Roche Sustainability Approach

Our impact on society

Since the foundation of our company in 1896, Roche has made many sustainable marks on a local and global level. Roche’s approach to sustainability is holistic focusing on patients, people, partners and the planet.

The long-term thinking of our founders and the backing of the founders’ family, which still holds a majority controlling stake, allow us to stay true to this vision and shape the way we make a difference to the lives of millions of patients around the world. Roche’s biggest impact on society is the research and development of new medicines, diagnostics and personalised healthcare solutions. Roche has a successful legacy in this area: Over 30 Roche drugs are listed as essential medicines by the World Health Organization (WHO).

We run our business in an ethical and responsible way, by creating value for our stakeholders. Sustainability is an integral part of our business and forms the foundation of our business strategy. As a global healthcare company, we are committed to supporting the UN Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) in line with our business strategy; in particular SDG 3, which aims at ensuring healthy lives and promoting wellbeing for all.

Our commitment to long-term thinking is further embedded in our Five-Year Corporate Goals which serve as a bonus-relevant yardstick and against which progress is monitored annually. We focus our reporting around relevant topics, which are assessed by an integrated materiality process and result in positive impact on society. We are committed to non-financial reporting excellence, e.g. by applying the standards as set forth by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).

An open and constructive dialogue with our stakeholders is crucial to improving our ability to create sustainable value and growth. Our Sustainability Committee elaborates a number of position papers on sustainability topics; each position paper addresses specific expectations and concerns of our stakeholders and can and should be used for consistent communication.

In addition, we provide further information on sustainability topics to our stakeholders using different information channels. For example, we provide further information on the sustainable construction of our buildings, which covers the entire lifecycle of a building and offers solutions for circular economy and energy efficiency as well as the improvement of the workplace comfort.

We are all expected to:
  • Live Roche’s commitment to sustainability in our daily business.
  • Act as Roche sustainability ambassadors.
Questions & Answers

How can I sum up Roche’s understanding of sustainability in one sentence?

Creating value for our stakeholders, through improving lives—now and in the future.

What is Roche’s approach to sustainability?

Roche’s approach to sustainability is holistic focusing on patients, people, partners and the planet.

How is Sustainability managed at Roche?

No single department is responsible for managing sustainability. Instead, all employees are encouraged to embed sustainability into their work. To support this, the Roche Corporate Sustainability Committee (CSC) is responsible for developing the Group’s sustainability strategy and guidelines, and reports on related activities and progress. It is also responsible for assessing and prioritising material social, environmental and ethical topics.

Further Informations

Further information and guidance can be found on the Roche Internet and Intranet. To learn more about the sustainable impact of Roche products on society, the lecture of the booklet “Lifesavers for Millions” is highly recommended; you can order a free copy at Roche Group Communications.

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