Enhancing environmental sustainability
Our commitment to environmental sustainability is an important part of how we build trust with society and is aligned with our purpose. Unless we can operate sustainably, our efforts to improve and extend people’s lives may be compromised by our environmental impact.
In 2021, we further strengthened our environmental targets by committing to become net zero in terms of climate emissions across our value chain by 2040, building on our mid- and long-term goals to become carbon neutral, plastic neutral and water sustainable. More details on our performance in 2021 can be found in our climate-related financial disclosures (TCFD). Please see our corporate website for full details of our environmental sustainability strategy.
Environmental targets
Our targets to be carbon neutral, plastic neutral and water sustainable are the central focus of our environmental sustainability strategy. In 2021, we reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 34% (Scope 1 and Scope 2) versus our 2016 baseline, making further progress after a 26% reduction in the previous year. We reduced water consumption by 40%, compared with 35% in 2020, and reduced waste disposal by 56%, compared with 38% in 2020 (all versus 2016 baseline figures).
Novartis environmental targets
In addition, we achieved our goal of eliminating 17 types of single-use plastics at 132 Novartis workplaces in scope (remaining stocks are being used at some locations). For example, in the US, all single-use plastic bottles in vending machines were replaced by recyclable aluminum, glass or biodegradable containers.
To reach our emissions targets, we are reducing our energy demand and accelerating our procurement of renewable electricity. We aim to use 100% renewable electricity in our own operations by 2025. In 2021, we signed a 10-year pan-European power purchase agreement with three solar and wind developers, adding 275 megawatts of green power generation capacity to the Spanish grid by 2023.
In 2020, our own operations (Scope 1 and Scope 2) represented 9% of our overall carbon footprint (Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3). To achieve net zero carbon emissions across our value chain will therefore require a coordinated approach with our suppliers. In 2021, we launched Novartis Green Expectations from Suppliers, which requires suppliers to map out their emissions, water consumption and waste footprint baselines; understand water quality thoroughly; set targets; and report their progress. For more on how we approach environmental sustainability in our manufacturing operations and our supply chain, please see the section “Embrace operational excellence.”
In 2021, Novartis laboratories were certified by My Green Lab, a third-party framework that aims to improve environmental sustainability in laboratory settings. More than 800 Novartis researchers across 24 laboratory sites in 11 countries took part in the certification process.
Novartis sites use water for cleaning and cooling purposes, and as a solvent. To ensure the effective management of water quality, we go beyond regulatory requirements and ensure that our active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are discharged at levels that are predicted to not cause harm to the environment.
By 2030, we will expand our current water quality scope to include all effluents from API and finished dosage form production within Novartis and relevant suppliers, and become water neutral. This means ensuring the amount of water Novartis withdraws from the local environment does not contribute to the depletion of local water reserves. It entails valuing the water needs of stakeholders and the ecosystem in an equitable way.
Further details of our progress in the area of water quality and quantity are included in the CDP Water Security Report, the AMR Industry Alliance report and the Access to Medicine Foundation AMR Benchmark report.
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2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Energy use – on site and purchased (million GJ) |
9.77 |
10.85 |
12.75 |
||||||||||||
Emissions (1 000 tCO2e) |
|
|
|
||||||||||||
GHG emissions, Scope 1, combustion and process |
248.1 |
286.9 |
356.6 |
||||||||||||
GHG emissions, Scope 1, vehicles |
88.5 |
91.3 |
128.4 |
||||||||||||
GHG emissions, Scope 2, purchased energy (market based) |
310.4 |
338.9 |
404.0 |
||||||||||||
GHG emissions, Scope 3, business travel2 |
35.5 |
22.0 |
191.3 |
||||||||||||
Total GHG emissions, Scope 1 and Scope 2 (excluding offsets)3 |
647.0 |
717.1 |
888.9 |
||||||||||||
GHG emissions offsets4 |
-34.7 |
33.6 |
29.8 |
||||||||||||
Emissions intensity (1 000 tCO2e) |
|
|
|
||||||||||||
GHG emissions (Scope 1 and Scope 2) per million USD sales |
12.5 |
14.7 |
18.7 |
||||||||||||
GHG emissions (Scope 1 and Scope 2) per FTE |
6.2 |
6.8 |
8.6 |
||||||||||||
VOCs (t) |
|
|
|
||||||||||||
Halogenated volatile organic compounds |
4.5 |
11.6 |
26.6 |
||||||||||||
Non-halogenated volatile organic compounds |
310.0 |
443.0 |
406.8 |
||||||||||||
Water (million m3) |
|
|
|
||||||||||||
Water withdrawal5 |
47.9 |
54.7 |
66.8 |
||||||||||||
Water discharged directly to aquatic environment (cooling water) |
39.5 |
46.1 |
55.5 |
||||||||||||
Water consumption6 |
7.8 |
8.4 |
11.2 |
||||||||||||
Waste (1 000 t) |
|
|
|
||||||||||||
Non-hazardous waste recycled |
83.9 |
59.9 |
57.7 |
||||||||||||
Hazardous waste recycled |
15.9 |
28.7 |
58.8 |
||||||||||||
Non-hazardous waste not recycled |
10.1 |
8.8 |
12.9 |
||||||||||||
Hazardous waste not recycled |
19.2 |
33.2 |
41.2 |
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Sustainable medicines
Novartis is committed to embedding environmental sustainability into the design of new products, devices and packaging. We assess the environmental impact associated with all stages of a product’s life, from raw material extraction to processing, manufacturing, distribution, use and disposal. In 2020 and 2021, we conducted pilot life-cycle assessment studies for one of our respiratory dry powder inhaler devices, which showed that on average our product has a low carbon footprint compared to other products with similar published studies.
We also aim to create a culture where sustainability is embedded in the decision-making process. To this end, in 2021 we established a Green Ambassadors Network to communicate, sponsor and share sustainability initiatives between local and global teams. We also established a global network of colleagues collaborating on sustainability projects, and we offered new training modules to all employees on our environmental sustainability strategy.