Go Boldly: We Can Grow Our Business While Protecting the Health of Our Planet

In September 2015, the 193 Member States of the United Nations came together to create a plan for achieving a better future for all. Their goal is an ambitious one — they want to help end extreme poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and protect our planet. This proposal is called “Agenda 2030” and is comprised of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which clearly define how to help create a better world. Fulfilling these SDGs will take an unprecedented effort, and for business they represent an opportunity to benefit society while growing and sustaining our business.

As the vice president of Global Safety and the Environment here at Merck, I'm focused on guiding Merck on four SDGs:  6. Clean Water & Sanitation; 7. Affordable & Clean Energy; 12. Responsible Consumption & Production and, the focus of this perspective,  DG13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

At Merck, we have set a 10-year strategy to determine critical business enablers related to climate and the environment. In the future, customers will require us to identify new approaches from an environmental sustainability perspective, in some cases to help them meet their own sustainability goals. In that context, many eyes are watching our water management, waste reduction, and resource consumption. We have the resources and ability to be a global leader on environmental sustainability, and we’re using science and technology to:

• Increase the reuse of materials and develop innovative single-use technology to reduce the amount of waste we send to landfills.
• Engage with advocacy groups, ratings organizations, suppliers and investors to report against our environmental sustainability goals.
• Engage our employees through Energy Treasure Hunts, where small teams can find ways to improve our energy efficiency.

Our efforts have not gone unnoticed. To cite one example, Merck has earned recognition from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star Program for 13 consecutive years because of our long-term performance and our commitment to improvement.

We’re measured not just by the medicines we make, but also by how much good we do in the world.  I encourage our employees and others to learn about our company’s efforts, talk about opportunities for environmental sustainability, and share our successes with the world. 

By committing to taking action, we can grow our business and ensure our continued position as a global leader.

Environmental Sustainability

A healthy planet is essential to human health and the sustainability of our business. Learn more.

Environmental Sustainability Goals

We have established a new set of environmental sustainability goals that help position our company to succeed in an increasingly resource-constrained world. Learn more.

Corporate Responsibility

Learn more about how our company is taking action in support of the SDGs.