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).

The results of this assessment suggest that Sanofi's main potential impacts are found primarily in the upstream value chain, for instance due to the pressure on horseshoe crab populations for their blood, used for quality testing applications. Additionally, the pressures of pollution and climate change affect both the upstream processes and Sanofi's direct operations. Finally, the potential downstream impacts of the value chain are likely to come from pollution from product use (see Downstream Emissions to the Environment page).

The dependencies were narrowed down as follows: Sanofi’s supply chain is dependent on ecosystems for provisioning and support services. These services support Sanofi’s supply of raw materials used in products (direct input from nature for plant-based and animal-based materials, minerals, petroleum, etc.) and for packaging (paper, cardboard, plastics, etc.), as well as the availability of molecules used in chemicals. 

• By 2025: All our priority sites with highest potential impacts will implement specific biodiversity management plans;
• By 2025: All other relevant locations will implement at least one local initiative for biodiversity;
• By 2030: All sites located near sensitive areas will also implement specific biodiversity management plans.

Our ambitions also include the Deforestation-free sourcing of priority nature-based ingredients (key raw materials derived from wood, cattle and palm oil).

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. This new policy will start with a list of priority raw materials potentially derived from commodities known to be linked with deforestation. Sanofi is committed to the deforestation-free sourcing of these raw materials:

• PAPER & CARDBOARD, Commodity of Concern: Wood
• CELLULOSE, Commodity of Concern: Wood
• MAGNESIUM STEARATE, Commodity of Concern: Palm Oil
• GLYCEROL, Commodity of Concern: Palm Oil
• BOVINE SERUM, Commodity of Concern: Cattle
• GELATINE, Commodity of Concern: Cattle

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. Wood derivatives are prioritized as they are used in packaging for all finished goods.

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

1. A company standard on biodiversity management. This document defines minimum rules applicable to all of our sites across the world to limit their pressure on local biodiversity and ecosystems
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:

• By 2025, all priority sites with the highest potential impacts must implemented specific biodiversity management plans aligned with local initiatives when possible. These sites are situated in France, Germany, Hungary, Mexico, Spain and the USA. They are located in 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 Australia, Brazil, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Poland, Tunisia and the USA.

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.

Additionally, by 2025, all other relevant sites will have implemented at least one local initiative for biodiversity to raise awareness on nature challenges and inspire Sanofi Employees to take action.

• Biodiversity Management Plans are in place at 49% of our priority sites
• 59% of our sites have implemented at least one local biodiversity initiative
• Sanofi disclosed 2023 performance to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) Forest questionnaire (palm oil), achieving a C rating (awareness level)