Environment

Incyte is committed to operating in a way that minimizes our environmental impact. This commitment includes programs for data collection and analysis in order to measure and reduce hazardous air emissions, greenhouse gases and water use. As an example of this commitment, no Incyte employees including those in the Executive Leadership Team utilize private corporate planes for business travel. In 2019, Incyte launched Greencyte, which is a cross-functional and global team dedicated to seeking ways to minimize our impact on the environment.

“As an innovative company, Incyte aims to utilize the latest technology and ideas to reduce its impact on the environment. In my role, I have the privilege of helping to decide what is best for Incyte, as well as what is best for the environment. It is very rewarding to take part in such important decisions, including those that may affect my colleagues, the communities in which we operate and the health of our environment.”

—Kevin Davis, Director, Facilities

U.S. Headquarters

 

Carbon

Incyte is committed to minimizing our carbon footprint as well as finding ways to offset our impact. 

As Incyte expands, so must our facilities. As we construct new buildings, our team makes sure to keep environmental responsibility as a priority. When building the expanded U.S. Headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, for example, the team needed to remove approximately 160 trees but then planted over 400 new trees once construction was completed, more than doubling the original number of trees on-site.

 

BioDiversity

As Incyte continues to expand operations worldwide, we are committed to protecting and preserving biodiversity; we respect nature on and around our facilities and local communities. As part of this effort, we evaluate operations to ensure they comply with international, national, and local regulations concerning the preservation of natural places, promoting open spaces, and assessing land use compliance. Incyte has developed plans to consider facility impact on biodiversity and land when designing new buildings and renovating existing facilities. These plans include:

  • A Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan, which establishes and communicates awareness of appropriate practices associated with pollution prevention techniques and materials to divert or prevent storm water contamination
  • Spill response procedures to be used in the event of a hazardous chemical spill
  • A waste disposal program that outlines procedures for disposal of hazardous waste in compliance with the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

 

Water

At Incyte Corporate Headquarters, five different storm water management facilities are used:

  • Bio retention
  • Porous asphalt
  • Porous pavers
  • Underground detention
  • Green roof

Water presence sensors have been installed in high water usage areas to quickly detect leaks and reduce water usage.  Motion and presence sensor faucets are being utilized in new or renovated spaces.

 

Waste

Incyte’s focus on waste reduction works to utilize “landfill free” practices where available. See below for additional information:

Non-Hazardous Waste: All of the non-hazardous waste from our lab building in Wilmington, DE is sent to a “landfill free” waste and recycle company where non-recyclable waste is then converted into energy at an eco-friendly facility. We are in the process of making our entire Incyte Corporate Headquarters in Wilmington, DE 100% landfill-free, and we expect that to occur this year.

Hazardous Waste: We manage all hazardous waste at Incyte Corporate Headquarters in Wilmington, DE in compliance with EPA regulations. All hazardous waste is recycled, reused, fuel-blended or disposed of at an EPA approved disposal facility. In recent years, over 90% of Incyte’s hazardous waste has been fuel blended for energy recovery.    

We comply with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), which establishes a cradle-to-grave regulatory system for solid waste and emphasizes control of waste after generation. In line with the 1984 Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments to RCRA, we also recognize the need to: increase waste minimization efforts and to restrict land disposal, minimizing waste generation; reduce volume and toxicity of waste; minimize waste; and minimize waste through the use of a treatment facility, a storage facility, or a disposal facility. 

Incyte's EHS Team works closely with our hazardous waste vendor and our researchers to identify waste minimization and pollution prevention efforts at our research laboratory facilities including the Incyte Research Institute, in particular. These initiatives allow our Hazardous Waste Team to safely divert materials for recycling, recovery or reuse. We encourage researchers to work with the EHS team to identify additional opportunities to reduce our waste and improve our environmental stewardship goals.

European Operations

In Europe, our first manufacturing site is under construction in Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland. The building and its construction follow strict Swiss regulations regarding environment protection and energy consumption. At the construction site, waste is carefully managed. Additionally, the concrete is produced on-site, which reduces the number of trucks required from an average of 15 daily down to only four, thus reducing pollution as well as minimizing the impact on our neighbors. Water for concrete production has been re-used, and a very minimal amount has been released. Additionally, a study was conducted to optimize the future energy consumption of the building itself. The energy produced from the heating and cooling equipment will be partially recovered using heat exchangers, solar panels will be used on the roof and a specific heating system under the ground will be installed to use the residual heat to avoid ice forming at the entry to the buildings during the winter season.

Our new and consolidated European Headquarters to be opened in Morges, Switzerland, is currently being constructed through the renovation of an industrial site. The renovation, as at the site in Yverdon-les-Bains, will be completed according to the latest Swiss construction regulations, which favor lower energy consumption and minimize environmental impact. Solar panels have already been added to the roof, the thermal insulation will be beyond what is required by Swiss regulation and the roof will retain rain water through “vegetalized” areas which will also reduce the need for cooling. The selection of Morges as the location of our European headquarters was made in part due to its close proximity to the railway station (and connections to Lausanne and Geneva), with the intent of reducing the need for employees to commute by car.

 

Employee Involvement

Employees take an active role in our commitment to environmental sustainability. Throughout our offices, there are sorting bins to separate waste from recycling both in public areas and at each individual’s work station. In the cafeteria at our newly-expanded U.S. headquarters, reusable plates, silverware, and trays are used to limit the amount of landfill waste. 

At the U.S. National Business Meetings, for example, there are no disposable glasses, mugs, plates or utensils, and waste is further minimized by distributing materials electronically. There is also a Greencyte booth, where employees are encouraged to submit suggestions and feedback to the team.

As part of our celebration of Earth Day in 2020, Incyte launched a new program which allows employees to donate a portion of their paycheck to an organization that plants trees. 

Incyte employees take part in company goals by making more environmentally-friendly choices both in and outside the office. Incyte helps support and incentivize these decisions, for example, by providing electric car charging units in our parking garages and lots for complimentary use during the work day.