Vertex Pharmaceuticals

Carbon per million dollars of revenue. The legacy industry-standard reference (CDP, MSCI). Useful for cross-sector context, but distorted by margin — high-margin firms appear artificially efficient. Read alongside the operational and asset intensities for the full picture.

OpEx (operating expenditure) is the running cost of the business — staff, services, energy, materials. This shows how carbon-intensive operations are per million dollars of spend. Removes the margin distortion that revenue-based ratios introduce.

EVIC (Enterprise Value Including Cash) is the firm's total capital footprint — equity + debt + cash + minority interest. The EU's standard intensity measure (SFDR PAI 3) — answers: how much carbon does each million of capital deployed in this business produce?

PP&E (Property, Plant & Equipment) plus leased real-estate assets is the firm's physical infrastructure on the balance sheet. This shows the carbon intensity of that physical footprint — uses Scope 1+2+3 for consistency with the other headline intensities. Surfaces stranded-asset risk for asset-heavy firms.

Vertex achieved ~98% renewable energy at its International Headquarters and research facility in the UK. Overall global energy from renewable sources reached 50% in 2024 (up from 49% in 2023). The firm invests in green energy to increase electrification and ensure long-term emissions reductions, and is targeting >90% electrification of heating/cooling systems at the new Leiden II building.

No narrative on durable removals approach in the firm's most recent reports.

• Sustainable buildings and green certifications

  Vertex pursues LEED, BREEAM, SKA and Fitwel certifications across its real estate portfolio. 79% of operated square feet are green-certified in 2024. New Leiden II expansion (344,000 sq ft) targets LEED Platinum with >90% electrification of heating and cooling systems.

• Energy efficiency at existing facilities

  Completed comprehensive energy efficiency audit at Oxford UK research site and London HQ, identifying ~94,000 kWh of annual energy savings. Introduced a new platform across six largest R&D and manufacturing sites to monitor site-specific emissions and energy initiatives.

• Waste diversion and green chemistry

  Diverted 130 metric tons of laboratory and manufacturing waste from landfill in 2024 through takeback programs (Tyvek gowning, gloves, Styrofoam, plastic film). Leiden I repurposed >80% of medical biowaste for second consecutive year. Green chemistry initiatives apply the 12 principles across labs.

• Scope 3 supplier engagement program

  Scope 3 emissions (551,647 tCO2e in 2024) dominate Vertex's footprint. Initiated supplier emissions data collection targeting ~30% of total spend in 2024. Member of Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Initiative's Scope 3 Decarbonization Team. Introducing ESG site audits for top suppliers in high-risk countries in 2025.

• Packaging and shipping efficiency

  Redesigned JOURNAVX packaging to eliminate intermediary paperboard carton. Increased CASGEVY shipper capacity from 1 to up to 4 manufactured product batches per shipper, reducing overall shipment numbers to treatment centers.