Eco-design

Within Sanofi, we completed 27 Environmental Life Cycle Assessments (LCA), including 15 in 2024 (+150% vs. 2023):​​​​​​​

7 of our top-selling products follow an Eco-design approach with Sanofi, for example:

• Dupixent: this LCA was conducted to assess improvement levers executed by Sanofi since 2020 in manufacturing (API manufacturing, energy and water optimization). This Eco-designed medicine has less 50% impact on climate change & less 60% on water use vs. its 2020 version (Based on an ISO-compliant LCA conducted in 2024. The LCA study was peer-reviewed by an independent panel, following ISO 14040 and 14044 standards, ensuring transparent and accurate results).
• Cerezyme: this LCA was conducted to assess improvement levers executed by Sanofi since 2016 in manufacturing (API manufacturing, energy and water optimization). This Eco-designed medicine has less 80% impact on climate change and less 62% on water use vs. its 2016 version (The LCA study peer-review by an independent panel, is currently in progress). Environmental LCA were also executed for Apidra, Aspart, Lantus, Lispro and Soliqua medicines.
• 8 new medicines (still under development phase) were also assessed with a LCA to identify their key environmental drivers & respective improvement levers.

 

Accelerating LCA execution is key for our Eco-design strategy, therefore we keep on investing in our internal Eco-Design Digital intelligence (EDDi) tool to model, measure & simulate, monitor & optimize our medicines’ environment profile. In April 2024, we received the certificate from Bureau Veritas, a world leader independent in certification services, attesting that Sanofi EDDi tool is compliant with ISO 14040 & ISO 14044. Today, we are also exploring Artificial intelligence (AI) use for LCA execution and ISO-LCA reports acceleration.

 

Environmental knowledge and skills development of Sanofian is key for Eco-design approach integration and acceleration. To reach this objective Sanofi has developed and executed in 2024 an Eco-design transformation program with four levels according to target audience and learning objectives:

• Level 1: global audience, Sanofi Eco-design approach objectives
• Level 2: target audience, Sanofi Eco-design approach tools presentation
• Level 3: target audience, Sanofi Eco-design approach tools application
• Level 4: target audience, Sanofi Eco-design approach – LCA advance learning

By end of 2024: 3,974 Sanofi participants have been trained to various corresponding Eco-design training levels.

Complementary to these Eco-design learning levers – dedicated training webinars were organized to further focus on environmental aspects: product environmental claims, plastic pollutions, packaging and device recyclability. Still in this approach of empowering our Sanofi teams to drive meaningful changes, fostering a culture of creativity and action through the Planet Care Challenge. Every year, we invest €3 million to transform our employees’ innovative ideas into concrete, impactful solutions. In 2025 Planet Care Challenge edition focuses on Eco-design.

To ensure our objective deploy and implement Eco-design at the core of Sanofi business ecosystem we defined specific Eco-design strategies for key departments: R&D, Manufacturing and Supply, we integrate Eco-design standards and process (HSE Eco-design management systems standard; Sustainable Packaging and Device standards, R&D product development stage gate deliverables, and in Manufacturability assessment tool to include Eco-design according to Sanofi industrial expectations Scientific and Technological Standards). Finally, we prioritized capabilities to ensure Environmental sustainability is integrated in Sanofi core functions (considering the right strategy, people, rituals, tool and process including the right upskilling).

At Sanofi, we know environmental sustainability progress is only possible through the collective power of our people and partners, united to take meaningful actions in a way that creates a positive ripple effect throughout communities. Here are some Global Eco-design approach initiatives which Sanofi is an active member:

Pharma LCA consortium & SMI (Sustainable Markets Initiative): Sanofi is leading the Pharma LCA Consortium that gathers global pharmaceutical companies that have come together via the Pharmaceutical Environment Group (PEG) - with support from the Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI). Jointly and in collaboration with NHS England and British Standard Insitute (BSI) we aim to publish in 2025 a sector-wide standard for medicines LCA for measuring, reporting, and communicating product level environmental footprint data for the pharmaceutical sector. The LCA consortium is also assessing the opportunity to develop product inventory data sets and a tool to support the implementation.