Pharmaceutical company Novartis, which published its latest CSR report this week, has been ranked top of its class in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, given a triple-A grade Innovest’s sector report on global pharmaceutical corporations and been listed on the FTSE4Good ethical index.

Details of company’s ethical policies, including links to the report, can be found on its website but include setting itself modest target to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions, reduce waste and run extensive producer take-back schemes to minimise the impact of unused medicines on the environment.

It is on track to meeting its self-imposed goal of reducing GHG emissions to 5% below 1990 levels by 2012 and exceeded its energy efficiency targets, cutting its energy bill by 27% by the end of 2006 compared with a goal of just 6%.

It is also aiming to clean up its car fleet, with plans to make 40% of cars it uses in the US hybrids by 2010 and using diesels fitted with particulate filters in Europe.

The company’s CSR programme also includes donating or subsidising some of its products to make them more accessible to patients in the developing world.

Sam Bond

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