Towards a Sustainable Future
Lonza, a renowned and listed Swiss Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) dedicated to advancing therapies in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, has recently concluded a Virtual Power Purchasing Agreement with Ignis, a Spanish integrated renewable energy group. This strategic collaboration aims to establish two new solar power facilities in Spain. Iberian Lawyer has talked about this initiative with Matthias Hoffmann, Lonza’s head of sustainability, and Mark Ainsworth, Lonza’s legal counsel.
by Mercedes Galán
ESG is now a legal requirement for companies, complementing best practices. It will be essential for lawyers to have ESG knowledge?
Mark Ainsworth (MA): In the past, environmental and social requirements were regulated by specific legal frameworks. However, today, more comprehensive guidelines exist for managing ESG topics, leading companies to actively incorporate broader ESG themes. A growing trend involves corporations adopting a systematic approach and establishing specialized teams for ESG matters. In the future, lawyers will need greater ESG awareness due to its impact on various commercial aspects and corporate governance.
This is crucial due to increased public disclosure requirements, with potential penalties for noncompliance or false reporting, especially for listed or large organizations.
How do companies tackle the challenge of reducing their carbon footprint?
Matthias Hoffmann (MH): In the context of climate change, companies are embracing the challenge to dramatically reduce their carbon footprint from fossil fuel energy consumption. One way to reduce it is to shift towards “green” renewable. Companies can achieve this by establishing solar or wind power facilities or partnering with specialized developers in the field.
