Planet
We are conscientious: Our Commitment to the Health of Our Planet
The health of the planet and the health of people are interconnected.
To support our environmental ambitions, we have set the clear aspiration to become carbon neutral by 2028. We have defined a 5-year roadmap on how to achieve this goal, applying a sound and credible mix of carbon reduction and carbon compensation projects. We are also embracing the circular economy, reducing waste, and reusing or recycling materials where and when we can.
As the reduction of green-house gas emissions is an essential success factor in our approach, our reduction roadmap entails three pathways. These include initiatives to
- Systematically replace any fossil fuels by renewable energy sources used in our buildings and car fleet;
- Improve energy efficiency of our operations; and
- Drive behavioral change and raising environmental awareness among our staff.
As an example, we are seeking BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) and WELL (eco-friendly initiative focusing on human health and welfare enterprise) certifications for our newly constructed buildings.
For instance, in Oegstgeest, The Netherlands, we obtained a BREEAM Excellent and a WELL Gold certification for our new building and our garden gather native plants, trees, shrubs, as well as beehives and insect hotels.
In our research locations in Mechelen, Romainville and Leiden, we launched Green Teams looking for opportunities to reduce the footprint of our day-to-day operations by promoting initiatives aimed at behavioral change.
Our approach is planned, consistent, transparent, and measurable. In 2022, we defined the carbon footprint of our value chain. In 2023, we will disclose this footprint and will define for long-term targets, supported by key performance metrics (such as CO2 emissions defined as Scope 121, Scope 222 and Scope 323, and relevant KPIs for waste management) in our goal to consistently reduce our environmental footprint. Furthermore, our Environmental, Health and Safety oversight group has developed an EHS management system based on the international ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 standards.
Actions 2022
- We engaged in quantifying the carbon footprint of Galapagos’ value chain (including scope 1, 2 and 3 CO2 emissions), in accordance with the Green House Gas Protocol, with the aim to disclose the data in 2023
- We confirmed our ambition to become climate neutral by 2028 and have defined the roadmap to achieve this aspiration, building on both carbon reduction and carbon compensation initiatives
- We defined expected BREEAM24 and WELL25 performance levels, to be considered when designing new Galapagos facilities, aimed at improving our energy efficiency performance
- We defined a new mobility strategy which includes o.a. the acceleration of the electrification of our car fleet
- We launched Green Teams in our research sites. These teams of volunteers identify opportunities to reduce Galapagos’ footprint in our day-to-day operations
21 21Direct GHG (Gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation) emissions resulting from sources that are owned or controlled by an organization.
22 22Energy indirect GHG emissions that result from the generation of purchased or acquired electricity, heating, cooling, and steam consumed by an organization.
23 23Other indirect GHG emissions not included in Scope 2 GHG emissions, that occur outside of the organization, including both upstream and downstream emissions.
24 24BREEAM is a profound sustainability assessment for masterplanning projects, infrastructure, and building. It recognizes and reflects the value in higher performing assets across the built environment lifecycle, from new construction to in-use and refurbishment.
25 25The WELL Building Standard takes a holistic approach to health in the built environment addressing behavior, operations, and design, and is a performance-based system for measuring, certifying, and monitoring features of the built environment that impact human health and well-being, through air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and mind.