Environmental, Social and Governance
Environmental, Social and Governance
Novartis aims to hold itself to the highest standards of sustainability and ethical business practices. We take bold steps to increase access to medicines, tackle complex global health challenges, and do our part as a responsible corporate citizen. These standards encompass environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) topics and form a core component of how the Novartis Executive Committee and the Board of Directors evaluate long-term performance of the company. We are committed to reporting transparently on these topics through our Annual Reporting Suite , which includes the Novartis in Society ESG Report, as well as our other Publications.
Q2 2021 ESG Update for investors and analysts
World Environment Day 2021
Investing in our planet supports our purpose to reimagine medicine.
World Water Day 2021
Water means good health. We aim to ensure sufficient and safe water and enhance water quality wherever we operate.
Novartis ranks second in 2021 Access to Medicine Index
Novartis maintained its position in the 2021 Access to Medicine Index, leading in its approach to product delivery, while performing strongly across all other areas of the Index.
Leading performance in sustainability
Novartis included in Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and DJSI Europe.
Going 100% renewable in Europe
Novartis signs agreements expected to add more than 275 megawatts of clean power to the electrical grid.
Pandemic has been a reset for pharma's reputation
Novartis CEO Vas Narasimhan shares his perspective on the pharmaceutical industry amid the pandemic.
Novartis reinforces commitment to patient access, pricing a EUR 1.85 billion sustainability-linked bond
ESG - Committed to increasing access
Novartis reinforces commitment to patient access, pricing a EUR 1.85 billion sustainability-linked bond, a first in the healthcare industry.
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Index
Novartis aims to report comprehensively and transparently about ESG topics. We have created a set of environmental, social and governance indices to signpost where our key disclosures can be found across our publications and channels.
ESG Rating Performance
Our performance against environmental, social and governance criteria is reflected in a variety of third-party ratings.
Targets and Results
We report progress annually against a comprehensive list of targets in alignment with our company-level priority of building trust with society.
Our commitment to doing what's right
Novartis is committed to ensuring our associates are empowered to do what’s right. On September 01, 2020, we introduced a new Code of Ethics for Novartis.
Environmental Sustainability
Novartis strives to make efficient use of natural resources and to minimize the environmental impact of our activities and products. We have clear strategies and ambitious targets in the areas of climate change, water consumption and waste management. Our ambition is to be a catalyst for positive change and a leader in environmental sustainability.
Access to medicine
Novartis is committed to bringing more of our medicines to more people, no matter where they are. For all our new medicines, we will systematically integrate access strategies in how we research, develop and deliver globally.This will be a key measure of success for our leaders and employees.
Human Rights
Novartis conducts business in a manner that respects the rights and dignity of all people. We respect and support the protection of human rights, as enshrined in the United Nations (UN) Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We are also committed to core labor standards set out by the International Labor Organization (ILO) and are a signatory of the UN Global Compact. Learn More
Responsible Supply Chain
Novartis engages with an extensive network of suppliers worldwide and their contributions are crucial to our success. With such global reach, ensuring that our goods and services are ethically sourced is paramount.
Diversity & Inclusion (D&I)
D&I is a fundamental part of our culture aspiration to be curious, inspired and unbossed. Novartis embraces diverse perspectives and values inclusive behavior. We are passionate about D&I because it fuels innovation, drives engagement and attracts talent.
Diversity in Clinical Trials
Diversity in clinical trials is integral to who we are at Novartis and we are working hard to improve both the diversity of patients enrolled in our clinical research and the investigators involved in our trials.
Novartis also has clear commitments to many other social topics including the living wage, quality of products and use of animals in research.
Corporate Governance
Novartis is fully committed to good corporate governance. Our corporate governance framework consists of rules that support sustainable financial performance and long-term value creation for our shareholders, and that are aligned with our values and behaviors.
Novartis in Society ESG Report
Transparent reporting has been a central part of our commitment for many years, and we continue to make progress in this area. Our Novartis in Society ESG Report, which provides in-depth information about ESG topics, is issued at the same time as our annual report to provide readers with a more integrated view of Novartis.
We aim to meet the needs and expectations of our stakeholders by offering easy access to key data on important areas of our business, including payments to healthcare professionals and organizations and patient groups, clinical trial results and our US business (PDF 1.5 MB).