AbbVie, an international biopharmaceutical corporation, has established bold, far-reaching environmental conservation goals aimed at diminishing carbon emissions, water usage, waste production, and bolstering the use of renewable electricity.
AbbVie’s global energy programme manager, Peter Moran, emphasised the corporation’s determination to exceed its medicinal role and actively participate in enhancing healthcare results, elevating local communities, and conserving the environment.
In 2021, the corporation pledged to initiate near-term Science Based Targets. Participation with the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) aids organisations by providing specialised resources to significantly decrease their environmental impact while concurrently supplying a third-party evaluation of progress.
In August of 2022, AbbVie presented its objectives to SBTi. The newly approved targets, validated by SBTi in March 2023, feature a commitment to lower absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 42% by 2030, using 2021 rates as a reference point. They’ve already achieved a 15.6% reduction as of 2022’s end.
The company also pledges to increase its sourcing of renewable electricity from its 29.5% in 2021 to 100% by 2030. By the end of 2022, it managed to attain global utilisation of renewable electricity at 42.7%, with AbbVie’s Ireland-based sites reaching a 100% milestone.
The company is shifting its focus to supply chain management with the goal of having a minimum of 79.1% of its suppliers operating in line with science-based emissions targets by 2027. By 2022, this objective was 23% fulfilled.
Since its inception in 2013, AbbVie has dedicated approximately €9.5 million to energy management, sustainability, and renewable energy schemes in Ireland. Despite recent growth, energy schemes and projects resulted in a 10% decrease in CO2 emissions and a 6% reduction in energy consumption in 2023, compared to 2021 – achieved through various projects, including installing heat pumps and recovery systems, lighting, insulation, heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades (HVAC), and employee awareness and participation programmes.
AbbVie has made significant progress by meeting its 2025 waste reduction goal three years ahead of time, decreasing waste by 20% and lowering water usage by 17% in 2022. Furthermore, the company is on track to fulfil its 2025 objective of recycling 50% of both hazardous and non-hazardous waste, along with removing all waste to landfill, with the present recycling rate standing at 39% and 92% landfill diversion accomplished in 2022. By 2023, three of the company’s manufacturing facilities in Ireland had received certification under the company’s global Zero Waste to Landfill programme, and the two remaining Irish plants are planning to achieve this in 2024.
AbbVie employees have formed groups known as Team Evergreen, devoted to creating and implementing novel energy control and sustainability initiatives, an initiative co-headed by Moran.
Team Evergreen recently launched the AbbVie Ecochallenge, a virtual competition held every year during Earth Day. Nearly 200 staff members participated in this month-long event in 2023. This competition aims to motivate them to get involved in environmental and social activities beneficial for the community. Participants are also offered the chance to win rewards, challenge other participants and receive helpful advice to maximise their impact on their local communities and the environment.
Another significant project has resulted in the installation of complimentary electric vehicle charging stations in the car parks of all AbbVie facilities in Ireland. The Ballytivnan site in Sligo has also seen the installation of a solar PV array, which has not only been providing sustainable energy for the chargers but also raised environmental awareness among employees, according to Moran. Impressively, since its installation, the system has surpassed projected outcomes, contributing to an average annual CO2 reduction of 110 tonnes.
The Sligo-based Manorhamilton Road facility has earned My Green Lab certification, a global first for an AbbVie site, as noted by Moran. Acknowledged for pioneering best practices in laboratory environmental sustainability, My Green Lab’s acknowledgement promises to lower AbbVie’s quality control lab’s consumption of energy and water, as well as minimise waste production, without jeopardising the quality or safety of their research. The Sligo team’s learning and strategy has indeed been disseminated throughout the company, allowing other AbbVie locations to also strive for accreditation and achieve similar sustainable impact.
Such dedication and achievement towards sustainability has won several accolades for the company. Among these are the Sustainable Energy Achievement and Green Lifesciences awards at the Green Awards 2024, as well as the recognition for the Sustainable Business Team at the 2023 Sustainable Business Awards.
Moran additionally emphasised on AbbVie’s long-term strategy to enhance the sustainability of its operations. This includes its commercial and manufacturing facilities in Ireland, which aim to minimize energy, water consumption and waste production.