Planet
We are conscientious. Our Commitment to the Health of Our Planet
The planet health and the health and wellbeing of (our) people are interconnected.
As climate change was specifically identified as a material topic to Galapagos, we set a clear aspiration to support our environmental ambitions and become climate neutral by 2028. We defined a 5-year roadmap to achieve this goal, applying a sound and realistic mix of carbon reduction and carbon compensation projects. In addition, we are embracing the circular economy by reducing waste and reusing or recycling materials where and when we can.
As the reduction of green-house gas emissions is a crucial success factor in our approach, our reduction roadmap entails three pathways.
- 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 by raising environmental awareness among our employees.
Our Environmental, Health and Safety oversight group has developed and maintains an EHS management system based on the international ISO 140019 and ISO 4500110 standards to ensure that our approach is planned, consistent, transparent, compliant and measurable.
Actions 2023
To detail our path towards being climate neutral, we took the following actions in 2023:
- We quantified the carbon footprint of Galapagos’ value chain (including Scope 111, 212 and 313 CO2e emissions), in accordance with the Green House Gas Protocol (see Appendix table)
- We defined and quantified energy mix and energy consumption related to our Scope 1 and Scope 2 CO2e emissions (see Appendix table). Energy generated from renewable sources currently covers 25% of our total energy needs.
- Progressed on our three pathways to reducing greenhouse gas emissions as defined in multi-year reduction roadmap :
- Systematically replacing any fossil fuels by renewable energy sources:
- in 2023 we launched a new mobility strategy aimed at accelerating the electrification of our car fleet and offering alternative transportation modes. In Belgium, home of our biggest company car fleet, we piloted this effort through the implementation of a new requirement that all new fleet vehicles must be fully electric as of 1 May 2024.
- Improving energy efficiency of our operations.
- we defined our expectations for BREEAM14 and WELL15 performance levels, for future consideration in selection criteria for new Galapagos facilities, an effort to improve our energy efficiency performance.
- in 2023, 23% of the heated surface used by Galapagos was BREEAM or WELL certified.
- Driving behavioral change and raising environmental awareness among our staff:
- we continued the work of the Green Teams in our research sites. These teams of volunteers identify opportunities to reduce Galapagos’ footprint in our day-to-day operations.
- we celebrated the United Nations’ World Environment Day on June 5th, by organizing site-specific activities such as a bikers’ lunch, bike repair and waste recycling workshops.
We also organized a global webinar featuring Bertrand Piccard, who shared his experience as a psychiatrist, green pioneer, and founder of the Solar Impulse Foundation.
- Systematically replacing any fossil fuels by renewable energy sources:
- We completed a Life Cycle Assessment for Jyseleca®, defining the environmental footprint of one year of treatment.
- As indicated by our ambitious goal of being climate neutral by 2028, we are committed to doing our part to support a healthy planet and will continue to monitor our performance to ensure we remain on track on our five-year roadmap.
9 9International Standard Organization 14001: Environmental management systems (EMS)
10 10International Standard Organization 45001: Occupational health and safety (OH&S) management
11 11Direct GHG (Gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation) emissions resulting from sources that are owned or controlled by an organization.
12 12Energy indirect GHG emissions that result from the generation of purchased or acquired electricity, heating, cooling, and steam consumed by an organization.
13 13Other indirect GHG emissions not included in Scope 2 GHG emissions, that occur outside of the organization, including both upstream and downstream emissions.
14 14BREEAM - Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology is a sustainability assessment for master planning projects, infrastructure, and buildings. It recognizes and reflects the value in higher performing assets across the built environment lifecycle, from new construction to in-use and refurbishment.
15 15The 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.