Biodiversity

Sanofi has assessed its biodiversity impacts and its dependencies to ecosystem services as well as associated risks covering its entire value chain. This review triggered the identification and characterization of Sanofi’s most material aspects, based on:

• The scientific framework provided by the IPBES 2019 Global Assessment Report;
• Science Based Targets Network’s (SBTN) methodology;
• Guidance by the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosure (TNFD) framework;
• Recommendations from the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS).

Following TNFD recommendations, Sanofi launched a LEAP (Locate, Evaluate, Assess, Prepare) assessment in 2025 to evaluate its nature-related dependencies, impacts, risks and opportunities across its value chain. 

Sanofi has segmented the work along its value chain, focusing on three entry points:  

1. Own operations  

2. Tier 1 suppliers and CMOs (Contract Manufacturing Organization) 

3. Commodities used directly or through derivatives in Sanofi’s products.  

The analysis focused on assessing Sanofi’s dependencies on specific nature-based commodities. The results suggest that main potential impacts on biodiversity are primarily found in the upstream value chain as with the supply of raw materials for production of pharmaceuticals (excipients and active substances) and for packaging (paper, cardboard, plastics, etc.). Additionally, Sanofi has identified a potential impact on threatened species, by using horseshoe crab blood to produce Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL), essential for quality testing applications.  

In terms of own operations, the footprint of industrial sites also implies pressures on local biodiversity. This pressure vector is considered in our biodiversity management plans (BMP) for priority sites. 

Additionally, the pressures of air pollution and climate change affect both upstream processes and Sanofi's own operations. Finally, the potential downstream impacts of the value chain are likely to come  from product use, for more information see section Downstream Emissions to the Environment. 

We’re pursuing our ambition across our value chain to reduce pressure on biodiversity. 

• By 2030, all our sites located near biodiversity sensitive areas will have developed specific biodiversity management plans; 

• We encourage sourcing priority raw materials from deforestation-free sources (key raw materials derived from wood, cattle and palm oil); 

• We prioritize the avoidance and reduction of horseshoe crab blood-derived materials, such as Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL), in pharmaceutical testing. We have defined the following targets: 70% of endotoxin tests without limulus reagent by 2027 and all new Stage I/II product launches submitted with rFC method (synthetic alternative) by 2027. 

 

 

Sanofi has established global rules for managing the quality and safety of materials used for manufacturing activities. These include the collection of information from our Suppliers to appreciate the animal, mineral or vegetal origin of materials sourced and to ensure their traceability. Our objective is to prevent the use of materials derived from recognized protected or endangered species; also the capture or wild harvesting of materials of animal or vegetal origin from endangered or protected species as identified in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) list.

Sanofi is committed to the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources through our commitment to the Nagoya Protocol and to the Convention for Biological Diversity (CBD).  Collaboration contracts set out conditions for sharing the benefits arising from the use of these resources.

The assessment of the links between Sanofi raw materials and the list of High Impact Commodities defined by the Science Based Targets on Nature (SBTN) program is the cornerstone of a new sustainable sourcing strategy. 

• Sanofi is committed to the deforestation-free sourcing of Paper and Cardboard, using international certification such as FSC or PEFC. Wood derivatives are prioritized as they are used in packaging for all finished goods. 

• We finalized the assessment covering commodities known to be linked with deforestation (cattle derivatives, palm oil derivatives and pig derivates). The results of this assessment could lead to a new action plan. For more information, please consult our TNFD-aligned factsheet. 

Criteria for prioritization included: spend, deforestation risk index (SBTN high impact commodity list & EU Deforestation Regulation scope) and dependency based on contribution of each nature-based commodity to Sanofi turnover.

To protect horseshoe crab population, we are implementing a phased action plan to transition to synthetic and innovative alternatives for endotoxin testing and thereby reduce and replace LAL use. 

Our industrial sites strive to implement best practices for local management of biodiversity. Our approach relies on: 

1. A company standard on biodiversity management:   

   • For existing site, this document defines minimum rules applicable to all of our sites across the world to limit their pressure on local biodiversity and ecosystems. 

   • For new construction, compliant with environmental laws and regulations, the standard defines prerequisites to avoid, mitigate or compensate biodiversity impact.   

2. The comprehensive assessment of our potential impacts on local biodiversity 

3. The preparation of a detailed action plan. 

The global biodiversity risks mapping of our industrial sites was first completed with the support of an external consultant, using the Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT) database and a specific survey to appreciate local practices and potential direct impacts on nature. The results of this assessment then shaped our biodiversity program with the prioritization of sites and a specific calendar:

• Since 2025, priority sites that interface with nature-sensitive areas have implemented specific biodiversity management plans aligned with local initiatives when possible. 
  • These sites are located in France, Germany, Hungary, Mexico, Spain and the USA. They are located in close proximity of Threatened Species (as defined by the IUCN Red List), of protected Areas and of any sensitive biodiversity areas. 
• By 2030, any other site located near sensitive areas will also have implemented specific biodiversity management plans.
  • Those sites are situated in Belgium, France, Ireland, Italy, and the USA¹. 

A Biodiversity Management Plan is a site-specific reference State-Pressure-Response standardized framework that provides relevant guidance on:

• Characterizing local biodiversity features of interest
• Assessing the potential impacts of site activities
• Setting targets to reduce risks of potential adverse impacts to biodiversity & ecosystems.

• Biodiversity Management Plans are in place at 100% of our highest priority sites 

• 75% of the spend on paper and cardboard has shifted to FSC/PEFC or equivalent certification. 

¹ Number of sites and locations have been updated following the change in scope in 2025 (divestment of Opella)