We recognise that everything we do has an impact on the natural environment and on the people and communities within it. We are fully committed to looking for ways to reduce our impact in these areas to ensure a better future for all.
We are currently developing our broader environmental strategy including our response to climate change. From ongoing environmental improvements to our HQ building, to increasing the level of assurance around our supply chain, and the ethical and climate-related considerations which underpin these relationships, we’re committed to operating our business in a sustainable and responsible way.
We are constantly looking to evolve our supply chain to ensure that we can effectively source materials from more responsible suppliers, located closer to the markets in which we sell our products. We expect our suppliers to adhere to the same high standards that we aspire to and ensure their activities are conducted as far as possible in a manner that protects the environment and the resources being utilised.
Our material focus areas
Environmental impacts – supply chain & logistics
We are committed to reducing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other environmental impacts associated with our supply chain and logistics (warehousing and distribution) activities, including transportation of products by our distributors – all of which form part of our Scope 3 emissions.
Environmental impacts – our own operations
Whilst the environmental impact of the scope 1 & 2 emissions from our own operations is relatively low, and so not material to the longer-term sustainability of our business from a financial perspective, we seek to reduce them for the benefit of society as a whole.
Packaging lifecycle management
We are committed to reducing the environmental impact of our product packaging, through reducing packaging volume/weight, increasing the use of recycled materials, and ensuring that as much of our packaging as possible is made from materials that can be recycled, reused and/or composted.
Product environmental H&S
We ensure that our products are made with environmentally friendly ingredients. We have a robust process in place to identify and manage emerging materials and chemicals of concern and are committed to identifying and eliminating any REACH substances of very high concern (SVHC) from our products.
Find out more in our Online Sustainability Report
Given the nature of our business, and our use of third-party distributors, contract manufacturers (CMOs) and logistics service providers (LSPs), the vast majority of our GHG emissions are classified as Scope 3.
In 2021, we quantified our Scope 3 GHG emissions for the first time (based on data for 2020). We are using the results of this exercise, together with equivalent calculations to be undertaken for 2021, to help inform the development of our carbon action plan, with a view to setting carbon reduction targets for Scopes 1, 2 & 3 and our path to net zero in the near future.
In addition to revealing the significance of the emissions linked to our supply chain and logistics activities, this exercise also revealed where opportunities may exist to try and improve the basis of measurement, particularly for Scope 3 emissions.
Over 80% of our total GHG emissions originate in our supply chain and logistics activities. In 2022, we plan to reach out to our larger manufacturers and logistics service providers to better understand where they are on their respective emissions reduction journeys and to obtain their Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions data to help improve the methodology used for our Scope 3 calculations, as we look to develop our carbon action plan.
Whilst the environmental impact of the Scope 1 & 2 emissions from our own operations is relatively low, and so not material to the longer-term sustainability of our business from a financial perspective, we seek to reduce them for the benefit of society as a whole.
The investments we’ve made in our UK headquarters building in recent years have significantly improved its energy efficiency with associated reductions in GHG emissions. We continue to actively look for ways to reduce our Scope 1 & 2 emissions, which amounted to 90tCO2e for our UK operations in 2021, and intend to offset these emissions to achieve carbon neutrality as an interim measure.
Outside the UK, we have more limited ability to control the environmental footprint of our office premises, as a number of these are held on all-inclusive operating leases. However we are looking to increase our understanding of the current situation on an office-by-office basis, to see what improvements can be made, as we progress through the remainder of 2022.
In September 2022, we set our Scope 1 & 2 emissions targets, to achieve net zero in 2030, with an interim target of 65% reduction by 2025, using 2018 as our baseline. Further detail will be provided as part of our 2022 reporting. We continue to progress the data gathering needed to support the setting of our Scope 3 target and will publish further updates on this in due course.
Find out more in our Online Sustainability Report
We recognise that single use plastics and packaging recyclability are an increasing concern for consumers. Unlike some consumer goods categories, where packaging changes can be implemented relatively quickly with limited hurdles, in the healthcare market, particularly with regards pharmaceutical products, any change in packaging materials cannot be made without a variation to the product license, which in the case of changes to primary packaging, requires the generation, submission and approval of supporting stability data.
We have a Sustainable Packaging programme team, working towards the reduction of single-use plastics and increasing the use of Post- Consumer Recycled (PCR) materials across our portfolio. Going forwards, all new product developments will require full consideration and review of packaging components to ensure the final presentation is aligned with the sustainability targets we set.
We are currently undertaking an extensive review of all our packaging componentry, across our portfolio and supply chain, to inform the development and focus of our sustainable packaging strategy with a view to establishing and communicating clear targets in this area.
Find out more in our Online Sustainability Report
We have recognised climate change as an emerging risk within our Principal Risks and Uncertainties and are continuing to work with external consultants to progress towards full disclosures in line with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) recommendations for 2022.
Click here to download our 2022 Annual Report, which includes our partial TCFD disclosures on pages 31 and 32.