Environment
Even as we grow, we’re committed to leaving a small environmental footprint. Under the guidance of Incyte's Greencyte Team, we have embraced a sustainable future by continuously looking for ways to reduce emissions, increase energy efficiency and decrease water use and waste.
Goals
Our key environmental target, through combinations of absolute CO2 reductions and offsets of our emissions, is to be operationally carbon neutral by 2025. Our carbon neutrality target for 2025 includes our global Scopes 1 and 2 emissions, which are the direct and indirect emissions from our wholly owned facilities as well as the emissions from our global fleet.
Three additional specific tactical goals aligned with our target are:
GOAL 1: GREEN GLOBES CERTIFICATION
Achieve Green Globes Certification for a newly constructed building at U.S. Headquarters after completion
GOAL 2: TCFD REPORTING
Include reporting under the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) Framework by 2023
GOAL 3: HYBRID ELECTRIC FLEET
Complete the Field Fleet’s transition to hybrid and electric vehicles by 2025
U.S. Headquarters
Incyte is focused on minimizing our carbon footprint and finding new ways to offset our impact.
We are proud to announce that, as of January 1, 2021, Incyte’s U.S. headquarters’ electricity is 100% renewably sourced from the purchase and retirement of renewable energy certificates. In addition, we achieved three out of four Green Globes with our recent Green Globes Certification for Building 1815 at our U.S. headquarters, demonstrating outstanding success in resource efficiency, reducing environmental impacts and improving occupant wellness. We achieved ~90% of available points for the materials we used for the building as well as the indoor environmental quality. Additionally, we partnered with NCX, the science-driven forest carbon marketplace delivering large-scale, immediate impact for climate and communities, to incentivize delay of timber harvest.
As Incyte expands, so must our facilities—and our construction teams keep environmental responsibility top of mind. When constructing the expanded headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, for example, the team planted over 400 new trees once construction was completed, more than doubling the original number of trees on-site. As we constructed additional buildings at U.S. headquarters, we continued our focus on sustainability, working with Green Globes throughout the project to reach our goal of achieving Green Globes Certification.
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, and evaluate operations to ensure they comply with international, national and local regulations concerning the preservation of natural places, promotion of open spaces and assessment of land use.
Incyte has developed plans to consider facility impact on biodiversity and land when designing new buildings and renovating existing facilities. These 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
Incyte’s Corporate Headquarters use five different stormwater management facilities:
- Bio retention
- Porous asphalt
- Porous pavers
- Underground detention
- Green roof
Water-presence sensors have been installed in high-use areas to quickly detect leaks and reduce water usage. Motion and presence sensor faucets are installed in new or renovated spaces.
Incyte’s focus on waste reduction works to utilize “landfill-free” practices where available.
Non-Hazardous Waste: All of the non-hazardous waste from U.S. headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, is sent to a “landfill-free” waste and recycle company where it is converted into energy at an eco-friendly facility.
Hazardous Waste: We manage all hazardous waste at Incyte Corporate Headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, 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 95% 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 through the use of treatment, storage or disposal facilities
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. 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 improve our environmental goals.
European Operations
One of our most exciting accomplishments in 2021 was the opening of our manufacturing site facility in Yverdon, Switzerland. The building and its construction follow strict Swiss regulations regarding environmental protection and energy consumption. Additionally, a study was conducted to optimize the future energy consumption of the building itself. The energy produced from the heating and cooling equipment
is partially recovered using heat exchangers, solar panels have been installed on the roof and an underground heating system uses residual heat to prevent ice formation at the building's entryways during the winter season. The plant’s electricity is also 100% sourced from hydroelectric power, significantly minimizing its impact on emissions.
Our new and consolidated European headquarters in Morges, Switzerland, was constructed through the renovation of an industrial site. Like the site in Yverdon, this renovation was completed according to the latest Swiss construction regulations, which favor lower energy consumption and minimize environmental impact. To reduce the need for cooling, solar panels were installed on the roof, “vegetalized” areas were built to retain rainwater and thermal insulation was added that exceeds Swiss regulations.
The selection of Morges for our European headquarters was due in part to its close proximity to the railway station (and connections to Lausanne and Geneva), with the intention of reducing roadway commutes.
Employee Involvement
Employees take an active role in our commitment to environmental sustainability. Throughout our offices, we have sorting bins to separate waste from recycling—both in public areas and at each individual’s workstation. The cafeteria at our U.S. headquarters features reusable plates, silverware and trays to limit the amount of waste. At North America national business meetings, there are no disposable glasses, mugs, plates or utensils, and waste is further minimized by distributing reading materials electronically. Additionally, a Greencyte booth encourages employees to submit suggestions and feedback to the team.
Incyte employees take part in company goals by making more environmentally friendly choices both in and outside the office. We support and incentivize these decisions by providing conveniences like electric car-charging units for complimentary use during the workday.