Pierre Fabre Laboratories Awarded Responsible Digital Label
5 June 2024
May 16, 2024 – Pierre Fabre Laboratories has been awarded the highest level of the Digital Responsibility label for its commitment to a more environmentally and socially responsible digital industry. Overseen by Lucie, an agency specializing in CSR label management, the Digital Responsibility label (Label Numérique Responsable) is based on a set of guidelines developed by the Institute for Sustainable IT (INR) (Institut
du Numérique Responsible) in partnership with the French Ministry of Ecological Transition (Ministère de la Transition Écologique), ADEME and France IT.
The label was awarded by a committee of independent experts brought together by Lucie. The Committee relied on an audit conducted by an independent expert from Bureau Veritas. This audit, conducted at the start of 2024, allowed Pierre Fabre Laboratories to demonstrate that its approach to digital responsibility has had a positive impact, as evidenced by the numerous projects implemented over the past five years.
The Label Committee's decision was also motivated by Pierre Fabre Laboratories’ firm commitments to continue and even step up its efforts between now and 2027.
The independent auditor appointed by Bureau Veritas shares: "Pierre Fabre Laboratories embodies the very essence of Digital Responsibility. Although their digital footprint may be relatively minor compared to their overall environmental impact, their commitment to digital ethics, accessibility and sustainability is sincere. I was pleasantly surprised by all the platforms they have deployed both internally for their employees and
externally for patients and consumers. It is my hope that, by virtue of Pierre Fabre Laboratories’ international presence and reputation, news of their being awarded this label will inspire other players in this sector."
Since the 2019 launch of its CSR & Naturalness approach dubbed Green Mission Pierre Fabre, the company has made digital responsibility a priority based on 3 key points: Improving the environmental impact of its digital activities and IT infrastructure, leveraging digital technologies to improve patient and consumer quality of life, and lastly, making digital tools accessible to all, especially to employees of the Company.
We are very proud to become the first international company to attain the highest level of the Digital Responsibility Label. We will continue to work hand in hand with the Information Systems and Digital Departments to ensure that this approach to Digital Responsibility remains fully in line with the Company's strategic roadmap and CSR commitments.
The initiatives introduced and praised in the audit report include:
• IT4Good: Pierre Fabre Laboratories' mission is to innovate in service of patient and consumer health and well-being. In this way, digital technology is being used as a genuine lever for action to promote better understanding of patients' pathologies and needs, as well as to deploy digital solutions to improve their health or well-being (see
several examples in the box below).
• Getting employees involved in digital responsibility: The Company encourages individual initiatives in digital responsibility during working hours.
• Digital equipment: Pierre Fabre Laboratories uses certified equipment (Epeat, Energy Star, Blue Angel) and chooses EcoVadis-certified suppliers. Company telephone policy takes into account equipment repairability.
The commitments made for 2025-2027 include:
• Continued employee and partner acculturation and training in digital responsibility (digital eco-design training for business experts, Digital Fresco (Fresque du numérique) training for in-house facilitators, involvement with schools and associations as part of the Company's Congés Solidaires leave program giving employees time off to do volunteer work).
• Improving the accessibility and eco-design of digital solutions developed by the Company and its brands (particularly websites).
• Implementing a responsible purchasing policy for suppliers of IT equipment and services, by training buyers and communicating the approach to partners.
• Extending the lifespan of IT equipment beyond manufacturers' recommendations to combat planned obsolescence.
• Integrating best practices for Digital Responsibility with new uses of Data and AI.
Furthermore, in line with its IT4Good strategy, the digital solutions developed by Pierre Fabre Laboratories will continue to be a driving force behind the Company's strategic mission: to innovate constantly to care for patients and consumers, and thus improve their quality of life.
Recent examples of IT4Good projects:
• 3,600 pharmacists in France and North Africa have accessed the OncoGuide.com website, the 1st digital pharmacy support platform for cancer patients.
• Some 5,200 Eczema patients have used the Eczema Care+ app to track their condition.
• DermatoExpert, a remote diagnosis solution currently being tested in 50 pharmacies, has been enabling patients suffering from dermatological disorders to receive a diagnosis from a dermatologist within 72 hours.
• 38,000 doctors have registered on the YouDermoscopy app for skin pathology screening and monitoring.
• Hemangiom APP, an app to support parents whose babies are being treated with Hemangiol (propranolol) for an infantile hemangioma. Already available in the USA, this year, it will be rolled out in Spain and Germany.
We are convinced of the strategic value that digital technology represents for our Company's development. It also provides an opportunity to rise to a major challenge in terms of our environmental and social impact. More and more, we are harnessing the potential of technology and data for the benefit of patients and consumers. As an example, for each of our dermo-cosmetic products, we consolidate hundreds of data points available in our information systems to automatically calculate and display its Green Impact Index1 score on brand websites.
About Digital Responsibility
Digital Responsibility is a continuous improvement approach that aims to improve the ecological, economic and social footprint of information and communications technologies (ICT). Overseen by Lucie, an agency specializing in CSR label management, the Digital Responsibility Label (Label Numérique Responsable) is based on a set of guidelines developed by the Institute for Sustainable IT (Institut du Numérique Responsable) in partnership with the French Ministry of Ecological Transition (Ministère de la Transition Écologique) and France IT.
About Pierre Fabre Laboratories
Pierre Fabre Laboratories is the world's second-largest dermo-cosmetics company and one of Europe's leading pharmaceutical companies. Its portfolio includes several international brands and medical franchises such as Pierre Fabre Oncologie, Pierre Fabre Dermatologie, Pierre Fabre Pharma Care, Eau Thermale Avène, Ducray, A-Derma, Klorane, René Furterer, Darrow, Même Cosmetics, Naturactive, Elgydium, Inava and Arthrodont..
In 2023, Pierre Fabre Laboratories posted 2.83 billion euros in revenue, 70% of which came from international sales in 120 countries. Historically based in the southwest of France and manufacturing 95% of its products in France, Pierre Fabre Laboratories employs over 10,000 people worldwide. Its annual R&D budget amounts to nearly 200 million euros, of which about 50% is dedicated to targeted therapies in oncology and 40% to skin health and care solutions.
Pierre Fabre Laboratories' majority shareholder (86%) is the eponymous Foundation, which is recognized by the French government as being a public-interest foundation. This capital structure guarantees the company's independence and long-term vision. Dividends paid to the
Pierre Fabre Foundation enable the latter to design and finance humanitarian healthcare-access programs in developing countries. Employees are the company's secondary shareholder, through an international employee shareholding plan.
Pierre Fabre Laboratories’ sustainability policy has been assessed by the independent AFNOR Certification body and has been awarded the "Exemplary" level of its CSR label (ISO 26 000 standard for sustainable development).
For more information, visit www.pierre-fabre.com, @PierreFabreGroup.
Contact presse
Pierre Fabre
Dorothée Kohler
dorothee.kohler@pierre-fabre.com
+33 6 08 09 22 41
Reference :
1 The Green Impact Index is a tool for displaying the environmental and social impact of cosmetics, dietary
supplements and wellness and family health products, enabling consumers to make informed choices on
which products to purchase. Supported by the Green Impact Index Consortium, it is based on the
methodology of the AFNOR Spec 2215 reference document. To find out more, click here
https://www.greenimpactindex.com/