Management approach
Our success and our future are founded on innovative products that benefit people and help to improve quality of life. Responsibility for these products will always be at the core of our corporate responsibility.
Intensive R&DInnovation is the driving force of scientific, technical and economic progress. Innovative strength is one of our core competencies: Identifying customer needs rapidly and translating these into innovative solutions is a core element of our business strategy.
Product analysis: Quality, benefits, safety and eco-efficiencyMerck products are tested extensively before being launched onto the market, for example in toxicological and clinical tests for drugs or toxicological and ecotoxicological studies for chemicals. The cornerstones are quality, the benefits and product safety for people and the environment. The analysis also includes reliable storage and the safe transport of products.
We summarize our approach to sustainable product development as "
Design for Sustainability". One focus is to examine the impact of products on people and the environment over the products’ entire life cycle. We want to become a pioneer of sustainable products in the life science industry.
In 2010, we performed a pilot assessment to determine the product carbon footprint of two product groups within our Performance Materials division. In 2009 and 2010, Merck Millipore carried out life cycle assessments for four products according to the international standards ISO 14040 and ISO 14044. Similar approaches are currently being developed for pharmaceutical products as well. The aim of these holistic analyses is to identify negative environmental impacts of the products and tap into potential for optimization.
Transparency and responsible marketingWe are committed to providing our customers and users with the highest possible degree of transparency and to informing them about the composition and effects of our products. When marketing our pharmaceutical products, we strictly comply with legal requirements, our own Code of Conduct (Merck Pharmaceutical Marketing Best Practices), and the IFPMA Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations.
We supply our chemicals only to commercial customers who have the proven expertise, in order to ensure careful handling. In addition, we provide customers with information on the safe handling and use of our products. To prevent the misuse of dual-use products, Merck has established
an extensive safety net. Predefined, uniform export control guidelines are monitored by our own central Export Control & Customs Regulations unit as well as by trade and export control officers at the local Merck companies. If we suspect misuse, we refrain from a business relationship for
safety reasons.
Return and recycling of productsOur Chemicals divisions offer their customers
possibilities to return and reprocess used and unused chemicals as well as packaging materials in an eco-friendly manner, thereby enabling proper and responsible recycling of the products.
