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Compliance is our license to operate beyond exemptions

How the commitment to reduce the environmental impact of our operations protects your future and that of your business

If any single word defines today’s global situation, it would be “volatility.” 
Climate change is a tangible threat to the quality of life globally, and solutions will command our greatest efforts in innovation, social equity, and systems thinking. These are extraordinary times.

The response of the diagnostics and biomedical industry at the height of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic showcased its power and agility in countering healthcare threats. A diverse community of researchers, manufacturers, and healthcare providers built a formidable front against an unknown virus. Action was immediate.

Over the long run, however, these industries also carry the responsibility to secure a safe and resilient planet for future generations. With operations that consume large amounts of water and energy, supply chains that span the globe, and product cycles that generate copious wastes, diagnostics and healthcare have a significant environmental impact. Among the issues underlying unsustainable manufacturing processes is the use of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs).

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Sustainability at Roche

Healthcare manufacturers must build future-ready supply chains

SVHC is a term of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) used to designate chemical substances that are carcinogenic, mutagenic, toxic for reproduction, persistent, bioaccumulative (PBT), toxic very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB) or likely to have serious effects on human health or the environment. SVHCs are subject to authorization under EU REACH Regulation, and their listing as SVHCs is a first step towards their restricted use. SVHCs are not only undesirable in products. Their inclusion in production processes exposes staff on the manufacturing floor to hazards and leads to effluent waste that must undergo high-energy treatment.

As integral members of a global community, healthcare organizations – including manufacturers – support and strive to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) developed and proposed by the United Nations. Therefore, the use of SVHCs at any stage in the value chain of diagnostic and biomedical products must be phased out to establish supply chains oriented toward a more sustainable future.

The solution is to design sustainability into manufactured products from the start, using raw materials aligned with sustainability goals.

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Sustainability is built into our business strategy and part of everyone’s job at Roche

With a global presence, we at Roche see ourselves as key contributors to sustainability efforts. What we do makes a difference. Thus, we strive to ensure that our impact is positive. For several years, we have been committed to mitigating the environmental footprint of our products, processes, and operations. We proactively seek more sustainable technologies.  We have set measurable Eco-balance goals to monitor and continually improve the environmental impact of our business activities. Pivotal to achieving our Eco-balance goals is the elimination of SVHCs on the EU candidate list from our operations.

Our commitment is to stop the use of SVHCs

How will we get there? We commit to “ Stop the use of SVHC - 10 Years after they are put on the EU candidate list."

What does this mean for partners of Roche CustomBiotech? We, as a longstanding and reliable supplier to diagnostics and biomedical manufacturers around the world, will stay compliant beyond exemptions. 

We will:

  • Produce no new product containing an SVHC
  • Halt the use of substances banned by certain authorities
  • Actively engage in efforts to ensure compliance
  • Continue to lower our environmental impact

In this way, we secure your supply of raw materials, products, and services into the future, minimizing the risk of bottlenecks that threaten business continuity. Furthermore, our pledge echoes the conviction of everyone at Roche CustomBiotech to do our part in protecting the one planet we all call home.

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Discover more about our leading biotech & manufacturing site Penzberg in Germany

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