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Climate action

  • GRI
  • 201-2,

    Financial implications and other risks and opportunities due to climate change

  • 302-1,

    Energy consumption within the organization

  • 302-3,

    Energy intensity

  • 302-4,

    Reduction of energy consumption

  • 302-5

    Reductions in energy requirements of products and services

To support a healthy environment, we focus our efforts on four key areas: decarbonizing our operations and value chain, delivering more sustainable products and solutions, advancing environmental health equity and empowering our employees to lead the way on sustainability. Policies & Positions: Position on Climate Action

Decarbonizing our operations and value chain

In 2023, we submitted new climate goals to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to reflect J&J’s new environmental footprint following the creation of Kenvue as a separate company. These goals, which were validated by SBTi as being aligned with climate science, build on our past efforts to reach 100% renewable electricity and reduce GHG emissions in our global operations while also engaging key suppliers on their own decarbonization efforts. We continue to make progress in all of these areas.

Since 2021, our absolute Scope 1 & Scope 2 GHG emissions have reduced 23% (absolute reduction), from 574,165 MT CO2e in 2021 to 442,880 MT CO2e in 2023.

CDP: Disclosure Insight Action (logo)

Johnson & Johnson received an A- score in 2023 for leadership in environmental transparency and climate change performance.

Increasing use of renewable electricity

We are making meaningful progress in sourcing renewable electricity across our operations around the world, with 87% of our global electricity sourced from renewables. We currently maintain 44 on-site renewable energy systems in 20 countries, and we have executed 14 contracts for off-site renewable electricity procurement. Our use of renewable electricity is a significant factor in reducing our operational emissions.

Renewable electricity across our operations (as of the end of 2023)33

87 %

Global

100 %

U.S. and Canada

100 %

Europe

In 2023, two virtual power purchase agreements (PPAs) came on line in Europe in the form of a new wind farm and a new solar field in Spain. When added to existing on-site and off-site renewable electricity projects, these PPAs ensure that all our operations in Europe, across 12 countries, are sourcing the equivalent of 100% of their electricity from renewable sources.
Renewable Electricity

Health for Humanity goals

Our goal

By 2025, source 100% of our electricity needs from renewable sources.

SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy (icon)

Our results

  • 87% of electricity is produced or procured from renewable energy sources.

On track

GHG Emissions

Health for Humanity goals

Our goal

Reduce absolute Scope 1 & 2 GHG emissions 44% by 2030, from a 2021 base year.

SDG 13 - Climate Action (icon)

Our results

  • 23% (absolute reduction) in Scope 1 & 2 carbon emissions vs. the 2021 baseline.

On track

Value Chain

Health for Humanity goals

Our goal

80% of J&J suppliers by emissions covering Purchased Goods and Services and Upstream Transportation and Distribution will have science-based targets by 2028.

SDG 13 - Climate Action (icon)

Our results

  • In 2023, 28% of our suppliers by emissions covering Purchased Goods and Services and Upstream Transportation and Distribution had approved science-based targets.

On track

Reducing operational GHG emissions

We continue to invest in energy-efficient processes and equipment and decarbonization efforts at our sites. Since 2005, we have allocated up to $40 million per year in capital relief through our CO2 Capital Relief Program for energy projects that demonstrate potential CO2 savings and a financial return. Examples of completed projects in 2023 include a solar project at the Ethicon San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico, manufacturing facility, reducing the site’s GHG emissions. Our geothermal plant in Beerse (see below) also benefited from our CO2 Capital Relief Program.

CO2 Capital Relief Program (2005 – 2023)34

$ 69  million

annual energy cost savings

205

projects completed

2,016  TJ

annual energy savings

$ 387  million

total spent on completed projects

264,710  MT CO2

annual GHG emissions avoided

Inaugurating our deep geothermal plant in Belgium

In 2023, we celebrated the inauguration of our deep geothermal energy plant at the J&J Innovative Medicine Campus in Beerse, Belgium. This is a state-of-the-art plant and the first of its kind in Belgium on an industrial and private scale. It is equipped with the latest geothermal technology, which ensures efficient and reliable energy production, reducing J&J Innovative Medicine’s CO2 emissions in Belgium by approximately 30%. In addition to funding from J&J’s CO2 Capital Relief Program, the project received financial support from Flanders (Flemish Energy and Climate Agency and the Flemish Innovation and Entrepreneurship Agency), as well as from the European Regional Development Fund.

Inside the geothermal energy plant at J&J Innovative Medicine, Beerse, Belgium (photo)
Inside the geothermal energy plant at J&J Innovative Medicine, Beerse, Belgium

 On-site generated energy use by type (TJ)

Biomass Co-generation Wind Solar PV Geothermal 328 139 61 5 15 Biomass Co-generation Wind Solar PV Geothermal 328 139 61 5 15

Environmental certifications at our sites in 2023

6
J&J sites in the U.S., Panama and Italy received Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) certification bringing the total number of J&J sites that are certified as LEED or equivalent to 62.35
2
J&J sites achieved “My Green Lab®” certification for implementing sustainability best practices, including our Innovative Medicine site in Leiden, Netherlands and our DuPuy Synthes site in Cork, Ireland, bringing the total number of certified sites to 4.
J&J colleagues in the packaging unit at our Latina, Italy, site which distributes medicines around the world (photo)
Our Innovative Medicine manufacturing site in Xi’an, China achieved a World Economic Forum (WEF) Sustainability Lighthouse designation for implementing digital technologies that resulted in a 26% decrease in GHG emissions and a 23% reduction in energy consumption.
The Sustainability Lighthouse distinction is a part of the WEF Global Lighthouse award for locations showcasing sustainability-focused technology breakthroughs. J&J is privileged to have 8 lighthouses, 2 of which were also awarded with Sustainability designations.

J&J colleagues in the packaging unit at our Latina, Italy, site which distributes medicines around the world

Addressing upstream emissions

We remain committed to reducing carbon emissions across our extended value chain, and we have implemented several workstreams to help mitigate our Scope 3 emissions. These workstreams include our work to address cutting emissions in our supply chain, logistics and clinical trials.

Engaging suppliers in climate action

This includes engaging our key suppliers in climate action across our global supply base, which is critical to reducing our Scope 3 GHG emissions. We continued to make advancements on our upstream Scope 3 strategy, including:

  • Driving reductions: As part of our ongoing work with Manufacture 2030, we collaborate with industry peers to engage API suppliers through the Activate program and also engage external manufacturers to align with science-based decarbonization targets, drive more sustainable procurement and identify opportunities for operational and resource efficiency.
  • Improving data quality: We are collecting more detailed sources of emissions data for our supply base, as well as using our data science capabilities to visualize CDP Supply Chain data that show the maturity level of our largest-emitting suppliers, including their goals, emissions footprint and reductions, to support more targeted supplier engagement.
  • Building capacity: Through our Onward Program, we help educate suppliers on the business reasons for setting science-based climate goals. Through the Energize program, we are collaborating with peer companies to provide training and resources to support renewable energy adoption for pharmaceutical suppliers. Through the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Initiative (PSCI), our suppliers have access to climate-related training (see sections: Responsible supply base, Engaging employees for a healthy planet).

Reducing logistics emissions

We continue to identify opportunities to reduce emissions from our transportation and logistics operations. This includes transitioning some of our product shipments to lower-emitting modes of travel. For example, in 2023, J&J MedTech implemented a pilot for shipments from a distribution center in Belgium to China by rail instead of air to reduce emissions from air travel.

Cutting emissions in clinical trials

In 2023, we completed lifecycle analyses on eight clinical trials spanning different therapeutic areas, allowing us to identify key activities that drive the majority of carbon emissions in our trials. This information could help us design lower-carbon clinical trials in the future by introducing targeted actions, such as minimizing drug waste in clinical trials, reducing the footprint of central lab sample logistics, and decreasing the travel of both research participants and operational staff.

We continued to participate in coalitions to accelerate our own progress, as well as the overall decarbonization of healthcare, including:

  • Clean Energy Buyers Association
  • The National Academy of Medicine’s Action Collaborative on Decarbonizing the U.S. Health Sector
  • The Sustainable Healthcare Coalition (UK)
  • WWF Climate Business Network

We also engage to address the impacts of health inequities exacerbated by climate change (see section: Addressing the impacts of climate change on health equity).

Additionally, for decades, we have maintained a robust environmental management system and mature programs to reduce the environmental footprint of our sites and to manage our work across multiple environmental impact areas, including water stewardship, waste management and biodiversity. Policies & Positions: Position on Environmental Stewardship

33 This data is the percentage of electricity used by Johnson & Johnson that is generated from renewable sources, including on-site and off-site renewable systems, like direct PPAs, virtual PPAs, Utility Green Tariffs and Energy Attribute Certificates. Europe includes Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. North America includes the U.S. and Canada only. U.S. does not include Puerto Rico.

34 Data in this table refer to J&J Innovative Medicine and MedTech only. Data relating to the former Consumer Health segment are not included.

35 Includes Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology (BREEAM).

API
Active pharmaceutical ingredient
CDP
Global nonprofit for environmental impact disclosures. Formerly Carbon Disclosure Project
GHG
Greenhouse gas or gases
PPA
Power Purchase Agreement(s)