Minimize our environmental impact
Our purpose of making life better includes protecting and preserving the world we live in.
Making medicines requires the use of valuable resources including energy, water and raw materials. We’re committed to reducing our environmental footprint. We have set sustainability goals to reduce our emissions and waste and to continue using water responsibly and efficiently.
Climate
Carbon neutral in our own operations
100% renewable electricity
Enhance full value-chain emissions reporting
Waste
Zero waste to landfills from routine operations
100% of plastic waste for beneficial use, with at least 90% recycled or reused
Integrate sustainability into product and packaging design
Water
No adverse impact to water-stressed areas
No adverse impact from pharmaceuticals in the environment
Lilly acknowledges that climate change is negatively impacting human and environmental health. Action against climate change is required to achieve the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement and to avoid the most detrimental effects of climate change by limiting the global temperature rise to 1.5 °C. As a global company committed to making life better for people, Lilly recognizes our responsibility to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions to help fight climate change. Lilly’s 2030 goals are to source 100% of our purchased electricity from renewable sources and to achieve carbon neutrality in our operations (scope 1 and scope 2). Learn more about our approach to climate.
2030 climate goals:
- Sourcing 100% of our purchased electricity from renewable sources
- Become carbon neutral in our own operations (scope 1 and 2 emissions)
- Enhance tracking and reporting of emissions from our full value chain
Lilly is committed to minimizing waste to conserve energy, resources and landfill space. We understand that the most effective way to reduce waste is to not create it in the first place, which is why we explore ways to reduce, reuse or recycle materials to make new products. We recover energy from waste when possible and treat waste to reduce toxicity and volume. We only send waste to the landfill as a last resort or when legally required. Our goals are to achieve zero waste to landfills, and to ensure all plastic waste is repurposed for beneficial use. Learn more about our approach to waste.
2030 waste goals:
- Ensuring zero waste to landfill from routine operations
- Repurposing 100% of plastic waste for beneficial use, with at least 90% recycled or reused
- Integrate sustainability-focused design principles into product and packaging design processes
Water is essential to our operations and the facilities where we discover and manufacture our medicines, and we’re committed to using this critical resource efficiently. We aim to manage water more sustainably by reducing our water footprint and avoiding potential risks related to pharmaceuticals in the environment (PiE).
We assess our water risks, and while we generally operate in locations where the risk of water scarcity and poor quality are low, we continue to focus on conserving and reducing water use and improving the quality of the water we discharge from our facilities. We work with our sites around the world to identify water-saving opportunities and wastewater treatment technologies to support our environmental goals. Learn more about our approach to water use.
2030 water goals:
- Establish and implement water management plans for Lilly sites in water-stressed areas and conform to plans
- Ensuring 100% of Lilly sites meet predicted no-effect concentrations (PNEC) for Pharmaceuticals in the Environment
- Ensuring appropriate controls are in place by Lilly contract manufacturers to prevent discharge of pharmaceuticals in wastewater above applicable PNEC values
State-specific requirements
We know that how we operate our business today can have a long-lasting impact on people and the planet. That's why Lilly takes a broad approach to understanding and managing our environmental impacts across the product life cycle.
Expanding our use of solar energy at our global facilities
Lilly cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements
For additional information about the factors that affect the company’s business, please see the company’s latest Forms 10-K, 10-Q, and any 8-Ks filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company expressly disclaims any obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required by applicable law.
Find more detail on Lilly’s environmental, social and governance priorities, strategies and operations.