Environmental Sustainability

Integrate sustainability

Integrate sustainability

We recognize the importance of the environment in creating a healthy, sustainable future for all

Human health and the health of our environment are intertwined, connecting our mission to improve human health with our commitment to operate sustainably. We are committed to integrating environmental stewardship into the fabric of how we operate. Our elevated climate action goals highlight our commitment to net zero emissions across our operations and value chain by 2050.

On our path to net zero, we are incorporating sustainable solutions into our value chain and beyond. Our innovative technology is being used around the world for biodiversity conservation efforts, sustainable agricultural practices, and climate change studies to create a more sustainable future.

Our 2030* targets1

net zero

Net Zero
by 2050
(Scope 1, 2, 3)2

emission reduction

46%
emission reduction
(Scope 1, 2, 3)

carbon neutral

Carbon neutral
in direct operations
(Scope 1, 2) by 20232


renewable electricity

100%
renewable electricity

landfill diversion

90%
landfill diversion


reduction in water intensity

10%
reduction in water intensity

DfE

DfE
Design for Environment
product development

reduction in packaging

75%
reduction in packaging

reduction in packaging

$20 million
philanthropic support
for sustainability initiatives

We ensure that our efforts are aligned to the leading practices and organizations addressing environmental action

  • UN Global Compact Business Ambition
  • Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) 
  • We Mean Business Coalition
  • TCFD, SASB, UNGC, SDGs, GRI, CDP 
  • Data externally assured

Reducing our environmental footprint across our global facilities

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Visual representation of San Diego i3 Campus. Initiatives are representative of global operations.

Visual representation of San Diego i3 Campus. Initiatives are representative of global operations.

Diverse, Inclusive, and Equitable Culture

Cultivating a sustainable value chain

In alignment with our net zero emissions goal, we consider it business-critical to work with suppliers and partners who share our commitment to a sustainable and equitable future. We engage on climate-related issues and hold them to the same high standards of business conduct that we set for ourselves.

Learn More

Developing sustainable products

We develop innovations that reduce the environmental impact of our products, technologies, and solutions

Illumina's Innovative Instruments

We integrate the Design for the Environment (DfE) approach into the core of our product development to find more opportunities to shift to a circular economy, addressing the full lifecycle of materials and their end of life. We apply environmental criteria to resource selection, design, energy use, data processing efficiency, size, weight, stability, packaging, shelf life, temperature requirements, end-of-life management, and more.

We aim to:
  • Integrate DfE in product development
  • Optimize sequencer power consumption and processing efficiency
  • Reduce amount of petroleum-based plastic in new product designs
  • Replace use of chemicals of concern wherever possible with greener alternatives
  • Seek additional opportunities to engage in circular economy
icon sustainable resources
Sustainable resources

We are committed to sourcing sustainable materials, including reducing the amount of petroleum-based plastic in new product designs. We also believe that big science can equal green science and actively work to replace the use of chemicals of concern with greener alternatives.

icon sustainable production
Sustainable production

Through our sustainable facilities, we aim to make the manufacturing process less energy intensive, minimize the use of toxic materials, and recycle waste from the production process where possible.

icon sustainable distribution and packaging
Sustainable distribution and packaging

We work to make the transportation of our products more efficient and sustainable. We invest in making our packaging recyclable, returnable, and reusable.

  • Recyclable insulated containers
    A move to plant-based paper-insulated containers offered a 100% curbside recyclable solution3
  • Returnable insulated containers
    Insulated containers used for refrigerated and frozen in vitro diagnostic (IVD) product shipments can be returned to us for reuse
  • Reusable bulk sustainable solutions
    Insulated pallet shippers for frozen and refrigerated products are validated for multiple uses and returnable for refurbishment and reuse. Supports internal movement network and customer bulk order
icon sustainable use
Sustainable use

When designing our lifesaving innovations, we aim to create products that are both more powerful and more energy efficient.

icon sustainable end of life
Sustainable end of life

While we develop innovations that serve our customers for long into the future, our design process extends to the end of life of our products.

  • 3. 100% recyclable in the US and widely recyclable globally.

Impact the World, Not the Environment

The NovaSeq™ X Series Systems are purposefully designed to reduce environmental impact. The improved robustness and stability of XLEAP-SBS reagents allows for shipping at ambient temperatures, and reagent consumable plastics are made from sugar-cane based biopolymers. Sustainability was at the forefront of NovaSeq™ X design, with an aim to move beyond incremental improvements and challenge the status quo to benefit our customers and the planet. Learn more about our most sustainable sequencer, the NovaSeq X Series.

50% less cartridge volume

50%
less cartridge volume

50% less plastic mass and volume

50%
less plastic mass and volume

90% less packaging weight and waste

90%
less packaging weight and waste

ambient temperature reagent shipping


Ambient temperature reagent shipping

no tool required


Designed for cartridge disassembly and recycling with no tool required

plant based plastics


plant based bio-polymer plastics

data storage optimized for reduced energy requirements


Data storage optimized for reduced storage and energy requirements

reduction in climate impact

61%
reduction in climate impact*

* Based on comparison of NovaSeq™ 6000 reagent kits and NovaSeq™ X reagent kits.

Recognition

SPG Sustainability Award 2022
Dow Jones Sustainability Indicies
CDP logo
ECOVADIS Gold Rating

Genomics for good in action

genomics and gorilla conservation
How genomics will support gorilla conservation
advanced genomics for marine conservation
Minderoo Foundation and Illumina commit $40M AUD to apply advanced genomics to marine conservation
2023 greater good winners
Sequencing the sustainable secrets of seaweed