Environment
Sartorius is committed to minimizing environmental impact in the life science and pharmaceutical industries. Our solutions can help reduce energy, water, and chemical consumption while optimizing cleanroom space.
At the same time, we work to lower our own environmental footprint by focusing on emissions, waste reduction, and circular economy initiatives.
Climate Action
Every company needs to address climate change, and so do we. As a supplier to the biopharmaceutical industry, we do not operate in a highly emissions-intensive sector. Even so, we have set ourselves the ambition to achieve net-zero emissions across our entire value chain by 2045.
Our ambition for 2045: Complete decarbonization of business activities
On this path, in the mid-term, we are committed to an absolute CO₂eq reduction goal for scope 1 and 2. The emissions are to be reduced by 42% by 2030 compared to the 2022 baseline, equivalent to an average annual reduction of around 5.4%. According to the SBTi, this target is aligned with the United Nations’ 1.5 degree objective and the Paris Climate Agreement.
Mid-term ambitions until 2030
- Reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 CO2eq emission by ~5.4% per year on average
- Reduce emissions in scope 1 and 2 by 42% compared to 2022
- 51.6% lower CO2eq emissions intensity in scope 3
Targets are validated by SBTi, scope 1 and 2 targets in line with 1.5 degree goal
In close cooperation with our business partners along the value chain, we have already initiated numerous activities to reduce emissions. These include, for example, purchasing electricity from renewable sources, switching from air to sea transportation, reducing business travel and introducing eco-design for products and packaging - especially with regard to the use of CO2-intensive petroleum-based plastics.
About 89% of Sartorius’ total emissions are indirect CO₂ equivalents generated along the value chain, both upstream and downstream. For these Scope 3 emissions, assuming continued company growth, Sartorius has defined an intensity target to reduce emissions by 51.6% by 2030 compared to the 2022 baseline. This corresponds to an average annual reduction rate of 8.7%.
What are Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions?
Emissions in Scope 1 are direct emissions. They result mostly from the use of fossil fuels to generate heat and power at our sites or process emissions.
Switching to renewable energy at our sites will have a major impact in reducing Scope 1 emissions. The process emissions generated during membrane production are currently deemed unavoidable based on the technology available at present.
Indirect emissions within Scope 2 occur during the generation of purchased energy, particularly electricity.
We are working to switch to zero-emission energy from renewable sources wherever possible. The success of this effort is subject to the availability of renewable energy at our global locations.
Scope 3 emissions arise along the entire value chain. Upstream emissions include CO₂eq associated with purchased or acquired goods and services. Downstream emissions refer to emissions generated through the use and end‑of‑life treatment of our sold products and services.
In line with our net-zero ambition by 2045, we are working closely with our business partners along the value chain to reduce these emissions.
Resources and Circularity
Sartorius is committed to improving resource efficiency and advancing the circular economy along the value chain. Key focus areas include eco-design, reducing dependence on fossil-based materials, enhancing product recyclability, and eliminating operational landfill waste.
Find more information in the 2025 Sustainability Report under "Pollution".
Water and Effluents
At Sartorius, water is mainly used for the production and modification of membranes. Our manufacturing processes are designed to minimize the use of rinsing water and reduce wastewater and pollution. Organic solvents are treated and largely recycled.
Distillation plants are installed at the relevant consumption sites in Göttingen and Yauco to ensure almost closed solvent cycles. In addition, the Yauco and Bangalore sites have a cistern system that collects rainwater for various applications.
Find more information in the 2025 Sustainability Report under "Pollution".
Supply Chain
Sartorius’ supply chain plays a key role in the company’s sustainability transformation. We foster responsible business practices by integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards into supplier relationships and procurement processes. Through close collaboration with our suppliers, we promote transparency, protect human rights, reduce emissions, and advance circularity, thereby driving continuous improvement across the entire value chain.
Sustainable Supply Chain Management
Sartorius’ supply chain plays a significant role in the company’s sustainability transformation. For this reason, the Group expects suppliers and their suppliers to comply with sustainability standards and to promote sustainability.
The Code of Conduct for Business Partners is also available in the following languages:
It is important to engage and communicate with our suppliers transparently. This is why we use a multistage approach to maintain sustainability in our production and purchasing processes.
Respecting human rights, setting high standards for protecting the environment, and ensuring good, safe and fair working conditions in manufacturing our products is important to us beyond our own production facilities.
Sartorius is a member of the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Initiative (PSCI) PSCI (pscinitiative.org), a group of pharmaceutical and healthcare companies who share a vision of better social, health, safety and environmental outcomes in the communities where we buy.
The PSCI supplier audit program defines common assessment tools and promotes audit sharing to reduce burden on the industry and drive continuous improvement.
Unconditional compliance with the relevant law and internal regulations is a top priority and an integral part of the values of Sartorius AG (“Sartorius” in the following). This includes the responsible treatment of human rights and the environment. Against this background, Sartorius takes the obligations of the German Act on Corporate Due Diligence in Supply Chains and the German Whistleblower Protection Act very seriously.
Sartorius opposes any violation of human rights or the environment in its own business areas and along the supply chain.
1. Whistleblowing and complaints
Sartorius encourages open and transparent communication and fosters a speak-up culture with the goal of promptly identifying and addressing any shortcomings and preserving public trust.
Sartorius undertakes to identify and remedy any defects immediately. To achieve this Sartorius maintains a reliable, user-friendly, and effective complaints procedure. This procedure serves as an early alert system and enables Sartorius to implement preventive measures or remedial actions to end, mitigate, or prevent risks or violations of Sartorius’ policies or applicable laws.
Anyone inside or outside Sartorius (including, but not limited to, employees of direct or indirect suppliers) may file a complaint. Whistleblowers may remain anonymous.
Any indications of possible violations of laws and/or applicable regulations (e.g. the Sartorius Code of Conduct for Employees or the Code of Conduct for Business Partners) or of human rights or environmental risks or violations can be reported through the whistleblowing and complaints procedure.
Sartorius is committed to ensuring that (potential) reporters who submit reports or complaints in good faith do not face retaliation. Sartorius will leverage its influence on business partners along the supply chain to protect their employees, to the extent possible, from any form of retaliation.
Sartorius will thoroughly investigate any report and involve the reporter appropriately throughout the process. The handling of the report will be conducted in a fair, neutral, and independent manner.
To uphold confidentiality, both the identity of the reporter and the contents of the report will be kept strictly confidential, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Sartorius complies with all relevant data privacy laws and regulations.
2. Reporting channels
Sartorius implemented the following reporting channels covering various languages and being available around the clock. Via the following reporting channels everybody can make a complaint.
In addition the Compliance Teams of the Legal Affairs & Compliance division, the Chief Compliance Officer and the respective managers are available as contact person.
3. Further information
For additional information, please refer to the rules of procedure.
Stories on global and local initiatives
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment
Sartorius complies with the WEEE directive 2012/19/EU in Europe and partners with the European Advanced Recycling Network for product returns.
