Roadmap for Achieving Biogen’s Scope 3 Science-Based Target

Abstract

Biogen has set a Science-Based Target (SBT) to reduce its absolute greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 35 percent across its entire value chain (scopes 1, 2, and 3) by 2030 from a 2013 base-year. In this project, we focused primarily on scope 3 emissions for two reasons: (1) 70 percent of Biogen’s total emissions fall under scope 3 and (2) scope 3 emissions are the most difficult to reduce because suppliers are chiefly responsible for them and Biogen has little direct control over these emissions. This project provides recommendations for Biogen to meet its scope 3 emissions reduction goal. Through industry research, interviews with experts, and analyses of general supply chain emissions reductions trends and company data, we developed an internal, external, and industry-wide roadmap that identifies the most critical business practices to reaching Biogen’s SBT. Our research shows that these recommendations will strengthen Biogen’s reputation as a sustainability leader, attract and retain investors, mitigate climate-related risks to its business operations, and lead to higher financial performance.