Variability in triple bottom line commitments of multinational pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical companies: insights from 2023 corporate and environmental, social and governance reports

Grant, Rebecca, Niebel, Dennis, Hunt, William, undefined, undefined, Kamp, Erin, Ali, Fatima and Tso, Simon 2025. Variability in triple bottom line commitments of multinational pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical companies: insights from 2023 corporate and environmental, social and governance reports. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology 50 , pp. 1578-1582. 10.1093/ced/llaf133

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Abstract

Background The triple bottom line is a framework for evaluating organizational performance incorporating environmental, social and economic impacts. Objectives To examine the triple bottom line commitments of multinational corporates operating in the dermatology field with a specific focus on environmental goals. Methods A convenience sample of 10 pharmaceutical and 6 cosmeceutical corporates were included in this study. We performed a retrospective secondary data analysis of their published 2023 corporate annual reports and environmental, social and governance (ESG) reports, and reviewed their commitments. Results All corporates except three pharmaceuticals (81%, 13/16) published a target year to reach carbon net zero or neutrality for greenhouse gas (GHG) protocol scopes 1 (direct emissions from performing its business activities) and 2 (indirect emissions from purchased energy) [median year 2040; range 2025–2050; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2035–2045]. All corporates except four pharmaceuticals (75%, 12/16) published a target year to reach carbon net zero or neutrality for GHG scope 3 (indirect emissions from the value chain; median year 2043; range 2026–2050; 95% CI 2038–2047). Conclusions All net zero or carbon neutrality plans identified have outlined the potential inclusion or actual utilization of carbon offsetting schemes or carbon removal schemes in achieving their goals. For cosmeceuticals, all but one corporate (83%, 5/6) participate in the EcoBeautyScore Association. This study highlighted variability in their ambitions in environmental goals.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Schools > Medicine
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
ISSN:	0307-6938
Date of Acceptance:	15 March 2025
Last Modified:	12 Aug 2025 12:35
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/180241

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