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Merck

Powered by Sustainability

Earth Month: Powered by Sustainability

Better Research for a Better Tomorrow

Our sustainability journey sprouted at the heart of our business: our product portfolio. Life science products do not immediately reach the end consumer, so this industry has historically had less pressure to integrate sustainability into products. However, these products are the building blocks of many products we encounter daily. 

Our Life Science business takes a holistic sustainability approach across the value chain to address rising customer sustainability requirements, enable sustainability progress across our suppliers and reduce the impact of scientific research globally.  


Sustainability Quantified, Impact Multiplied: 2023 Impact at a Glance 

37%

Reduction in Scope 1 & 2 Emissions

2,500+ 

Greener Alternative Products and counting

50,000+ 

Students reached through Curiosity programs

150+ 

Green Chemistry Commitment signers

1.39M 

Liters of fossil fuel-based solvents avoided

2,176  

DOZN™ tool users


Greener Alternative Products icon

Greener Alternative Products

Now more than ever, scientists are looking to us for innovative sustainability solutions in the lab. We are integrating sustainability thinking in our company to enable our customers to make more sustainable decisions for their business and reach their sustainability goals. To determine which products qualify as Greener Alternative Products, we quantify sustainability improvements across key impact areas.


Beaker with sawdust

The Future of Solvents is Bio-Based

Made from wood byproducts like twigs or sawdust, Cyrene™ is 98-100% renewable, with a carbon footprint approaching zero. Beyond its production impact, Cyrene™ is readily degradable in natural exposure conditions, decomposing 99% to carbon dioxide and water within 14 days. Under normal lab conditions, it will remain shelf stable. Cyrene™ was also designed for safety, showing no concerns as a reproductive hazard or mutagen, which is often the cited concern for DMF and NMP, making it safer to handle.

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Sustainability is a Journey

We’re transforming the industry by helping our customers reach their own sustainability goals and taking them along the journey with us.

Curiosity Cube

Dedicated to Human Progress

In 2030, we will achieve human progress for more than one billion people through sustainable science & technology.

Greener Alternative Products: Our growing portfolio of Greener Alternative Products is just one of the ways we're committed to bringing you further in your sustainability journey. We believe that one of the keys to a better tomorrow is data-driven sustainability: products with significant improvements are identified as Greener Alternative Products in our portfolio.

Green Chemistry Education: We’re partnering with non-profit Beyond Benign to introduce Green Chemistry education into higher education institutions. As of 2023, we’ve equipped 3,300+ faculty in the U.S. with Green Chemistry education resources. By 2030, we aim to reach are now equipped with resources to reach 14.5 million students by 2030.

Curiosity Platform: Our Curiosity Platform increases access to STEM education and sparks curiosity in under-resourced students. By 2030, we aim to impact more than 7 million students with access to high-quality science education.

    Business meeting in a conference room

    By 2030, we will fully integrate sustainability into our value chains.

    Supplier Data Library: We’re building a dedicated framework to acquire primary data from our suppliers about their operations and emissions to help inform our product carbon footprint data.

    Product Carbon Footprint: As of 2023, we offer Scope 1 & 2 product carbon footprints upon request, with Scope 3 footprints in development. Product carbon footprints give you greater transparency to help you make greener business decisions. By 2030, we aim to offer a full product carbon footprint for all our Life Science products.

      Wind turbines

      By 2040, we will achieve climate neutrality and reduce our resource consumption.

      Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Reducing the impact of our global operations through Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. As of 2023, Life Science reduced its Scope 1 & 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 37% compared to 2020. By 2030, we aim to achieve a 50% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions, and a 30% reduction in Scope 3 emissions. By 2040, we aim to achieve carbon-neutral Scope 1 and 2 emissions.

      Renewable Energy: Transitioning to renewable energy globally. As of 2023, 76% of Life Science’s global electricity is sourced by renewables. In 2025, we expect to reach 90% for Life Science worldwide – already passing our goal to reach 80% by 2030.

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        Sustainability Resources

        • Circular Recycling: Conduct a Lab Plastic Waste Assessment

          Through engagement and collaboration with our customers, we're developing circular recycling solutions to reduce the amount of plastic in the value chain and offer cost-effective re-processing of the plastic waste back into products and packaging within our supply chain.

        • DOZN™ Quantitative Green Chemistry Evaluator

          The DOZN™ tool is a free-to-use, quantitative, industry-first tool that uses the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry to compare the relative greenness of similar chemicals, synthetic routes, and chemical processes.

        • Beyond Benign

          We are committed to increasing global access to science education. Together with the global nonprofit organization Beyond Benign, we are taking this commitment a step further by increasing access to green chemistry education.

        • Curiosity Cube

          With the Curiosity Cube® — a 22x10-foot, retrofitted shipping container turned mobile science lab—our employees are sparking curiosity in visitors of all ages through hands-on science lessons.


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