Samsung Biologics Joins Global Initiative to Promote ESG Practices

Samsung Biologics announced on the 6th that it has become the first domestic contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) company to join the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Initiative (PSCI).

Samsung Biologics 1st Bio Campus View
[Photo by Samsung Biologics]

PSCI is a non-profit organization established in the United States in 2013 to promote sustainable supply chains in the bio and pharmaceutical industries. Currently, 83 global bio and pharmaceutical companies (39 full members and 44 associate members), including major global pharma companies such as Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Novartis, and AstraZeneca, are members of PSCI. Among Korean companies, SK Biopharm is registered as an associate member.

PSCI conducts a preliminary evaluation of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) management status for companies wishing to join. This evaluation is based on PSCI’s "Principles for Responsible Supply Chain Management," which include ▲environment ▲human rights and labor ▲safety and health ▲ethics and compliance ▲management systems. The evaluation consists of more than 850 questions, and only companies that pass this evaluation qualify for PSCI membership.

Samsung Biologics, a CDMO company, recently joined the new member group called the Supplier Partnership Group, created by PSCI for contract manufacturing (CMO) and contract development (CDO) companies. To join the Supplier Partnership Group, companies must meet requirements equivalent to existing PSCI membership criteria, such as sharing audit reports on manufacturing and operational facilities that supply products to PSCI member companies. Additionally, members of the Supplier Partnership Group are given opportunities to present at the PSCI Supplier Conference and rights to use pre-approved texts for marketing purposes. Currently, besides Samsung Biologics, companies such as France’s Delpharm and India’s Suven Pharma are members.

Samsung Biologics plans to actively collaborate with member companies to advance ESG management. As part of this effort, it intends to strictly adhere to PSCI’s supply chain management principles and actively cooperate with upcoming audit programs. Member companies provide detailed data on their ESG management status during audits and share audit results among members. This is expected to enhance the transparency and external credibility of Samsung Biologics’ ESG management.

PSCI logo [Photo by PSCI]

In addition to PSCI, Samsung Biologics participates in various initiatives to lead sustainable management within the bio and pharmaceutical industry. Samsung Biologics serves as the chair of the Health Systems Task Force Supply Chain within the Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI), encouraging the strengthening of ESG management in supply chains and partner companies. In June of last year, it also joined the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), a UN-affiliated organization. UNGC is the world’s largest voluntary corporate citizenship initiative, establishing ten principles related to human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption, and providing practical measures for companies to embed these principles into their operations and management strategies.

John Rim, CEO of Samsung Biologics, said, "Based on this PSCI membership, Samsung Biologics will strive to enhance ESG management and further strengthen its position as a global leader in the CDMO industry."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.