sustainability

��ֳ� net-zero targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative: a critical step in our sustainability agenda

Andrea_Puletto — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 08:53:01 +0000

��ֳ� net-zero targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative: a critical step in our sustainability agenda

Veronique Toully, Sustainability, Corporate Affairs and Risks

Andrea_Puletto Thu 28/11/2024 - 09:53

Today, I am proud to announce that our new carbon emissions reduction targets have been officially validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), a significant achievement that underscores our commitment to sustainable impact and our dedication to reducing our environmental footprint.

Specifically, our validated net-zero targets aim to reduce absolute scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 90% by 2045 (from our 2019 baseline), ensuring we are aligned with the latest climate science to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement and achieving net-zero before 2050.

This is an important step in a collection of actions we are taking to minimise our environmental footprint. We have started and will continue to embed green aspects and considerations from the very start of the creation of each of our medicines. And we are working closely with our suppliers to set and validate science-based targets for carbon emissions, supporting their shift towards a low-carbon economy.

At ��ֳ� we understand the intrinsic link between the health of people and the planet and believe that the pharmaceutical industry has a critical role to play. Healthcare systems have a large carbon footprint, accounting for an estimated 4.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and of those about 1/3 comes from medicines.

We are committed to demonstrating that business success and environmental stewardship are not mutually exclusive but rather mutually reinforcing. Setting science-based targets ensures our growth is sustainable by reducing costs, boosting investor confidence and enhancing our competitiveness and innovation. Sustainability is at the core of our operations, driving us to positively impact society and secure ��ֳ�'s long-term success.

This validation by the SBTi is the testament to the collective work and achievements in our environmental sustainability journey so far. It represents a pivotal moment, elevating our commitment towards a more sustainable future. Together, with the support of our colleagues, partners and stakeholders, we can achieve our vision of creating a healthier, more sustainable world.

“Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing our planet today, causing devastating impacts such as extreme weather events, sea level rise, and loss of biodiversity. Achieving net-zero emissions is crucial in mitigating the climate crisis. We firmly believe that it is our responsibility to lead by example and take concrete steps towards a sustainable and resilient future. By setting ambitious, science-based targets, we aim to significantly reduce our carbon footprint and contribute to global efforts to mitigate the climate crisis.” Our CEO, Jean-Christophe Tellier, said. 

We invite you to join us on our journey toward a sustainable future. Stay connected and learn more about our initiatives by following me and ��ֳ� on LinkedIn and visiting our website at Reducing emissions | ��ֳ�.

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��ֳ�'s New Supplier Recognition Program: A Commitment to Environmental Responsibility

Vandenbruaene Nathalie — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 13:50:04 +0000

��ֳ�'s New Supplier Recognition Program: A Commitment to Environmental Responsibility

Geert Behets, Sustainable Procurement & Risk

Vandenbruaene … Mon 20/11/2023 - 14:50

At ��ֳ�, we understand the intrinsic link between people’s health and the health of the Planet. We have set absolute targets to minimize our environmental footprint from our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, water withdrawal and waste generation, committing to accelerate our climate target toward Net Zero through the Sciences Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

As we continue delivering essential medicines, we recognize the importance of environmental responsibility. For the activities we do not directly control, we are inviting our suppliers and external partners to join our approach and define ambitious greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets to address the climate crisis. It's with this spirit of collaboration in mind that we are introducing our new Supplier Recognition Program for our partners.

By 2025, we are aiming for a 60% of our GHG emissions from purchased goods and services to align with science-based targets.
Ambitious? Absolutely.
Achievable? With the collaborative spirit of our suppliers, we think so!

Everything and everyone in today’s world is interconnected – we must all act towards a fairer and greener future, together. We understand that it's not just about setting targets but also about guiding and supporting the journey. Through our 'Carbon Maturity' assessment for example, we are able to see where our suppliers stand in their own carbon reduction voyage and help them to do even better.

But here's the exciting part. In our quest to highlight the positives, we're rolling out a new non-financial recognition program. Think of it as our virtual acknowledgement to our partners which go above and beyond to contribute to our sustainability objectives

We are offering two distinct badges:

Sustainability Partner: This accolade is reserved for suppliers who've shown a commitment to the Science-Based Targets initiative and have achieved an EcoVadis score surpassing 55/100 across all metrics.
Best Sustainability Improvement: A special nod to our partners who've displayed commendable acceleration in their sustainability journey, achieving significant milestones in a condensed timeframe.

It's more than just badges; it's a testament to our collaborative ethos. At ��ֳ�, we believe in the power of partnerships, and our suppliers are integral to our mission.

Together, we can, and we will, create an impact that echoes into the future.

To dive deeper into how sustainability plays a role in our Responsible Procurement initiative, click here.

This initiative is one of several we have in the pipeline to motivate our suppliers towards our sustainability goals.

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Helping to advance tomorrow’s care equitably

Vanco Vlastimil (��ֳ� S.A.) — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 10:07:33 +0000

Helping to advance tomorrow’s care equitably

Véronique Toully, Sustainability, Corporate Affairs and Risk

Vanco Vlastimi… Mon 27/02/2023 - 11:07

We believe we have a responsibility to help advance tomorrow’s care together – to contribute to a more sustainable future for people, communities and the planet alike. Last week’s publication of our 2022 Integrated Annual Report – Together advancing tomorrow’s care – is a mark of that commitment, showing our continued progress to create value for those we serve, now and into the future.

Patients are at the heart of everything we do at ��ֳ�. In 2022, we touched the lives of over 3.4 million patients by offering impactful medicines to communities around the globe, so that more people can live their best possible lives.

How do we get medicines to those who need them most? Sustainable access is a cornerstone of how we can make this happen. Our ambition is that by 2030, all people who need our medicines in countries where we operate have access to them in a manner that is viable for society, our investors and ��ֳ�. In addition, we aim to improve access to quality care and medicines for people with epilepsy in low- and middle-income geographies around the globe. These commitments stretch from how we provide and measure access to our solutions, to how we improve health equity among diverse patient groups such as the U.S., to reaching more people living with epilepsy in low- and medium income geographies.

Providing access to our solutions

As our Access Coverage Performance Index shows, more patients were able to secure reimbursement to ��ֳ� medicines in countries where we operate, with many of these reimbursement decisions happening faster than an industry benchmark (measured by our Time to Access Index). By working closely with healthcare systems, payers and partners to improve access to our solutions, we can have greater impact on patients and society – with access strategies integrated across our life cycle, from innovation and clinical development through to delivering for people who need our medicines. Every decision is made with an eye to how it affects those who put their trust in us: the people who rely on our medicines, families and caregivers, healthcare providers and payers, without losing sight of the financial performance that is needed for us to continue to innovate while rewarding our investors. This is a complex equation that requires the commitment of the whole organization to solve, as well as a constructive dialogue with decision makers in healthcare systems!

We recognize that in some healthcare systems, different kinds of coverage or high out-of-pocket costs may throw up further barriers to access, and we continuously look to find solutions and offer options like patient support and patient assistance programs to enable people who need our medicines to access them. Last year, we supported over 95,000 patients in the U.S. alone through these patient assistance programs.

Expanding access in low and middle-income geographies

Out of the 36 countries where ��ֳ� is present, eight are classified as low- and middle-income countries, where our access initiatives are tailored to the specific status of their healthcare system. 2022 brought the launch of our first social business pilot in Mumbai, India – where an estimated 144,000 people are living with epilepsy, and where persistent diagnostic and treatment gaps exist linked to awareness, healthcare capacity and medicine availability. Working together with local organizations and practitioners, health camps regularly take place directly in the community. Here, patients have easier access to diagnosis tools, and can benefit from tele-counseling services, home delivery of medicines, and discounted anti-seizure medications. The approach is set to serve as a social business model for improving epilepsy care in underserved communities in other geographies, and we plan to double activities in Mumbai through 2023.

Our philanthropic approach through the ��ֳ� Innovation for Health Equity Fund, managed by the King Baudouin Foundation, complements our social business efforts, with a particular focus on health system strengthening and improving epilepsy care in underserved populations. This includes supporting the relationship between the University of Ghent and the University of Rwanda to train health professionals, so more communities can have access to qualified neurological care. A new program to train physicians as neurologists welcomed its first cohort of physicians in 2022, with the aim of training 16 neurologists in the next five years.

Improving health equity among diverse groups

Health equity is also about deepening our local connections in the communities where we operate. This starts with understanding how diverse patient groups experience care and treatment, to better understand where social determinants of health may have exacerbated health inequities among historically underserved communities and define targeted approaches. In 2022, we continued to invest in social research and expanded work with patients in the Hispanic community in the U.S. with a pilot on epilepsy care. You can learn more about these efforts, as well as our U.S. pricing and access in our latest U.S. Sustainable Access and Pricing Transparency Report, published alongside the Integrated Annual Report.

Assessing how to move sustainable access even further

In 2022, we launched a new Sustainable Access Framework to guide our planning and execution to deliver better access to our solutions for people who need them, now and into the future. Our teams are trained to ask questions, ranging from which barriers are currently preventing patients from accessing the care they need, to how the existing health ecosystem infrastructure and funding mechanisms may impact on feasibility of solutions and spread these insights into the organization so that they can be acted upon. This in-depth understanding of existing barriers should improve the dialogue with local stakeholders to create innovate pathways and improve access in a way which is viable for society, our shareholders and ��ֳ�.

Every day, all of us at ��ֳ� work to honour our commitment to deliver moments that matter for people impacted by severe diseases, and to create sustainable value, now and into the future. Guided by impactful partnerships, a legacy of more than 90 years of scientific excellence and pioneering research, and a relentless drive to launch innovative medicines, we can look towards the future with confidence. Today, we are proud to be on that journey together, and to be progressing on our commitment to ensuring equitable access to medicines, now and into the future.

To learn more about how we are delivering strong financial and extra-financial results for all our stakeholders, check out the ��ֳ� Integrated Annual Report 2022.

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Comment:

Posted by Wolfgang Noack, 13 March 2023

Hi ucb.com owner, Your posts are always insightful and valuable.

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Energize: a collaborative step forward to protecting the Planet

Vandenbruaene Nathalie — Tue, 15 Nov 2022 08:56:58 +0000

Energize: a collaborative step forward to protecting the Planet

Anne-Laure Demarcy, Environmental Sustainability

Vandenbruaene … Tue 15/11/2022 - 09:56

At ��ֳ�, we are well aware that society faces significant challenges, from the rise of social inequalities to climate change, from access to healthcare to protecting human rights. We also know that not one single societal actor can achieve any big change alone; collaboration and dialogue among different stakeholders are key because every action is interconnected.

Collaboration is also one of the priorities of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) which is ongoing in Sharm el-Sheikh. Joining the Energize program as one of the 15 sponsor companies goes exactly in this direction, reinforcing our ambition to collaborate with our partners, united by the same environmental goals. Launched at COP26, Energize is a collective effort by the pharmaceutical industry and Schneider Electric to increase access to decarbonization solutions for suppliers, by providing them with tools and guidance to overcome the energy market barriers they may face, as well as providing advice and access to renewable energy purchase opportunities.

This initiative represents another step towards protecting the health of the planet, for which we set ambitious targets as we acknowledge the intrinsic relationship between human health – at the core of what we aim to improve at ��ֳ� – and environmental issues. We take a long-term and multistakeholder view of our business activities, considering their overall environmental footprint alongside our growth, across all our end-to-end value chain.

Read more about the Energize program. Read more about ��ֳ�’s commitments to protecting the health of the Planet.

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Making an impact in our communities

eCMSadmin — Wed, 08 Dec 2021 16:00:00 +0000

Making an impact in our communities

Xavier Hormaechea, ��ֳ� Community Health Fund

eCMSadmin Wed 08/12/2021 - 17:00

At ��ֳ�, we believe that companies must play a role in ensuring a sustainable future. And that means doing our part to help build a future for the most vulnerable in our communities. Beyond our business, we must seek to support those most at-risk in our communities.

Our goal is to work toward healthier communities in the countries where we operate. And we take a holistic view of physical and psychosocial well-being beyond our therapeutic areas when we talk about health.

While the global pandemic has affected us all deeply, analysis tells us that adolescents and young people are particularly affected. Family stress and social isolation only exacerbated their emotional difficulties. In addition to the fear of the virus and the deep uncertainty brought about by misinformation, many face economic insecurity.

Supporting those most at risk

The ��ֳ� Community Health Fund is a key part of our community involvement. The Fund is set up to support young people from the most vulnerable communities where ��ֳ� is active. And that includes racial and ethnic minorities, refugees and asylum seekers, those with disabilities and specific health conditions, those facing difficulties due to sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and those who are socio-economically disadvantaged. So far we have been able to support nearly 100 projects since 2020 globally aimed at positively impacting the lives of those in our communities.

Our first call for projects, which closed in September 2020, aimed to support organizations and projects contributing to understanding and reducing the medium- and long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health of vulnerable young people. The response was phenomenal: 170 applications for support projects and 43 research projects from 24 different countries. We awarded a total of EUR 2,4 Million ($3 Million) to 44 inspiring support projects and six inspiring research projects.

Contributing around the world
Our second call for projects, which closed in July 2021, focused on the mental health of vulnerable young people aged 15 to 24.

Again, the response was phenomenal: 145 applications were received from organizations and projects positively impacting young people’s mental health. We’re proud to reveal that we are contributing grants to a total of 49 organizations and projects, grants of between €30,000 ($36,000) and €50,000 ($60,000) each.

From ‘Promoting Agency and Resilience Among Girls (PARAG) in urban slums in India’ through Mexico City’s ‘Fundación 5XDÍA AC’ to ‘Belgium Plays 4 Peace’, our grants are reaching organizations and projects around the world.

The size and broad reach of applications highlight how much young people across all corners of the globe need support. The pandemic continues to impact them. And while we are on the journey to recovery, recovering will take time. At ��ֳ�, we feel nobody should be left behind. Working together, we can build a stronger and more resilient future for all.

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Innovating for a better future

eCMSadmin — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 10:30:00 +0000

Innovating for a better future

Stéphane Drouin, Intellectual Property

eCMSadmin Sun 26/04/2020 - 12:30

Article co-authored by Stéphane Drouin, Intellectual Property, and Véronique Toully, Sustainability

Today, all of us, not just those in the pharmaceutical industry, are engaged in a fight against a virus which has put a large part of our world on hold. Our industry is familiar with these kinds of fights, but the need for rapid reaction, the worldwide nature of the outbreak, and diagnosis challenges in this particular fight are a first for our era.

As a result, this pandemic has increased the visibility of many global challenges and we, as a company and as society, need to draw the lessons from this crisis and find the best ways to address these challenges together.

First, we are seeing that the human health and the environmental challenges we have to deal with are interdependent. This pandemic has once more put the spotlight on the extent to which we negatively impact our environment and conversely, the extent to which the imbalances we are creating in the environment can impact us. The concept and the need for a “One Health” approach has never been so relevant.

Recognising this interdependence, ��ֳ�, like many companies, began taking steps to minimize our environmental footprint several years ago. As a company, we have made progress, but there are still many hurdles on the road towards a green future for all. These call on the human brain to rethink the way we do just about everything and, critically, to come up with new and better ways of doing things. In one word, a green(er) future also calls for more innovation.

The past decade has seen a significant development of “green” technologies, for instance in the field of water cleansing and renewable energies. This can be measured by looking at trends in patent data. The number of patent applications relating to renewable energies increased by more than 500% between 2002 and 2012 and still continues to grow today. In 2019 alone, close to 3,000 new patent applications were filed for renewable energies: this means more than 3,000 new inventions which have the potential to make us greener.

Second, it is critical that we continue to innovate in green technologies and, critically for our industry, to meet patients’ unmet needs. This means discovering new solutions for conditions which are already the subject of substantial R&D efforts and to meet the sudden needs which emerge from a pandemic like the one we are facing today. Both require all the resources, tools and expertise – all the power of our innovation engine – to focus on finding a cure.

In the present circumstances, the relevance of a stable and reliable intellectual property (IP) framework is critical. This may not seem obvious to many, especially as some countries or NGOs ask companies to waive the intellectual property rights for treatments which do not exist yet. The biopharmaceutical industry knows the challenges ahead: companies have not only stepped up their efforts, they also have committed to work with all stakeholders to make these medicines and vaccines accessible and affordable so that future treatments and vaccines reach those who need them. In the meantime, these calls ignore that a functioning IP framework has contributed to build the innovation engine we all need to be running full speed to outpace the pandemic.

This same framework has contributed significantly to the creation and accumulation of all the knowledge that we are now able to apply to this new virus, including most of the treatments now being tested against Covid-19. This system is crucial for companies to be able to invest every day in researching and developing innovative medicines to improve the lives of patients. Without the IP system, no company could shoulder the risks of the R&D required to continue the fight in the long term.

This is precisely why the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) chose “Innovate for a Green Future” as the theme for World IP Day 2020. Intellectual property plays a key role in fostering innovation and making these new technologies available for us to contribute to better health and a better future with the limited resources of our planet.

At ��ֳ�, we are convinced that addressing these challenges and being successful as a company go hand in hand. We therefore see sustainability as our business approach and minimizing our environmental footprint is one of the key priority pillars that we are focusing on.

All of us are still trying to manage the ongoing crisis. Yet, at all levels, we are already starting to look at the medium-to-long-term impact of this pandemic and at what “the world after” will – and should – look like.

The decisions we make today will shape what our tomorrow will be. This has always been true for our R&D efforts and it is clear now that this is true for all the business decisions we make. Companies, governments, international organizations, all have a key role to play. We must aim higher and strive to exit this pandemic stronger than before. To achieve this, we must continue to innovate, in the labs and in policy, to deliver on our commitments to patients and society in a sustainable way.

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��ֳ� & AIESEC: Partnering for a sustainable future

eCMSadmin — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 09:00:00 +0000

��ֳ� & AIESEC: Partnering for a sustainable future

Jonathan Berlan, Talent Acquisition, Development & Learning

eCMSadmin Tue 11/02/2020 - 10:00

At ��ֳ�, we are focused on the future. That’s why we have built a strong partnership with AIESEC, a global movement of young leaders, and are focusing on creating a sustainable future for all.

Our nine-year collaboration with AIESEC has been mutually beneficial. To date, we have welcomed more than 150 AIESEC trainees to ��ֳ� and we currently have 38 dynamic young people working in our offices in Belgium, Germany and the US.

For the trainees, it is opportunity to develop valuable experience in an international business environment, working with a company that strives to improve the lives of people with severe diseases.

By delivering medicines and solutions valued by patients, we aim to make the world a better place – which is something that AIESEC trainees find inspiring and meaningful. More than 40% of AIESEC trainees stay in ��ֳ� after their traineeship is complete.

For ��ֳ�, there are also clear benefits to this partnership. We know that businesses have a role to play in tackling the challenges facing the world – from climate change to rising inequalities. We are working to integrate sustainability within our business, focusing on four pillars: innovation in R&D, access to medicines, employee health and well-being, and reducing our environmental footprint.

Our AIESEC trainees contribute their energy and skills to our daily work but also help us to focus on the future. For many younger people (and some older ones too, of course), sustainability is at the core of everything they do – it is not a peripheral issue, and never an afterthought. By inviting future leaders into our teams, and engaging with AIESEC more broadly, we can sharpen our focus on the long-term issues that matter to all of us.

The AIESEC conference is another opportunity for ��ֳ� to hear from young people from more than 120 countries and to discuss our vision of sustainability. We look forward to this event and to our continued partnership with AIESEC as we continue to work together towards a healthier future.

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sustainability

��ֳ� net-zero targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative: a critical step in our sustainability agenda

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��ֳ�'s New Supplier Recognition Program: A Commitment to Environmental Responsibility

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Helping to advance tomorrow’s care equitably

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Energize: a collaborative step forward to protecting the Planet

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Making an impact in our communities

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Innovating for a better future

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��ֳ� & AIESEC: Partnering for a sustainable future

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sustainability

������ֳ� net-zero targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative: a critical step in our sustainability agenda

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������ֳ�'s New Supplier Recognition Program: A Commitment to Environmental Responsibility

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Helping to advance tomorrow’s care equitably

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Energize: a collaborative step forward to protecting the Planet

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Making an impact in our communities

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Innovating for a better future

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������ֳ� & AIESEC: Partnering for a sustainable future

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��ֳ� net-zero targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative: a critical step in our sustainability agenda

��ֳ�'s New Supplier Recognition Program: A Commitment to Environmental Responsibility

��ֳ� & AIESEC: Partnering for a sustainable future