended range of nutritious milk drinks'.
Source: Choice (2014)
In 2014 and 2012 the Therapeutic Goods Administration's Complaints Resolution Panel upheld complaints about ads by this company on the grounds that they breached advertising codes. The Panel requested this company withdraw the ads and not to use representations in the ads again.
Source: TGA Complaints Resolution Panel (2014)
This company is a signatory to the Manufacturers and Importers Agreement 1992 (MAIF), a voluntary self-regulatory code of conduct between the manufacturers and importers of infant formula in Australia. The MAIF Agreement aims to contribute to the provision of safe and adequate nutrition for infants, by the protection and promotion of breastfeeding and by ensuring the proper use of breast milk substitutes, when they are necessary, on the basis of adequate information through appropriate marketing and distribution.
Source: Australian Government Dept of Health (2019) |
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Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Ltd | ||||
In 2019, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to manage and govern freshwater resources. Responding companies are scored on six key metrics: transparency; governance & strategy; measuring & monitoring; risk assessment; targets & goals; and value chain engagement. This company received a CDP Water Security Score of B-.
Source: CDP (2019) |
This company is named and shamed in IBFAN's 2017 report, 'Breaking the Rules, Stretching the Rules 2017', evidence of violations of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, compiled from June 2014 to June 2017. The report covers 792 Code violations from 79 countries and by 28 companies.
Source: IBFAN (2017)
This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 33/100 in the Pharmaceuticals category of the 2019 SAM Corporate Sustainability Assessment, an annual evaluation of companies' sustainability practices. The rankings are based on an analysis of corporate economic, environmental and social performance, assessing issues such as corporate governance, risk management, environmental reporting, climate strategy, human rights and labour practices.
Source: S&P Global (2019) |
Follow the link to view relevant documents which support this company's sustainability claims.
Source: company website (2015)
The United Nations Global Compact asks companies to embrace, support and enact, within their sphere of influence, a set of 10 values in the areas of human rights, labour standards, the environment, and anti-corruption. However it's non-binding nature has been widely criticised, and many signatory corporations continue to violate the Compact's values.
Source: UN Global Compact (2020)
In 2019, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change risk. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Climate Change Score of C.
Source: CDP (2019) |
Company Details
Type | Wholly-owned subsidiary |
Employees | 823 in 2013 |
Aus Manufacturing | Yes |
Contact Details
Address | 34-36 Chandos St, St Leonards, NSW , 2065, Australia |
Phone | 02 8436 8300 |
Fax | 02 9901 3540 |
aspen@aspenpharmacare.com.au | |
Website | www.aspenpharma.com.au |