The following overview presents a selection of major awards and recognition that we have received or achieved. Information on additional recognition and accolades received by individual businesses or sites can be found in the respective chapter of our 2019 Corporate Responsibility Report, or on our website.
CR performance
Access to Medicine Index
In 2018, our company ranked fourth in the Access to Medicine Index, a position we have held since 2016 and one that has consistently put us among the top five firms in the Index. Published every two years by the international non-profit Access to Medicine Foundation, this index ranks the top 20 largest pharmaceutical companies based on their efforts to address access to medicine in low- and middle-income countries.
CDP climate and water
We’ve been reporting our climate actions to the CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project) since 2008. In 2019, our climate impact mitigation activities scored a C in the CDP, the same as in 2018. This initiative measures the strategies companies use to reduce emissions along with their successes, as well as how they manage their risks and opportunities on climate change.
In addition to reporting on our climate action, since 2016 we have been reporting our water-related performance and processes to the CDP. In 2019, we received a B for our water management practices, up from a B- in 2018.
The CDP evaluates companies’ performance in the areas of climate and water on a scale from A to D-, with A being the top score.
EcoVadis rating
The independent rating agency EcoVadis evaluates suppliers from 150 countries across the categories of Environment, Labor and Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement. As a member of the Together for Sustainability initiative, we also undergo this assessment; in 2019 we were again assessed and awarded platinum status in 2020, putting us among the top 1% of all participating companies.
ESG Rating from MSCI
MSCI is one of the world’s largest providers of financial services for institutional investors as well as environment, social and governance ratings (ESG). This independent organization assesses companies according to their exposure to industry-significant ESG risks and their ability to manage those risks relative to industry peers. In May 2019, MSCI gave us an “AAA”, their highest ESG rating and one that puts us among the top 2% of all companies evaluated. They particularly praised our Group-wide ISO 9001 certification, our compliance activities and our robust quality management system.
ESG Rating from Sustainalytics
Sustainalytics is a firm that rates the sustainability of listed companies based on their environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) performance. In 2018, this organization awarded us 79 out of 100 points, putting us among the leading pharmaceutical companies. We received particularly high marks in the categories of corporate governance and community outreach, and our environmental performance likewise earned a high score that far exceeded the average.
Good Company Ranking
In 2018, the management consultancy Kirchhoff Consult released its sixth Good Company Ranking, an index that is published every two years. Among the German blue-chip companies in the DAX 30, we took fourth place in this latest round, having moved up six positions from our 2016 rating. The ranking is published every two years.
Institute for Ecological Economy Research ranking
In 2018, the Institute for Ecological Economy Research (IÖW) and “future e. V. – Verantwortung unternehmen” issued its tenth ranking of sustainability reporting by major German companies. Published every two years, this index assesses factors such as the environmental impacts of production processes, transparent communication and efforts to enhance supply chain sustainability. Our 2017 CR Report achieved a score of 426 in the latest ranking, putting us in sixth place. The ranking is published every two years.
www.ranking-nachhaltigkeitsberichte.de/en
ESG company rating
In 2019, the Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) group of companies again gave our Group a B- on a scale of A+ (top mark) to D-, once more granting us Prime Status (“good” to “very good”) as in 2018.
Children’s rights and business
The Boston Consulting Group and the “Global Child Forum”, a Stockholm-based non-profit foundation to promote children’s rights conducted a global benchmark study in 2019 entitled “The State of Children’s Rights and Business 2019: From Promise to Practice”. We achieved an average score of 9.5 out of 10 and have been classified as a “Leader” regarding our action for children’s rights. Our performance in the “Workplace” and “Community & Environment” categories received particularly high marks that were far above average.
Sustainability indices
Ethibel Sustainability Index (ESI) Excellence Europe and Ethibel EXCELLENCE Investment Register
Since 2015 we have been a constituent of the ESI Excellence Europe, a sustainability index that comprises the 200 top-rated European companies based on their corporate responsibility performance. We are also included in the Ethibel EXCELLENCE Investment Register.
Euronext Vigeo Eiris Index
Since 2015, we have been a constituent of the Euronext-Vigeo Eurozone 120, an index that features the 120 most successful European companies in terms of their environmental, social and governance practices. Since June 2019, we have also been constituents of the Euronext Vigeo Europe 120 index.
FTSE4Good Index
Since 2008, we have been included in the FTSE4GOOD Index, a leading international ethical investment stock market rating that annually measures the performance of companies in demonstrating strong environmental, social and governance practices.
STOXX® Global ESG Leaders Index
In 2019, our company was once again included in the STOXX Global ESG Leaders sustainability index, which assesses companies based on key environmental, social and governance criteria.
CR awards
Prize for research and development
The R&D 100 Awards are among the most prestigious innovation awards in the world, honoring research and development pioneers. In November 2019, one of these awards recognized our first-to-market innovation Eshmuno® CP-FT Resin , which can be used to efficiently remove aggregates from antibodies, thus lowering the risk to patients. Moreover, this product yields higher capacities than traditional methods and results in a smaller ecological footprint from manufacturing.
Top Employers Institute recognition
The annual international evaluation conducted by the Top Employers Institute recognizes leading employers around the world through a stringent evaluation process. Including more than 1,500 companies across 118 countries, this evaluation is based on a detailed assessment of HR processes and structures. In February 2019, we were named one of only 14 global employers of choice by the Top Employers Institute, which recognized our achievements in talent development, performance management, and career and succession planning.
In addition to the Global Top Employer 2019 certification, our Group was also named as a Top Employer Europe 2019 as well as a Top Employer Germany 2019.
Most Attractive Employers ranking
The success of our efforts is also confirmed by our ranking among the 100 most attractive employers for students and professional scientists in Germany. This index is published annually by employer branding specialist Universum and involves a survey of more than 5,000 people. In the category of Natural Sciences, we again ranked fifth in the student survey and even moved up one place to be ranked sixth by experienced professionals in 2019.
Award from Science Magazine
Science, a leading peer-reviewed academic journal, once more named us a top employer. Almost 8,000 employees and managers from biotech and pharmaceutical companies took part in the magazine’s online survey, ranking our company fourth. We were praised especially for prioritizing thinking ahead, adapting, and communicating.
Subsidiary awards
CSR Award for “Happy Workplace”
In April 2019, Merck in Taiwan received the 2019 CSR Award for “Happy Workplace” from Global View Magazine, a prestigious business magazine in Taiwan. We are honored to be recognized alongside other multinational and Taiwan-based global companies.
Best places to work
In 2019, the Boston Business Journal added us to their list of Best Places to Work, which honors leading employers in the Boston area (Massachusetts, USA) that have built outstanding work environments for their employees. The final rankings were determined through online surveys conducted among employees of each company.
One of the most sustainable pharmaceutical companies
In 2019, the business magazine “Exame” listed us as one of the most sustainable pharmaceutical companies in Brazil. The magazine highlighted our promotion of diversity and inclusion specifically in terms of gender equality.