That’s why, in late 2020, Pfizer announced a plan to be carbon neutral across internal operations by 2030 and to engage suppliers to set Greenhouse Gas emissions reduction goals. These goals were recognised as ambitious, as demonstrated by third party approval by the SBTi.  Since then, the voluntary standard for goals to align urgent action with science-based targets has evolved.

In June 2022, Pfizer responded to these renewed and increased calls to action by announcing an intent to take even more ambitious action, adopting the voluntary Net-Zero standard, launched in the lead-up to the 2021 UN Climate Change conference. This standard urges long-term action to reduce company emissions by 95% and value chain emissions by 90%. Pfizer aims to achieve Net Zero by 2040, 10 years earlier than the expectations of the standard.

Louise Proud, Vice President, Global Environment, Health & Safety at Pfizer, sheds some light on what rising to the climate action challenge means and what Pfizer is doing to make a difference.

 

Why is environmental sustainability important to Pfizer?

At Pfizer, we truly recognise the profound societal and public health impacts that may result from environmental issues, including climate change.

Worldwide communities have increasing expectations for a better lifestyle, to be delivered from a planet with finite resources, which are depleting. For example, water scarcity and drought impact food sources, leading to food insecurity and malnutrition. Rising global temperatures can lead to physical threats such as wildfires and heat related illnesses. Poor air quality caused by pollution has been linked to respiratory illnesses, including asthma and cardiovascular disease.

Because of rising temperatures, we’re seeing more places in the world threatened by vector borne diseases such as malaria, Dengue fever, Lyme disease, and encephalitis. These threats are real and highlight that planetary health impacts public health. And Pfizer, as a biopharmaceutical company, has a role to play. We’re increasing the resilience of our supply chain to climate-related threats. We’re limiting our environmental impact by driving action throughout our value chain. We’re applying the power of science and engineering to contribute to these challenges. As we innovate to bring products to the market, we recognise that some of them may help tackle health conditions linked to climate. And we’re engaging externally to make our position on the need for urgent climate action known.
 
 

What are some of the methods Pfizer is using to work towards the company’s environmental goals?

As a science guided organisation, Pfizer takes a proactive approach on our environmental initiatives. Over the past 20 years, we’ve taken significant voluntary steps to reduce our environmental impact. In that time, we’ve reduced greenhouse gas emissions from our operations by more than 60%.

We made this progress because we take a holistic approach to meet our environmental goals, harnessing the collective and deliberate efforts of our global network of dedicated colleagues.

Our manufacturing and R&D sites have long-term environmental sustainability masterplans outlining planned actions to reduce impact. These actions range in scale and complexity. For example, we look for opportunities to design environmental sustainability attributes into new facility or renovation projects so we can deliver greener buildings. We try to replace equipment at end of life with energy-efficient alternatives. We invest in no/low carbon technologies at our sites and in programmes that enable sourcing of clean energy from renewable sources. We also endeavour to undertake process enhancements within our product manufacturing processes to reduce the number of steps and resources required.

 

What does Pfizer’s goal of Net Zero by 2040 mean?

Building on 20+ years of climate action, we are proud to set new, ambitious climate goals to commit to Net Zero by 2040. This further builds on our multi-year efforts, setting a trajectory to reduce company greenhouse gas emissions by 95% and value chain emissions by 90%, which we aim to deliver by 2040.

To achieve this, we will need to accelerate our transition away from fossil fuels. We’ll need to achieve reductions throughout our value chain, working in conjunction with our suppliers. How? Well, that’s the hard part. We know that Net Zero requires significant change to transition from the use of fossil fuel, which is currently one of the ways we generate power for Pfizer’s operations. Partnering with organisations facing similar challenges to access good practices and access innovative technologies is one of the ways we’re striving to address the challenge faced.

 

What does Pfizer’s membership of Renewable Energy 100 (RE100) and commitment to achieving 100% renewable electricity by 2030 actually mean?

Pfizer currently sources around 6% of electricity from renewables for worldwide operations. The goal, by 2030, is for all of our purchased electricity to be from renewable energy sources. We have a long way to go, but our commitment is strong. To accomplish this, we’re beginning by focusing on North America. In October 2021 we entered into a virtual power purchase agreement with Vesper Energy. Under this 15-year arrangement, Pfizer will effectively receive 310 MW (megawatts) of renewable energy from Vesper Energy’s 500 MW Hornet Solar project in West Texas. That facility is expected to be operational by the end of 2023. Once it is, 100% of Pfizer’s North American purchased electricity needs will be 100% powered by solar energy.

 

Why is Pfizer focusing its environmental efforts beyond internal operations by seeking action from companies from which Pfizer sources goods and services?

Pfizer’s value chain greenhouse gas emissions footprint is more than four times than that associated with the company’s emissions. The most significant contributor to our value chain emissions comes from buying goods and services, involving thousands of suppliers around the world. So, we’re urging all of our suppliers to unite with us in making a commitment to action and integrating ambitious climate impact reduction targets into their management processes.

We really do believe that collective action will truly increase global impact. That’s why, in addition to the environmental sustainability goals set for our internal operations, in 2015, we also established our first goals aimed at influencing approximately 120 suppliers to establish robust environmental sustainability programmes with greenhouse gas, waste, and water reduction targets.

To be transparent, we didn’t quite reach the goal of 90% with established targets, although we made tremendous progress, with 75% setting greenhouse gas reduction targets. It’s only made us more determined to meet our new, more ambitious goals.  

After all, our efforts alone won’t create the level of action needed to address the complex threat of climate change. Net Zero sets common expectations for all part of the value chain.

 

What is and will Pfizer be doing to help suppliers to set and work towards the Net Zero goal?

Action is required throughout our value chain to drive down greenhouse gas emissions. So, Pfizer is urging all suppliers to take responsible action by committing to a science-aligned greenhouse gas reduction target.

We’ve integrated environmental criteria across our supplier sourcing, contracting, and performance management processes. We expect suppliers to commit to climate action by establishing their greenhouse gas emissions baseline no later than the end of 2022 and set a greenhouse gas reduction target in line with SBTi guidance by the end of 2025.

We’re also excited to help found Energize, a first-of-its-kind collaboration between 10 global pharmaceutical companies to engage suppliers in decarbonization of the pharmaceutical value chain through renewable energy procurement. The programme, which is designed and delivered by Schneider Electric, enables pharmaceutical suppliers to learn more about renewable energy adoption and contracting. In practice, this means giving suppliers—who may not otherwise have the internal resources or expertise available—the opportunity to participate in the market for power purchase agreements.

 

What are some of the biggest challenges Pfizer faces going forward while working towards environmental sustainability?

Pfizer aspires to take ambitious action, as evidenced by our Net Zero by 2040 commitment. However, this involves transition and in some respects a leap of faith that new technologies will become commercially available to enable the transition, in the time and scale needed.

One challenge is the availability of fossil fuel-alternate technologies. We particularly need to account for those used to generate heat and produce steam in order to meet the demand of product manufacturing operations and to accelerate the transition from natural gas-powered systems to low/no carbon energy sources.

Accelerating change requires dedication and action from Pfizer’s extensive globally distributed value chain, who also face similar challenges in the pace of transition. The scale of change needed cannot be underestimated. It requires collective contribution and the creation of progressive standards that incentivize change.

Voluntary measures, such as those being taken by Pfizer and many other companies around the world, often offer the greatest opportunity for companies to design innovative solutions that work best for their particular situation, product range, and investment timelines. Tackling climate change, however, will require action from all parties across all sectors, and Pfizer urges governments both in the U.S. and abroad to establish ambitious climate policies to stabilise global temperature rise at 1.5 degrees.

While there is no one magic action that alone will deliver the full solution, through collaborative public and private action that leverages expertise, resources, and scale, we can get there... together.

We’re operating in a world with a growing population that has increasing expectations for a better lifestyle, to be delivered from a planet with finite resources, which are depleting.