Environmental challenges have never been more critical or more urgent than they are today. That’s why we have committed to net zero emissions across our entire value chain by 2045 at the latest.
Growing consumption, industrialisation and urbanisation threaten not only the sustainability of the environment we live in, but also the health of people around the world.
Every year we use billions of litres of water and large amounts of
energy and resources to manufacture medicines. We distribute hundreds
of millions of vials and injection pens to people who need them, and
while our products are made of high-quality materials, most of them
end up in a landfill after use.
This puts us at the frontline of some of the biggest environmental
issues: climate change, water and resource scarcity, pollution and
plastic waste. Our CO2 emissions continue to rise,
especially in transportation. As 2045 approaches, we have an interim
target to reach zero CO2 emissions from operations and
transport by 2030 – an important milestone in achieving our
greater net zero commitment.
To lead the way and be at the forefront of change, we have taken a bold, broad, company-wide approach to solving environmental issues – with the ultimate aspiration to have zero environmental impact.
Our strategy challenges us to find new ways to design products that can be recycled or re-used, reshape our business to minimise consumption and waste, and work with suppliers who share our goal.
We are already taking the first steps towards zero environmental impact. But we are always searching for new ways to do more. We believe the answers will come as we adapt our business to a circular mindset that keeps our products and materials in use.
For people living with diabetes, their insulin pen is an essential daily companion. But even if an insulin pen consists of around 77% plastic, it cannot be thrown into the plastic recycling bin along with empty juice bottles and food packaging.
Recycling an insulin pen is a lot harder than it sounds.
But might there come a day when all insulin pens can be re-purposed after use? And what more can we do to help solve the world’s growing plastic challenge?
Cities are an opportunity to win the fight against both climate change and type 2 diabetes. Both share similar patterns in human behaviour that exacerbate global warming and rising disease rates.
Today, we are working with partners in more than 40 cities around the world to advance disease prevention through education and on-the-ground interventions.
These partnerships are part of our Cities Changing Diabetes programme. Since 2015, Cities Changing Diabetes has become a social movement in its own right, mobilising multiple stakeholders in the effort to tackle the growing issues of type 2 diabetes and building healthier environments.
Learn more about how we are improving urban health and well-being.
