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Merck

Our Sustainability Strategy

Graphic displaying the Product Life Cycle with arrows connecting different steps in the cycle. The cycle begins with research & development, supply chain & materials, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, customer & product use. The cycle then takes one of two paths: either to disposal, or to recycling in which the arrow leads back to the beginning of the cycle with research & development.

Our sustainability strategy is anchored in reducing environmental impact across the entire product life cycle. We extend this commitment to enabling sustainability in science for our people, our communities, and the next generation of scientists.

By embedding sustainability across our business, our efforts to achieve our sustainability goals also supports you in your sustainability journey. In 2020, we established a Group-wide Sustainability Strategy, aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and from this we have made three ambitious commitments:

  1. Dedicated to Human Progress: In 2030, we will advance human progress for >1 billion people through sustainable science & technology.
  2. Partnering for Sustainable Business Impact: By 2030, we will fully integrate sustainability into our value chains.
  3. Reducing our Ecological Footprint: By 2040, we will achieve climate neutrality and reduce our resource consumption.

In May 2022, we were confirmed to the Science Based Targets initiative. Together, we can multiply our impact to address this urgent, shared global need. Learn more about the actions we’re taking below:


GOAL 1: DEDICATED TO HUMAN PROGRESS

Being dedicated to human progress, we’re focusing on sustainable innovations and technologies for our customers and the impact of our products on health and wellbeing. These initiatives support the SDGs 3, 8, 9, and 17.

Learn more how our Life Science business contributes to Goal 1 of our corporate Sustainability Strategy:

Greener Alternative Products icon: a graphic designed earth with an arrow circling around the earth.

2030 ambition:

  • 10% of portfolio consists of Greener Alternative Products

We already offer thousands of Greener Alternative Products and aim for approximately 10% of our portfolio to be Greener Alternatives by 2030.

We take a holistic, data-driven approach to drive sustainability improvement across the entire product life cycle supported by SHAPE, our design for sustainability framework. Learn more how we’re embedding sustainability into product design here.

We also use DOZN, our online Green Chemistry evaluator tool, to assess the sustainability of various chemicals and target improvements. This tool is also available for free to anyone to use. Learn more here.


GOAL 2: PARTNERING FOR SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS IMPACT

By partnering for sustainable business impact, we’re focusing on a sustainable and transparent supply chain, sustainability in our ways of working & decision-making, and providing a diverse and inclusive environment for our people and communities. These initiatives support SDGs 5, 8, 12, and 17.

Learn more how our Life Science business contributes to Goal 2 of our corporate Sustainability Strategy:

A graphic of the Earth and various icons connected by links, depicting renewable energy, people, data, lab flasks, distribution centers, a freighter ship and an airplane

2030 AMBITION:

  • Fully integrate sustainability into all our value chains

We engage with our suppliers for greater transparency and sustainability data, while also enabling them with tools and best-practices to make greener decisions for their own operations.


A stacked vertical bar chart depicting metric tons of CO2 equivalents reported by the company across Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. Scope 1 emissions between 2020 to 2023 totaled 207, 165, 160, and 147 metric tons CO2 equivalents, respectively. Scope 2 emissions between 2020 to 2023 totaled 109, 108, 47, and 53 metric tons CO2 equivalents, respectively. Scope 3 emissions between 2020 to 2023 totaled 1,563, 1,852, 2,281, and 1,538 metric tons CO2 equivalents, respectively.

GOAL 3: REDUCING OUR ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT

  • By 2030, we aim to achieve a 50% reduction in Scope 1 & 2 emissions, and a 30% reduction in Scope 3 emissions compared to our 2020 baseline.
  • By 2040, we aim to achieve climate neutrality across Scopes 1, 2 and 3.

2023 PROGRESS:

  • 37% reduction in Scope 1 & 2 emissions
  • 2% reduction in Scope 3 emissions

To reduce our ecological footprint, we’re focusing on climate change and emissions, water intensity and waste circularity. These initiatives support SDGs 9, 12, 13, and 17.

Learn more how our Life Science business contributes to Goal 3 of our corporate Sustainability Strategy:

SMASH packaging box with a lightbulb and an Earth popping out of the box.

2030 AMBITION:

  • 10% reduction in packaging weight per unit sales vs. baseline
  • 100% of new packaging designed following circularity principles
  • 100% of fiber-based packaging deforestation-free

This strategy drives sustainability improvements into both new and existing product packaging. Through this initiative, we set high standards to SHRINK, SECURE, SWITCH and SAVE packaging.


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