Environment

Scientific evidence is increasingly demonstrating how climate change and nature loss are impacting the world and human health. For example, human health is under threat from air pollution, diseases that pass from animals to humans and threats to water security. Climate and nature changes are testing the resiliency of healthcare systems.

As a global biopharma leader, addressing our environmental impact is fundamental to our purpose. That’s why we have set ambitious climate and nature targets.

We have set up the Energy Reduction & Transition Program to achieve these goals: It is a multi-year investment plan. Old buildings are replaced or extensively renovated with new, more efficient technologies. Other units are continuously optimised to increase their energy performance.

Over the past 5 years, the programme has enabled us to reduce CO2 emissions from our Belgian sites by 20%, while continuing to develop the business. Since the launch of the program in 2020, we have reduced our energy consumption by 12.5% on our Belgian sites.

We are a signatory to the Walloon Government's Carbon Conventions. These are contracts between the Walloon Region and companies under which, since 2002, companies undertake to make ambitious and sustainable improvements to their energy efficiency, reduce their CO2 emissions and increase the proportion of renewable energy.

Soft mobility on our sites

We have introduced a soft mobility policy with the promotion and implementation of structures to encourage travel by bicycle, carpooling and public transport. A large electric recharging system has been installed for company cars. We also organise recurring events such as the Spring Bike Festival and Mobility Week.

On our Belgian sites, in 2023, we were able to reduce our water consumption by 77,000 m3, which represents a 4% decrease. This achievement was made possible through a series of optimisation projects.

To achieve our goal, we will use the best technologies and optimise the cleaning processes of our production units to reduce consumption.

In addition, we aim to close the natural water cycle by reducing the amount of waterproofing and by creating ponds on the site to allow rainwater to infiltrate into the groundwater body.

Between 2020 and 2023, we have reduced our waste by 816 tonnes on our Belgian sites, which is a 13% decrease. We are committed to managing our waste responsibly and for over 20 years our waste has not been sent to landfill (Zero Landfill).

There are more than 30 different waste streams in place at our sites. Our strategy is firstly to reduce the quantity of waste, then to re-use and finally to recycle.

Some of the initiatives implemented at our sites in Belgium:

• Recycling of clothing from production areas
• Selective collection and recycling of beverage bottle caps
• Final packaging in cardboard for some departments
• Reduction of single-use plastic for a number of catering items
• Optimisation of industrial glass recycling (laboratory glassware)
• Cigarette butts

Our goal is to generate a positive impact on biodiversity at all our Belgian sites by 2030.

The Belgian sites have been certified as a "nature network" for more than ten years. 27% of our sites are green spaces, including wooded areas, flower meadows, lawns, etc. We are continuously increasing this space in order to bring nature back to the centre of our sites.

For example, we have large habitat areas on our sites for endangered species in wooded areas that also serve as a recreational area for our staff. Our efforts are carried out under the guidance of recognised local and international experts such as Natagora.