GENENTECH

 
 

By now, science leaves no doubt - climate change presents a clear and present threat to human health and wellbeing. For Genentech, our active engagement in efforts to fight climate change are directly linked to our healthcare mission.

Our Carbon Footprint

For many years we have taken seriously the responsibility to reduce our carbon footprint, setting our first goals in 2005. Our 2020 goals for our South San Francisco (SSF) campus are to reduce emissions from onsite energy use by 30% and employee transportation emissions by 10%, compared to 2010.  We met both these goals two years early, with a combined average annual reduction of 3.7%, in line with the levels needed to keep global warming to well below two degrees by the end of this century.

Building on this success and recognizing we still have work to do, we are working to develop a new set of ambitious 2030 commitments for the SSF campus.

TACKLING TRANSPORTATION & FOOD PRODUCTION

Taken together, transportation and food production account for about half of global GHG emissions.  We have committed to participate in two new initiatives focused on these priority areas.

Through the WRI Cool Food Pledge we have committed to providing our employees with delicious food that is better for the planet and to contributing to a collective target of reducing food-related GHG emissions by 25% by 2030 relative to 2015.

We have made substantial progress to support electric vehicle use for employee commuting.  This includes installation of 100 onsite charging stations and electrification of our commuter bus fleet.  Building on this progress, we have signed on to the Climate Group’s EV100 initiative, committing by 2030 to further integrate electric vehicles into our vehicle fleets and to taking additional steps to enable electric vehicle use by our employees and visitors.

WE HAVE OUR ROOTS IN CALIFORNIA

We are based in South San Francisco, and have substantial R&D and manufacturing assets as well as a large workforce in California.  This brings a particular lens to our climate related efforts.

We are committed to playing our part in the State of California’s efforts to substantially reduce emissions while growing its economy and to act as a model for others, inspiring and assisting them to do the same.  

Additionally, we understand that Californian companies, communities, ecosystems and the economy face particular challenges as a result of physical climate changes that are already upon us.

We believe that businesses have an important role to play in promoting policies that contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation. We participate in such advocacy through our membership of regional groups such as the Silicon Valley Leadership Group and Bay Area Council. 

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2030

With this as a backdrop to our work to develop new climate related goals we must consider:

  • How to innovate to deliver substantial additional reductions in our direct footprint

  • What additional emission sources we should tackle with our new goals

  • How to further integrate sustainability goals to our science (and our science into our goals)

  • Opportunities to work with our suppliers and reduce impacts arising in our supply chain

  • What measurable goals we can set around mobilizing our employees to reduce their climate impact at work and at home

  • How to incorporate climate resilience into our business

  • How to leverage partnerships with others and expand our positive impacts