How is Roche Proving that Healthcare can be Sustainable?
Roche is a global leader in the healthcare industry, recognised as the world's largest biotechnology company and a top provider of in-vitro diagnostics.
Roche researches, develops and manufactures pharmaceutical products and diagnostics to improve patient lives, focusing on personalised healthcare and tackling challenging diseases.
As well as tackling disease, Roche is also aiming to help tackle climate change.
Thanks to Roche’s sustainable approaches, it has ranked second in Sustainability Magazine’s Top 250 Most Sustainable Companies report in 2025.
Science-aligned net zero
Roche’s science-based path to net zero is officially validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), confirming that its climate commitments align with the 1.5°C pathway.
Because planetary and human health are inseparable, Roche is acting across its operations and value chain to cut emissions decisively while advancing access to innovation, equity for its people and protection of nature and water.
Roche is targeting net zero GHG emissions across Scopes 1, 2 and 3 by 2045, reducing absolute emissions 90% from a 2022 baseline.
“The SBTi validation underscores our deep commitment to addressing climate change and enabling a sustainable future for all,” says Silke Hörnstein, Head of Corporate Strategy and Sustainability at Roche.
“We are prioritising significant reductions across our entire value chain to achieve these targets.
“Regarding Scope 1 and 2 emissions, we are even going beyond the SBTi targets, by striving for absolute zero by 2050.
“We are the only ones going for absolute zero in our industry, which makes me extremely proud.”
Near-term (by 2029), Roche is aiming to cut absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions 70% and reduce absolute Scope 3 emissions 22.5% from fuel and energy, waste from operations, business travel, use of sold products and end-of-life.
By 2029, suppliers responsible for 70% of emissions from purchased goods and services, capital goods and upstream transport and distribution will have science-based targets.
Beyond SBTi, Roche aim for absolute zero in Scope 1 and 2 by 2050.
Decarbonising across all scopes
Roche is advancing 100% sustainable electricity by end-2025 (86% achieved by end-2024), boosting efficiency and scaling renewables such as solar and wind.
Roche is also phasing out potent halogenated hydrocarbons and reducing other air pollutants.
Every Roche site has a Scope 1 and 2 roadmap to cut energy use and adopt clean heat (e.g., geothermal storage, heat pumps).
Because more than 90% of Roche's footprint is Scope 3, the company is focusing on four levers:
- Supplier engagement for SBTs
- Circular product lifecycle decisions
- Waste prevention and reuse over incineration (including returnable packaging)
- Lower-impact business travel.
Digital and AI accelerating sustainable impact
In 2024, Roche's Basel Drug Substance site was awarded a Global Advanced Digital Lighthouse by the World Economic Forum, recognising data, digital and AI solutions that enhance performance and sustainability.
Roche's results include a 60% reduction in variation of drug substances produced, a 50% cut in technology transfer times as well as a 31% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions.
As Roche's global innovation hub for complex biologics and small molecules, Basel is setting the standard Roche will scale across its network, supporting its holistic sustainability strategy spanning access to innovation and health impact, an inclusive people agenda, environmental stewardship and strong governance with transparent reporting.
