How Does Korab Zuka Link Climate and Health at Novartis?

Korab Zuka, Global Head of Social Impact and Chief Sustainability Officer at Novartis, has been named 10th in Sustainability Magazine’s Top 250 Sustainability Leaders 2026.

This recognition awards his leadership in decarbonisation and prioritising the link between climate and health.

Korab writes on LinkedIn: “I’m grateful to be named in Sustainability Magazine’s Top 10 Sustainability Leaders for 2026, but I’m also mindful that lists like this are only a snapshot of work that’s fundamentally collective.

“Congratulations to my peers on this list and to the partners, scientists and advocates across sectors who set the bar higher and keep pushing us toward what’s urgent and what’s possible.

“This progress is only possible because of the broader health ecosystem we operate in. None of us can do this work alone.”

Who is Korab Zuka?

Prior to his time at Novartis, Korab has built up experience in the healthcare, life sciences and biotechnology sectors.

He worked at biotech company Gilead Sciences for eight years, where he worked in Public Affairs and Corporate Responsibility.

In this role, he oversaw the company’s investor relations, especially surrounding its ESG strategy.

Most recently, Korab worked as Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Purpose Communications and ESG at Bristol Myers Squibb.

He took on his current position as Global Head of Social Impact and Chief Sustainability Officer at Novartis in November 2024.

Korab tells Sustainability Magazine: “We view sustainability as a strategic lever that drives long-term value.

“As a company we are very clear about where we can have the greatest impact and what underpins how we do business.

“Our greatest impact comes from embedding inclusion and access principles across every stage of innovation – from R&D to commercialisation to operations – ensuring that we do our part in enabling our medicines to reach patients who need them.”

Novartis’s sustainability strategy

Novartis has set sustainability targets such as reducing absolute Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 90% and Scope 3 emissions by 42% by 2030 from a 2022 base year.

It is committed to water stewardship, ensuring that there are no negative impacts on water quality from its manufacturing sites and high-risk suppliers.

It aims to apply sustainable design principles to its products, in order to minimise the negative impacts of supply chain operations on planetary health, which then affects patient health.

Novartis looks at using sustainable and non-hazardous materials at the start of a product’s lifecycle, reducing the number of shipments, recovering reusable devices and considering the recyclability of devices and packaging at the design phase.

It also has a goal to reduce the amount of waste sent for disposal by 30% from a 2022 base year by 2030.

All sustainability, net zero and sustainable supply chain leaders should attend:

• Sustainability LIVE: The Net Zero Summit - QEII Centre, London, March 4-5
• Sustainability LIVE: The US Summit - Navy Pier, Chicago, April 21-22

Co-located with Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE, these events brings together CSOs, ESG leaders and senior decision-makers at a moment when sustainability, supply chains and commercial performance are increasingly interconnected.

Tickets can be booked online today for The Net Zero Summit and The US Summit. Group discounts available.

Korab’s work at Novartis

Korab brings his extensive experience and knowledge of corporate affairs, sustainability and health equity to his role at Novartis.

At the company, he oversees the development and execution of its social impact and sustainability strategies, ensuring that sustainable practices are embedded into every area of its operations.

Korab continues: “There is real potential to rethink how we deliver impact, whether through innovative access models, new partnerships, or a pipeline that reflects the evolving needs of patients.

“And while we are proud of the role we play, we know we are only one part of a much broader ecosystem.

“Progress depends on collaboration across governments, civil society and industry to build solutions that are sustainable, scalable and centred on patient impact.”