AbbVie Inc.

AbbVie is a U.S.-based biopharmaceutical company headquartered in North Chicago, Illinois. It is known for medicines like Humira, Skyrizi, Rinvoq, and Botox. AbbVie works in areas such as immunology, oncology, neuroscience, eye care, aesthetics, and specialty medicines. Chairman and CEO Robert A. Michael leads the company. Since AbbVie depends on research, drug manufacturing, biologics production, and regulated wastewater systems, water use is a relevant part of its ESG performance.

The most significant environmental accomplishment of AbbVie relates to its sustainability efforts in the area of freshwater withdrawal. Specifically, the company has succeeded in meeting its own target of 20% reduction of direct water withdrawal by 2025 (vs. 2015). According to the reports, a total volume of water withdrawal, which includes noncontact cooling water use, was reduced by 20.1%.

Moreover, the company has implemented a series of initiatives to improve water management at different facilities around the globe. For example, in Barceloneta, Puerto Rico, AbbVie optimized its hot water sanitization process by redesigning the steam loop, thereby enabling separate loop heating and reducing the cycle time, which resulted in saving 227 cubic meters of water per year. Similarly, in Pringy, France, the company is set to achieve a 6,500 cubic meters of fresh water saved annually by introducing a novel control strategy that allows for operating water systems only when required. Finally, in Campoverde, Italy, AbbVie replaced an old clarifier blower with a new intensified aeration system at the waste water treatment facility.