Chiesi, a research-driven, international biopharmaceutical company, has released its 2021 Annual Sustainability Report. The report covers not only the results, but also the activities of the company in order to carry out its business in a more sustainable dimension and responsibly.
With its 30 subsidiaries and global activities in more than 100 countries, Chiesi aims to create value for a wide range of stakeholders, including local communities, shareholders, public administrations, employees, partners and suppliers. The economic value generated by the company in 2021 increased by 8.6 percent last year to 2.42 billion euros.
Chiesi, a Benefit Corporation in Italy, the USA and France (Société à Mission) and the largest B Corp certified biopharmaceutical company providing innovative therapeutic solutions, stressed its commitment to systematically measuring its impact both inside and outside the organization. This issue was disclosed in the 2021 Report, which addresses six areas identified to support the shared value approach (Governance, Mission and Engagement, Patients, Environment, Society, Value Chain and Employees).
Ugo Di Francesco, CEO of Chiesi Group said, “At Chiesi, we are not solely committed to building our own impact and leaving a positive mark on the world. We hope to share what we have learned and be transparent and accountable about our failures as well as our successes, thereby helping to ensure sustainable progress in our industry.”
Chiesi focuses on enhancing efficacy for patients Three areas
three points of Air, Rare and Care which Chiesi focuses on, marked a turning point for the company in 2021. Approximately 81 percent of Chiesi’s turnover consists of products developed through in-house research. With an expense of €479 million in 2021, the Group was declared the first Italian Pharmaceutical company to invest in R&D and the twelfth company among the European pharmaceutical industries. In addition, with 42 patent applications to the EPO (European Patent Office), Chiesi is the first Italian pharmaceutical company to apply for a patent and has achieved a milestone with more than 5,600 global patents in total.
Chiesi’s R& D capabilities will evolve with the opening of the Biotech Center of Excellence, focused on the development, production and distribution of biological products, expected to open in Parma, Italy in 2024. This Center, which will be opened in line with Chiesi’s commitment as a B Corp, will be designed in a sustainable way and will comply with LEED criteria.
Alberto Chiesi, President of Chiesi Group, delivered the following statements on the subject, “As a Benefit Company and a B Corp certified Group, we act with the concept of shared value and an approach that aims to generate economic value that will benefit society by addressing its needs and problems. This report demonstrates our commitment to advancing sustainable healthcare in everything we do.”
In Chiesi, it is important to support change on a local scale
In addition to the achievements that stand out as a result of global activities, there are also local successes that need to be addressed. Chiesi Türkiye, which has focused on the field of Air since 2007, when it started operating in Turkey, continues to grow in this field. The increase in the number of premature babies surviving with the treatment support it offers is another significant achievement for Chiesi Türkiye. On the other hand, the local production journey of Chiesi Turkey continues. The company stated that it will increase its support to the local economy by reaching a local production volume exceeding 70 percent on a box basis in the next 2 years. He also announced that it will add value to the lives of different patient groups with its products in the fields of Rare and Care that it will add to its structure in the near future .
Emre Kara, General Manager of Chiesi Turkey said, “We are joining forces with our stakeholders in Turkey as well as globally, in order to specialize in sustainable healthcare services. We continue to keep our patients at the center of our innovations, rapidly advancing towards carbon neutrality, and fostering a culture of inclusion, transparency and excellence for employees and communities. We want to increase our impact and inspire people with this impact. We are taking strong steps towards sustainable progress by sharing what we have learned in our country as well as all over the world.”
Chiesi promotes environmental footprint reduction
In addition to its efforts to reduce the environmental impact of its solutions and operations, Chiesi encourages its supply chain partners to do the same.
In 2021, when Chiesi Group took its first steps towards B Corp certification renewal, the Eco-Friendly Products Challenge emerged and progress was made in transitioning to the Carbon Minimal Inhaler, which aims to reduce the inhaler carbon footprint by up to 90 percent. Chiesi also joined the B Corp Climate Collective (BCCC) in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) “Raceto Zero” campaign in 2021.
Report also explores Chiesi’s process of joining the Carbon Disclosure Project, a nonprofit charity that operates a global transparency system to enable investors, companies, cities, states and regions to manage their environmental impact. While Chiesi received a B rating in the general area for adopting a carbon neutrality strategy at the management level and taking coordinated actions on climate issues, it was awarded an A grade in the management of climate change issues for its efforts to address the carbon neutrality strategy at a global level.
Maria Paola Chiesi, Shared Value and Sustainability Head of Chiesi Group, added: “In 2021, we will continue to work towards our sustainability goal as we take action against the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the global economy, and provide high-quality care to our patients thanks to the hard work of each individual, department and affiliated company. We have the strength to face all the obstacles that will come our way.”
Making a difference for local communities and their employees
Chiesi has achieved many important achievements in line with its commitment to make a positive impact on the communities it operates in. In 2021, Chiesi made donations or other contributions totaling €22 million, including over €10.3 million in drug donations, through sponsorships and community-led charitable contributions such as External Clinical Scientific Testing and Trials.
Finally, Chiesi continued to make progress in various areas related to its employees and people. In 2021, Chiesi Global Rare Diseases (+41.6%) and Chiesi where headcount increased by 20% It increased its workforce by 3 percent, thanks to China’s expansion. Women make up 54 percent of the workforce. Women make up 66 percent of R& D employees. Chiesi employees have completed more than 300,157 hours of training in total, which means that the average training time per person is 48.8 hours. This reflects an overall increase of 0.9 percent in average hours of education per capita from 2020 to 2021.
