Our Environmental Responsibility

Climate change affects both the health of the planet and the health of the people we serve. As a global biopharmaceutical company, we recognize that protecting human health and protecting the planet are inseparable objectives.

Our response is built around the following key areas.

Climate action

Managing climate-related impacts requires action today while preparing for the challenges of tomorrow. This approach is reflected in our two priorities:

1. reducing our greenhouse gas emissions across operations and value chain
2. strengthening the resilience of our infrastructure against physical climate risks.

Both priorities are embedded in our Climate Transition Plan and governed through our Sustainability, Communication and Reputation Committee, with progress disclosed annually in line with the TCFD framework and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD/ESRS E1).

Reducing our emissions

Grifols' Climate Transition Plan defines how we will decarbonize our operations and value chain in line with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and the Paris Agreement, strengthen climate resilience and support our long-term sustainability strategy. The Plan brings together our emissions reduction targets, decarbonization initiatives, climate-related risk assessment and the governance structures that ensure accountability. The Plan is overseen by our Sustainability, Communication and Reputation Committee and approved by Grifols’ Board of Directors.

Our ambition includes SBTi 2024 validated near-term science-based targets:

1. 42% absolute reduction in Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 2030 (base year 2022)*
2. 25% absolute reduction in key Scope 3 categories —purchased goods and services, capital goods, fuel and energy-related activities, and upstream transportation and distribution— by 2030

These targets support our long-term ambition of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

*The target boundary includes biogenic land-related emissions and removals from bioenergy feedstocks.

Grifols 2023-2026 Corporate Environmental Program defines the specific initiatives and milestones that operationalize these commitments across our global facilities.

Renewable energy

Grifols is committed to increasing the use of renewable energy, which already accounts for 56% of our total electricity consumption. The company has set a goal to source 100% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. This commitment includes the purchase of green energy and the promotion of new electricity generation facilities, complemented by renewable electricity supply contracts.

In our Energy Policy approved in 2023, we established eight key commitments to minimize energy demand and promote the use of renewable energy sources.

In addition, by 2030, the company aims to improve energy efficiency per unit of production by 15%, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) as a key tool to achieve this goal. 

We're optimizing our industrial processes by using more efficient equipment to refrigerate our production facilities, applying artificial intelligence to automate and control air conditioning systems and replacing refrigerant gases with natural ones that are more environmentally friendly. 

Resilient infrastructures

Grifols regularly assesses key assets to strengthen the resilience of its critical infrastructure. Measures include diversifying production sites, implementing contingency plans, using durable materials and designing facilities to withstand extreme weather like strong winds and flooding. In addition, when choosing new facility locations, Grifols prioritizes regions with lower exposure to natural hazards.

The company ensures its buildings and facilities are sustainably designed. Our corporate headquarters in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona (Spain); our Clayton, North Carolina (U.S.) office building and warehouse; and our Montreal (Canada) fractionation plant and albumin production plant are constructed and certified under the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards. In addition, our Clayton purification and filling plant and the fractionation plant are certified under the Green Globes standards.

Moreover, Grifols announced the construction of a new plant in Lliçà de Vall, Barcelona (Spain) – a 25-hectare biotechnology campus – that will be highly digitized and will integrate intelligent systems to measure and manage energy and water consumption, minimizing resource use and improving environmental traceability and incorporating circular economy initiatives.

Water, an essential resource

Grifols recognizes water as a critical resource due to its role in production processes and its impact on product quality. We work to ensure the sustainable use of water resources, addressing all aspects related to water withdrawal, consumption and management.

We are committed to efficient water use and reducing environmental impact through initiatives such as optimizing water consumption in production plants, recycling and reusing water whenever possible, and managing water resources sustainably. We also work to implement practices that preserve water sources long-term, minimizing its water footprint.

Our approach to water stewardship is formalized in our Water Management Policy.

Circular economy

Through the application of eco-design and circular economy measures, we prioritize the efficient use of material resources and water and energy, as well as minimize waste and facilitate recovery, taking into account the different life-cycle stages of our products and services. Some of the most significant examples of our circular economy include eco-efficiency measures in all new projects, recycling and reusing ethanol in our production processes and reducing water consumption throughout production.

Grifols was the first pharma company in the U.S. to receive Zero Waste to Landfill UL validation. In 2025, the company’s North Carolina Biopharma industrial facilities maintained this validation for the seventh consecutive year, preventing 99% of waste from being sent to the landfill through recycling, composting, anaerobic digestion and other energy recovery techniques.

Biodiversity

In North Carolina (U.S.), Grifols owns more than 300 acres (121 hectares) of protected land adjacent to its production facilities, which includes eight walking trails and is home to more than 300 plant and animal species. The area has been granted GOLD conservation certification through the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) in recognition of our efforts to protect biodiversity through programs for bluebirds, bats and pollinators, among others. 

In Spain, through an agreement with the Rivus Foundation, we participated in a program to restore rivers, improve biodiversity and study mammals and fish in the Besòs riverbed. Read our Biodiversity Policy for further details.

Find out more about our environmental initiatives supported in our Social Action section and our Biodiversity Policy.