15 APR 2019 | DARMSTADT, GERMANY
- Realignment of Corporate Responsibility strategy
- Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany makes progress in achieving corporate responsibility goals
- Employees take part in over 350 good deeds across 60 countries
Darmstadt, Germany April 15, 2019 – Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading science and technology company, today announced that it has published its 2018 Corporate Responsibility (CR) Report. The interactive online report illustrates the newly aligned CR strategy of the company and underscores the progress Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany made in 2018 in achieving its sustainability goals.
“Scientific research and responsible entrepreneurship are key to the kind of technological progress that benefits us all,” said Herwig Buchholz, head of Group Corporate Responsibility at Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. “Our latest CR report offers insights into the technologies and initiatives with which we are creating shared value for society and our company.” In 2018, for instance, the company increased the proportion of women in leadership positions from 30% to 32%, particularly in senior management.
Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany realigned its CR strategy in 2018 to create more value for society alongside technology and business innovations. The strategy now comprises the following three focus areas: “Health”, “Sustainable solutions” and “Broad minds”.
Health
Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany is committed to creating a healthier future for all – for people, communities and countries. To do so, the company collaborates with partners and supports an array of initiatives in an effort to eliminate barriers for underserved populations in low- and middle-income countries. In 2018 Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany achieved fourth place in the Access to Medicine Index ranking of the Access to Medicine Foundation. Based in the Netherlands, every two years the foundation ranks 20 of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies based on their efforts to address access to medicine. Moreover, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany intensified its fight against the tropical disease schistosomiasis and increased its donation of praziquantel tablets to include Burkina Faso, Niger and Sierra Leone for the first time. Since 2007, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany has donated nearly 900 million praziquantel tablets across 46 African countries, which can be used to treat around 360 million school children.
Sustainable solutions
Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany is constantly working to lower the impact of its products on health and the environment. The company’s efforts include, for instance, Design for Sustainability (DfS), a comprehensive method aimed at reducing the environmental impact of new Life Science products by analyzing various sustainability criteria. In addition, liquid crystal window technology from Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany was commercially deployed for the first time in October 2018, namely in the large-area windows at the company Orkla in Oslo, Norway. Apart from providing sun protection, these windows can also regulate the heat generated by direct sunlight. According to initial estimates, this technology can reduce the energy use of air-conditioned buildings by up to 40%.
Broad minds
Science and culture are closely related. Within the focus area “Broad minds”, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany unites all activities that promote access to science education at all levels as well as to culture. The company firmly believes that education and culture create new opportunities and thus actively supports relevant projects at many of its sites, grants scholarships and cooperates with educational institutions. In 2018, for instance, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany hosted the national “Jugend forscht” (Young Researchers) competition for the third time.
350 good deeds in the anniversary year 2018
Under the banner of “350 Good Deeds”, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany gave back to the community by supporting a total of 366 charitable projects. The company’s employees participated in more than 60% of all the initiatives supported in 2018 by volunteering locally in the vicinity of many of our sites. Going forward, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany wants to further encourage more employees to volunteer by granting them up to two days of paid leave per year to work on charitable initiatives that are either run or supported by the company.
The Corporate Responsibility Report 2018 is available online here.