Novartis sets new long-term social impact and sustainability targets
Novartis introduced new long-term social impact and sustainability targets covering access, global health, emissions, waste and water. The plan includes a 2030 access goal and net-zero across the value chain by 2040.
Novartis has introduced new long-term Social Impact & Sustainability targets in Innovation and Access, Global Health, Foundations and Giving, Environmental Sustainability and Business Fundamentals. The company said the targets build on progress after it achieved the Innovation & Access and Global Health targets associated with its sustainability-linked bond at maturity in 2025.
In Innovation and Access, Novartis said it will implement a global access strategy for all new medicines launched. By 2030, it aims to increase the number of patients reached with strategic innovative medicines in low- and middle-income countries at least 150% from a 2025 base year, and establish at least 40 healthcare system readiness roadmaps by 2030 across Sjogren's, chronic myeloid leukemia, myelofibrosis, Huntington's and rare renal diseases.
In Global Health, Novartis said it will invest at least USD 250 million to advance R&D for malaria and neglected tropical diseases over five years from 2026 to 2030. In 2026, it aims to achieve regulatory submission for malaria treatment ganaplacide/lumefantrine and launch community health initiatives in 10 countries by 2030.
For Foundations and Giving, the company said it will implement the Novartis Foundation CARDIO4Cities model in at least 30 major cities by 2030.
In Environmental Sustainability, Novartis said it will achieve net-zero GHG emissions across its value chain by 2040. The company set targets to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 90% and absolute Scope 3 GHG emissions 42% by 2030, from a 2022 base year, maintain a minimum of 90% absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emission reductions from 2030 to 2040, and reduce absolute Scope 3 GHG emissions by 90% by 2040, from a 2022 base year.
The environmental targets also include reducing the amount of waste sent for disposal by 30% by 2030 from a 2022 base year, no water quality impacts from manufacturing effluents by 2030 across own manufacturing sites, labs and all active pharmaceutical ingredient suppliers, and water use reduction plans for own and supplier sites based in water-stressed basins by 2030.
In People and Culture, Novartis said it will maintain gender-balanced representation in management by 2027, review human resources practices beyond base pay to eliminate any potential sources of bias in accordance with applicable law by 2027, and make the new EU Pay Transparency Directive requirements its global minimum standard for internal pay equity and pay transparency reporting by 2027.