Environment

To help get ahead of disease and deliver real human health impact we need to look broadly and deeply at the interconnections of climate, nature and health.

We’re committed to a net zero, nature positive, healthier planet, with ambitious goals set for 2030 and 2045.

Our sustainability goals and targets

Person smiling while entering their home

As a global biopharma leader, we want to play our full part in protecting and restoring the planet’s health, in order to protect and improve people’s health. Improving the environmental sustainability of our business makes us more resilient, so we can deliver the products that patients rely on.

Emma Walmsley
Emma Walmsley

CEO

Scientific evidence is increasingly demonstrating how climate change and nature loss are impacting the world and human health. For example, human health is under threat from air pollution, diseases that pass from animals to humans and threats to water security. Climate and nature changes are testing the resiliency of healthcare systems.

As a global biopharma leader, addressing our environmental impact is fundamental to our purpose. That’s why we have set ambitious climate and nature targets.

Net zero impact on climate

Our climate action targets
  • 100% renewable electricity by 2025 (Scope 2)
  • 80% reduction in carbon emissions and investment in nature-based solutions for the remaining 20% of our footprint by 2030 (all scopes)*
  • Net zero emissions across our full value chain by 2045 (all scopes)

* Previously stated as net zero by 2030, and updated to align with the SBTI Net Zero Standard. See page 16 of the 2022 ESG Performance Report for more context.

Net positive impact on nature

Our nature action targets

Water

  • 100% of our sites to achieve good water stewardship by 2025 and reduce overall water use by 20% by 2030

  • Water neutral in operations and with key suppliers in water-stressed regions by 2030

  • Zero impact active pharmaceutical ingredient levels (1) for all sites and key suppliers by 2030

Waste and materials

  • Zero operational waste (2), including eliminating single use plastics(3) by 2030

  • 25% environmental impact reduction for our products and packaging by 2030

  • 10% waste reduction from supply chain by 2030

Biodiversity

  • Positive impact on biodiversity at all sites (4) by 2030

  • 100% of agricultural, forestry and marine derived materials sustainably sourced and deforestation free by 2030 (5)

 

1 Below the predicted no-effect level 
2 Including a 20% reduction in routine hazardous and non-hazardous waste
3 Where regulatory obligations allow, and excluding plastics which are critical to product discovery and development and health & safety
GSK-owned sites 
Target updated in December 2021 to reflect priority materials

Reporting

We report progress against these underlying targets and goals on an annual basis, disclosed as part of our Annual Report and ESG reporting.

Teal-coloured river running across a tropical forest

Find out about our sustainability focus areas

What sustainability means for GSK

Delivering our sustainability targets is not just important for planetary and human health. It’s important for us as a business in terms of supporting growth, mitigating risk and getting ahead of legislation.

As countries around the world commit to low carbon healthcare systems, we are seeing increasing demand from customers, healthcare practitioners and patients for sustainable products. We understand this is an issue that many of our people are passionate about.

  • Delivering our goals
  • Resilience and adaptation
  • Our climate goal
  • Our nature goal

More on our sustainability commitments