Environmental and human health are interconnected, and as champions of public health, Viatris recognizes the need to facilitate access to medicines while upholding environmental stewardship. We believe environmental regulations should be science-based and targeted, addressing the true causes of environmental concerns. We are committed to partnering to find creative solutions that balance the need for environmental protection with the need for continued availability of essential medicines.
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Economic Models to Sustain Access to Medicines

The off-patent medicine industry faces a unique dilemma while undertaking efforts to minimize environmental impact. Unlike in other industries, medicines are generally purchased by governments at prices that are not allowed to fluctuate. At the same time, manufacturers face implementation costs as they update production facilities and processes to comply with new, ambitious environmental policies. When costs rise and manufacturers cannot make a proportionate adjustment to prices, certain products could become commercially unviable, increasing the likelihood of medicine shortages. We believe that policymakers should factor financing measures into environmental regulations to ensure manufacturing changes can be sustainably implemented.

The Importance of Thoughtful Regulation

An independent analysis commissioned by Viatris found that if manufacturers bore 100% of the cost of adapting to a proposed regulation, it would increase production costs by 4,5%, enough to result in returns for 24% of products assessed falling below the cost of production. The report offers solutions for how environmental concerns can be addressed in an economically sustainable way.

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Stakeholder Collaboration

Creating lasting and impactful change requires collaboration. Viatris partners and engages with governments, non-profit organisations, and industry groups to advance environmental progress in a meaningful and science-based way.
Memberships and Partnerships

Water

Pharmaceutical manufacturing requires an abundant supply of high-quality water as a raw material. As water resources become increasingly scarce and the environmental impact of their use becomes more significant, it is crucial to ensure responsible water use. There are several legislative initiatives aiming to protect water resources as part of the European Green Deal. Viatris supports taking a collaborative approach for these initiatives to ensure that the desired outcomes are achieved without unintended consequences on the ongoing availability of essential medicines.

Viatris' Commitment on Water

Guided by our Global Water Policy, we are committed to protecting the health of our environment and water resources. We believe companies can be a force for good, which is why we are a signatory of the UN Global Compact (UNGC) and the UNGC CEO Water Mandate. We aim to advance responsible water stewardship in our operations and support communities’ access to clean water and sanitation and thereby help to advance on the Sustainable Development Goals.

We have formally committed to perform water risk assessments for all locations in high or extremely-high water risk areas as identified by the World Resources Institute and identify appropriate water conservation initiatives by 2025.

We perform water risk assessments to identify risks both to and from our activities. All operations sites are periodically audited to ensure compliance with local regulatory and internal water standards. As part of furthering our stewardship and risk mitigation, we are conducting water risk assessments to protect, conserve and improve water use across locations in high or extremely-high water risk areas as identified by the World Resources Institute. Based on the assessments, action plans and programs will be put in place.