Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Sectors Prioritize Sustainability Reporting
The pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries are increasingly releasing sustainability reports, highlighting a growing commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. For companies whose products are directly linked to life and health, demonstrating a strong focus on product safety, expanding access to medicines for underserved populations, and upholding ethical standards in clinical trials is paramount.
As ethical considerations become more significant, ESG indicators are emerging as a critical factor in global investment decisions. This trend underscores the strategic importance of sustainability reporting for market access and corporate reputation.
Kwangdong Pharmaceutical Leads with First ESG Report
Kwangdong Pharmaceutical has issued its inaugural sustainability report, detailing its ESG initiatives and key achievements since its inception. The report identifies five core strategic priorities and highlights significant progress made.
These core priorities include:
- Addressing climate change
- Strengthening ethical business practices
- Operating a responsible board of directors
- Ensuring human rights protection and management
- Improving resource circularity for products and packaging
Building on these foundations, Kwangdong Pharmaceutical is actively expanding its ESG activities, including pursuing carbon neutrality, enhancing supply chain ESG management, promoting human rights, and reinforcing ethical and compliant operations.
To bolster the report’s credibility and international alignment, it incorporates global sustainability reporting standards and guidelines such as GRI (Global Reporting Initiative), SASB (Sustainability Accounting Standards Board), TCFD (Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures), and UN SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals).
Furthermore, in June of this year, the company established an ESG committee under its board of directors, comprised of three independent directors, to oversee ESG strategy, policy, implementation plans, and performance.
Huons Group Releases Comprehensive Sustainability Report
Huons Group has also published its ‘2026 Sustainability Report,’ publicly disclosing its ESG management activities and significant achievements over the past year. This consolidated report encompasses Huons Global, the holding company, along with its listed affiliates including Huons, Humedix, and HueM&C.
The report emphasizes the application of ‘Double Materiality,’ which considers both the social and environmental impacts of the company alongside its financial implications, to enhance objectivity.
Key focus areas identified through this approach include:
- Enhancing safety and health and preventing major disasters
- Supply chain ESG management and reliable delivery
- Reducing environmental pollution and managing waste
- Responding to climate change and reducing energy consumption
- Strengthening information security and personal data protection
- Advancing human rights management and fostering diversity
The report details strategies and implementation results for these six critical issues. It has been prepared in accordance with the ‘GRI Standards 2021,’ a global standard for sustainability reporting, and adheres to the four principles of ‘AA1000APS,’ a sustainability assurance standard.
Third-party verification by the British Standards Institution (BSI) further ensures the credibility and transparency of the disclosed data.
Dong-A ST Publishes ‘ON’ Sustainability Report
Dong-A ST has released its sustainability report, ‘ON,’ outlining its sustainability strategy, key activities, and achievements for 2025. The report, now in its second year, is named ‘ON’ to signify ‘all’ (in Korean) and ‘continuous’ (in English), also referencing warmth in Korean characters.
The report is structured into sections covering sustainability strategy, materiality assessment, special features, sustainability performance, and an ESG Factbook.
The materiality assessment comprehensively analyzes the company’s social, environmental, and financial impacts. This process identified six key issues:
- Pharmaceutical product quality and safety management
- Expanding R&D investment and developing new drugs
- Talent recruitment and management
- Corporate ethics and compliance adherence
- Fostering a positive organizational culture
- Collaborator ESG management
Notably, the report incorporates insights from stakeholder surveys, leading to an upward adjustment in the perceived importance of corporate ethics, compliance, and fostering a positive organizational culture.
It aligns with the ‘GRI Standards 2021,’ the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) standards, TCFD (Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures) recommendations, and the UN Global Compact’s 10 Principles, enhancing its reliability.
The scope of Dong-A ST’s report has been expanded to include the sustainability strategies and performance of its subsidiaries, such as Dong-A Pharmed, Aptis, and Eco-Win.
Industry observers note that sustainability reports are becoming a ‘necessary condition’ for the survival and global expansion of companies in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors.
