The words “pharmaceutical company,” “sustainability” and “Corporate Social Responsibility” rarely go hand in hand, but a global Pharmaceutical Company boasting local impact in the Pittsburgh region might just be what the Doctor ordered.
Bayer recently released it’s 2009 Sustainability Report and with it some lofty goals for Bayer’s operations in the Pittsburgh region, among them a 20% improvement in energy efficiency by 2012 in Bayer’s Pittsburgh-based business center as part of it’s “Green IT Initiative” and a “Wellness Works” 2010 pilot program to help identify health risks and promote a healthy lifestyle for Bayer employees and their families in Pittsburgh.
Beyond local initiatives, Bayer has made it clear that globally they are committed to Climate Protection as its Climate Program is highlighted in one of the Focus Issues in the 2009 Sustainability Report, as well as Corporate Social Responsibility which includes around 300 projects worldwide and numerous sponsorship activities by their two foundations.
What impressed me was the transparency with which Bayer reported on its negative news as well as its successes throughout the year in its 124-page report. From detailed information on worldwide lawsuits to their position and performance on Human Rights, Bayer has set a high standard for transparency. Perhaps that is why Bayer can boast a long list of awards, ratings and rankings on its site.
Image Credit: Bayer AG Copyright © Bayer Corporation
Oh, and forgot this one about their crazy GMO rice. They are SO far from sustainable it’s laughable.
http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/en/media-center/reports/bayer-s-double-trouble/
Thanks for bringing up the GMO rice issue, the lawsuits of which Bayer discloses yet still fights in its 2009 report. While far from perfect, Bayer does rank #1 amongst chemical companies in corporate environmental and sustainability reporting as found in a study by the Roberts Environmental Center at McKenna College in Claremont, California as well as scoring an A+ by the Global Reporting Initiative, two reputable sources on sustainability reporting. I agree we must constantly push for more transparency on the parts of corporations, especially when they are in the position to potentially endanger food supplies and populations.
The unfortunate takeaway here is that even the “best” mega-corporations are utter sustainability failures in any absolute sense.
Oh, and forgot this one about their crazy GMO rice. They are SO far from sustainable it’s laughable.
http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/en/media-center/reports/bayer-s-double-trouble/
Thanks for bringing up the GMO rice issue, the lawsuits of which Bayer discloses yet still fights in its 2009 report. While far from perfect, Bayer does rank #1 amongst chemical companies in corporate environmental and sustainability reporting as found in a study by the Roberts Environmental Center at McKenna College in Claremont, California as well as scoring an A+ by the Global Reporting Initiative, two reputable sources on sustainability reporting. I agree we must constantly push for more transparency on the parts of corporations, especially when they are in the position to potentially endanger food supplies and populations.
The unfortunate takeaway here is that even the “best” mega-corporations are utter sustainability failures in any absolute sense.