In order to identify sustainability topics that have a significant impact on people, the environment and Roche's long-term business success, we have initiated our new materiality assessment process based on the double materiality principles (impact and financial materiality) in Q4 2022. This assessment builds on our 2014 and 2018/2019 materiality assessments.
In the current phase of our materiality assessment, we have focused on a stakeholder engagement exercise. We started by collecting quantitative data from 307 internal and 298 external stakeholders on priority sustainability topics. The internal stakeholders comprised a randomly selected group of Roche’s employees and the external stakeholders consisted of various groups including patients and caregivers, healthcare practitioners and government & policymakers. Based on the quantitative inputs and best practice sustainability frameworks, we created a topic map.
Following that exercise, additional quantitative and qualitative data was collected from 30 internal and 30 external stakeholders. Internal stakeholders comprised subject matter experts within the organisation, and externals were made up of various groups including academia, industry bodies and associations, investors, patient organisations and suppliers. From this, we derived our 19 priority topics for sustainability.
In the next phase of our materiality assessment, we will follow the new regulatory standards for a more granular approach. In order to do so, we will work with the business to identify the specific areas where Roche can make the biggest impact and narrow down the list of material topics. Once finalised, this will also inform our upcoming mandatory reporting disclosures.
The process and the initial results of our materiality analysis have been shared with the Roche Corporate Executive Committee, and will be further shared for endorsement as we progress.
How we minimise our impact on nature
Definition
Reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate and minimise climate change; entailing scope 1 to 3; effectively mitigate associated risks (energy transition, physical impacts).
Our position
We know that climate change is one of the largest global challenges and we must address it with a matter of urgency. For more than 20 years, our teams have been implementing programmes to help us reduce our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to zero by 2050.
A significant part of our GHG emissions originate from the transformation and use of energy. Minimising our negative impact involves actively contributing to a sustainable energy future. This includes reducing energy consumption, increasing efficiency, implementing innovative technologies and increasing the use of sustainable energy.
We have set
For example:
Achieve absolute zero Scope 1 & 2 GHG emissions by 2050
Reach 100% sustainable electricity by 2025
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Definition
Minimise emissions to air from manufacturing and other processes; consider impact of rising air pollution on respiratory diseases in the development of products.
Our position
We minimise air emissions through a variety of technologies and practices. Our priorities are to avoid pollutants, reduce quantities of pollutants and control remaining pollutant emissions in line with our eco-balance goals. Our overall objective is to keep emissions to the low levels we have achieved in recent years.
We have set
For example:
Phase-out Halogenated Hydrocarbons for refrigeration by 2030
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Definition
Practise responsible water management and stewardship, including sustainable sourcing and use, effective wastewater management, and considerations of downstream post-patient pollution.
Our position
We prioritise actions to improve water management and to seek solutions for more equitable and sustainable water governance.
We emphasise water conservation and efficiency measures across all of our operations and aim to optimise water usage at all levels.
We have established targets for reducing our water consumption, focusing actions in locations with high water stress and water risks.
For example:
Reduce water consumption by 15% by 2025 (baseline 2020)
Reduce Nutrient discharges to receiving waters by 2025 (baseline 2020): -5% Nitrogen and -90% Phosphorus
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Definition
Protect, sustainably manage, and restore ecosystems; ensure sustainable use of land resources (e.g., real estate); minimise pharma impact on biodiversity.
Our position
We recognise that the issue of biodiversity and traditional knowledge is of growing importance, particularly for developing countries.
We support the principles of resource stewardship defined in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and its three main objectives covering the conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components, and fair and equitable sharing of the benefits from the use of genetic resources.
We avoid the use of non-commodity natural resource materials as a source for products or the discovery and development of pharmaceuticals.
We, otherwise, do not operate facilities in areas that are protected or have high biodiversity values. All Roche sites require access to city infrastructure and, as such, are located in urban environments.
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Definition
Sustainable product design and stewardship, e.g., use of life-cycle assessments; minimised intensive resource use, increased recycling and reuse, effective waste management, consideration of materials scarcity.
Our position
We seek to minimise the health, safety, and environmental impact of our products, services, and devices.
We strive to avoid or reduce raw materials needed and the overall consumption of resources in Roche’s manufacturing processes.
We are committed to reducing, reusing and recycling the waste generated throughout our operations.
We have set
For example:
Improve the Product Stewardship Score of 30 selected products by 25% by 2025 (baseline of 2021)
Reduce general waste by 10%, reduce total landfill waste by 20% (excl. construction waste), reduce total plastic waste by 10%, and recycle 80% or more of general waste all by 2025 (baseline 2020)
Phase out the use of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs)
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How we contribute to a better tomorrow for all
Definition
Products developed with unmet need in mind, ensure effective development processes, and strive to continuously bring a high value to society with support of emerging technology / science and real world data.
Our position
Our close strategic partnerships across the Group, and our diverse mix of autonomous innovation engines give us a rich diversity of expertise and scientific thinking, as we seek to discover and develop solutions to the biggest questions in healthcare today.
With patients and societal health needs in mind, we leverage our passion and curiosity for science to create revolutionary medicines that can change patients’ lives.
For example:
To discover and develop the next breakthroughs, we have built a network of independent innovation engines around the world. To date, there are 17 countries with Roche innovation centre, such as Flatiron Health, a healthtech company dedicated to helping cancer centres thrive and deliver better care for patients today and tomorrow, and Spark Therapeutics, a company committed to discovering, developing and delivering gene therapies for genetic diseases, among others.
We have the highest R&D spending of the industry.
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Definition
Patient needs at the forefront of strategy and operations, maintain high quality and safety standards, processes and best practices.
Our position
Partnering with patients to further understand their everyday lives is essential to evolve the way we look at diseases. It is through collaboration that we can truly personalise healthcare, taking new approaches to develop better medicines for and with the people that matter most.
To ensure that every Roche product is both effective and safe, we have established a systematic process designed to optimise patient safety throughout the lifecycle of a medicine.
We collaborate with regulatory agencies, monitor reports of adverse events experienced by patients and communicate on our product safety activities, as appropriate to the audience. Any medicine may cause side effects in some patients. Our priority is to make sure that the therapeutic benefits of the medicine outweigh the risks.
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Definition
Health equity considerations, incl. prioritisation based on unmet needs, clinical trial diversity, accelerated Low- or Middle-Income Countries (LMIC) access, etc. considered at all stages of the product life cycle.
Our position
Roche strongly believes that improving health outcomes for all patients is core to our mission, and we are committed to being industry leaders in delivering improved health outcomes for all.
Because disease outcomes and drug responses can vary across populations, research must include patients who are racially, ethnically, and gender representative of those who experience disease. Roche is deeply committed to addressing barriers to clinical trial participation, diversifying genetic data for scientific discovery, and increasing access to innovative diagnostic and therapeutic solutions, by advancing inclusive research.
The time is now for research and clinical development to ensure greater inclusion of patients across racial and ethnic groups in support of optimising health outcomes for all patients worldwide.
Because disease outcomes and drug responses can vary across populations, research must include patients who are racially, ethnically, and gender representative of those who experience disease. Roche is deeply committed to addressing barriers to clinical trial participation, diversifying genetic data for scientific discovery, and increasing access to innovative diagnostic and therapeutic solutions, by advancing inclusive research.
For example:
XProject is a long-term commitment and an ongoing initiative to drive meaningful change through partnerships, funding and action to help close the gaps in women’s health for better health outcomes for everyone.
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Definition
Swift access to quality products and care and affordable pricing for all consumers regardless of their income, geographic context, or other factors; targeted engagement to increase access and coverage.
Our position
Life-changing innovation is only meaningful if it reaches those who need it. We put access at the core of our business and consider it a key part of our commitment to improving patient outcomes.
Our combined strengths in diagnostics and pharmaceuticals position us to play a decisive role along the patient’s journey. These strengths allow us to identify and address the root causes at both global, country and community levels that prevent access to innovative healthcare, no matter where people live.
We work in partnership with stakeholders across the healthcare spectrum – from governments and payers to non-governmental organisations, multilaterals, and insurance companies.
Our
Pharma goal: Double medical advances at less costs to society by 2030
Diagnostics goal: Double patient access to novel, high medical value diagnostics solutions by 2030
Low- or Middle-Income Country (LMIC) goal: Double patient numbers in Low to Middle Income Countries for our innovative medicines by 2026.
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Definition
Transparent, accurate, and adequate marketing communications and product labels incl. information on the positive and negative impacts of their consumption.
Our position
We have a highly professional pharmacovigilance (PV) system in place which closely monitors all the suspected side effects, or adverse events, which have been reported in conjunction with our medicines, initiating all the necessary steps to address and remediate situations which may pose a health risk to the people taking our medicines.
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Definition
Holistic and effective commitments with ecosystem stakeholders and communities to build more resilient, effective health systems, and healthier, stronger communities.
Our position
Working in collaboration with global and local stakeholders, we support governments’ efforts to build strong and resilient healthcare systems, particularly for people in Low- and Middle-Income countries. Every country’s healthcare system is unique, so we work closely with partners to develop and deliver tailored solutions.
At Roche, we believe that patients, their caregivers, their families, as well as the patient organisations that support them play an integral role in today’s health ecosystem.
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Definition
(Prospective) employees are compensated fairly, have a safe and fulfilling working environment, are provided equitable opportunities, protected from discrimination, and diversely represented.
Our position
At Roche, people are at the heart of what we do. We are grounded in a clear and deep sense of purpose and committed to a culture where everyone feels a sense of belonging and where we can thrive equally; no matter what it is that makes us unique — age, beliefs, ability, how we identify, how we think, where we are from, or the languages we speak.
Our approach to Diversity and Inclusion is multidimensional, holistic and personal. Together we embrace the unique power of each person to transform the lives of patients and society with a focus on our four strategic D&I pillars: Patients, People, Culture, and Society.
Our
Achieve +2% share of women in executive positions year-on-year
Achieve +1% of under-represented nationalities in executive positions year-on-year
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Definition
Value chains embed human rights and anti-corruption principles firmly; supply chains are resilient to disruptions incl. geopolitical or socio-economic situations.
Our position
We are continuously making impactful and positive contributions in areas that are within our sphere of influence. Vulnerable populations associated with our suppliers are protected through the clear communication of sustainability related expectations and our formal supplier sustainability audit program.
Procurement supports Roche in doing now what patients need next by delivering value beyond savings, driving sustainability in the communities where our patients live. One of the key ways procurement does this is by collaborating with our suppliers to find solutions for some of the world's most pressing problems. We do this by building sustainability solutions on a foundation of data, partnership and effective risk management.
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How we embed transparency and compliance in everything we do
Definition
Robust internal governance and leadership structure; clear and transparent decision-making process; governing policies to ensure smooth operation.
Our position
Roche is committed to serving all its stakeholders. As a basis for the successful implementation of this commitment our Corporate Governance principles accordingly put the focus of our business activities on sustainable value creation and innovation and prescribe a management culture conforming to recognised standards of good corporate governance and a policy of transparent communication.
Roche complies with all relevant corporate governance requirements, in particular with all applicable laws, the Swiss Stock Exchange (SIX Swiss Exchange) directives and the Swiss Code of Best Practice for Corporate Governance promulgated by the Swiss business federation ‘economiesuisse’.
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Definition
Highest standard of ethics and compliance to / exceedance of relevant regulations and industry standards; strong anti-corruption & anti-bribery controls; lobbying transparency.
Our position
We believe that integrity is the basis of a sustainable and successful business. Every employee has the responsibility to behave with integrity and in accordance with our shared values and compliance guidelines. We also expect the partners we work with to meet our integrity standards.
Business integrity means first and foremost that we adhere to all applicable laws and regulations as well as to the high integrity standards set forth by Roche. Complying with these standards is a prerequisite for Roche’s sustainable success.
Our standards of business integrity are set forth in our Code of Conduct, which include the Corporate Principles. To further promote and support a shared understanding, Roche has implemented a number of policies, directives, position statements, guidelines and e-learnings that apply across the Group.
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Definition
Appropriate monitoring and proactive response to potential risks, both within and beyond the organisation.
Our position
Risk Management is an integral part of the group’s business practice on all levels of the Roche group. Risk Management includes identification, analysis and evaluation of risks, the appropriate response, tracking and reporting of risks to provide assurance regarding the achievement of objectives.
At Roche Group level this is formalised in the Group Risk Management Process, where divisions, relevant divisional and Group functions assess risks & opportunities and develop plans for the most material ones identified. This happens in parallel to the development of the business plans.
The consolidated Group Risk Report is discussed and approved together with the business plan by the Corporate Executive Committee and reviewed by the Board of Directors.
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Definition
Responsible use of digitisation and data, strong cybersecurity processes and adherence to digital regulations; confidentiality, availability and integrity of (personal) data; sustainable Intellectual Property (IP) governance.
Our position
We are committed to collecting and using data in a lawful, fair, and legitimate way, and will always respect the privacy of individuals in order to earn and deserve their trust.
The protection and responsible use of personal data is anchored in the Roche Group Code of Conduct and reflected in our daily operations.
We have a comprehensive management framework for IT and information security, which supports the implementation, monitoring, maintenance, and continuous improvement of Roche’s Information Security Program, and is aligned with the globally recognised Information Security Standard, ISO 270001.
We continue to invest heavily in protecting our information management systems and the design of our IT solutions, by focusing on cybersecurity sustainability.
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Definition
Transparent sustainability reporting that complies to all mandated standards and industry best-practices; communication; commitment; aligned incentivisation; clear targets and progress tracking.
Our position
Transparency and accountability are essential to maintain trust and fulfil our purpose. We measure our sustainability performance against our time-bound goals, reporting publicly to promote transparency and improve our business everywhere we operate.
We are committed to transparent reporting and we endeavour to drive our economic, social and environmental performance with the same diligence as our financial performance.
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Definition
Transparent, good faith strategy to engage stakeholders, incl. peers, regulators, health systems and governments to drive the creation of sustainability-fostering policy and regulation.
Our position
We engage regularly and systematically with our internal and external stakeholders to understand their needs and build mutual trust. We ensure that we address legitimate interests of our stakeholders to make informed decisions on how we run our business.
For example:
We partner with patients, caregivers and patient organisations at each stage of drug development and care delivery.
We work closely with our suppliers and service providers to better create, enhance and deliver sustainable value.
By continuously engaging with policy makers, we ensure Roche creates long-term impact not only for patients, but society as a whole.
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