Life Sciences Technologies Sustainability | Corning

Bringing science to Life. Sustainably.

Corning is paving the way for cleaner air, cleaner water, and healthier generations to come. For Corning’s Life Sciences business segments this means bringing science to life sustainably, from research to drug delivery. 

For us, sustainability means leveraging our heritage of innovation in new ways as we challenge ourselves to make our products, operations, and supply chains even more environmentally friendly. It means amplifying Corning’s social impact goals through a diverse and inclusive workforce and a commitment to community engagement.

Solar Panels

Environmental Stewardship

Protecting the environment and mitigating negative impacts related to climate change make good business sense and are the right things to do. Taking initiative today paves the way for cleaner air, cleaner water, and healthier generations to come.

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Doctor talking with a child patient

Social Responsibility

Vibrant communities celebrate diversity, promote a sense of belonging, and provide supportive structures for people of all ages and backgrounds. Our sites and employees actively partner with community nonprofits through grant giving and volunteering.

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Products and Packaging

We are actively seeking to lower the environmental footprint of our products and packaging – whether enabling the next wave of medical breakthroughs or revolutionizing the pharmaceutical glass packaging industry.

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Ronald L. Verkleeren, senior vice president and general manager, Life Sciences

"At Corning, we are committed to protecting our planet. In Life Sciences, this is a key part of our mission of being vital to progress. Sustainability is ingrained in our daily operations through division goals, product design, and as we partner with our customers."

— Ron Verkleeren, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Life Sciences

"At Corning, we are committed to protecting our planet. In Life Sciences, this is a key part of our mission of being vital to progress. Sustainability is ingrained in our daily operations through division goals, product design, and as we partner with our customers."

— Ron Verkleeren, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Life Sciences

Energy Management

Corning was recently named a 2022 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its continued commitment to energy efficiency. The company also received a Sustained Excellence designation.

In its 2022 award application, Corning highlighted improved companywide energy productivity and increased use of renewable energy. Additionally, the company’s Global Energy Management program advanced its water conservation and waste management commitments.

In 2020, Corning announced that eight more of its global manufacturing facilities have recently reduced energy intensity by an average of 13.2%, meeting or exceeding the goals set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR® Challenge for Industry. To meet the challenge, industrial sites must each increase energy efficiency by at least 10% in five years or less.

47%

Of Life Sciences Technologies facilities have achieved ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry Recognition since 2017

>$1M

In direct grants awarded to over 100 community organizations since 2018

5 Billion

Doses of COVID-19 vaccines delivered with the help of Corning Valor® Glass, Velocity® Vials, and pharmaceutical tubing

Products and Packaging

Corning Life Sciences has a long history of innovation, delivering solutions from discovery to packaging that enable life-changing, life-saving medicine. Today we develop new products in a world that faces critical challenges beyond technology: our planet’s resources are finite and climate change presents a real and growing concern. 

We launched a Design for Sustainability (DfS) process in 2021 that helps us innovate with intent by integrating sustainable design principles into our product and packaging development. This approach challenges our teams to identify innovative ways to minimize material and resource use, maximize the use of recycled or renewable materials, and consider what happens to the product at end of life.

Corning Life Sciences has a long history of innovation, delivering solutions from discovery to packaging that enable life-changing, life-saving medicine. Today we develop new products in a world that faces critical challenges beyond technology: our planet’s resources are finite and climate change presents a real and growing concern. 
 

We launched a Design for Sustainability (DfS) process in 2021 that helps us innovate with intent by integrating sustainable design principles into our product and packaging development. This approach challenges our teams to identify innovative ways to minimize material and resource use, maximize the use of recycled or renewable materials, and consider what happens to the product at end of life.

Packaging Takeback Program

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It’s our desire to empower our customers’ research while being good stewards of the environment. With this goal in mind, we offer customers free participation in our packaging recycling program.

 

Recyclable materials from certain Corning®, Costar®, Falcon®, and Axygen® products can be shipped with a postage-paid label to our recycling partner.

It’s our desire to empower our customers’ research while being good stewards of the environment. With this goal in mind, we offer customers free participation in our packaging recycling program.

 

Recyclable materials from certain Corning®, Costar®, Falcon®, and Axygen® products can be shipped with a postage-paid label to our recycling partner.

Site Spotlight

Corning Amsterdam Distribution Center

AT AMSTERDAM

1,700

SOLAR ARRAY PANELS

AT AMSTERDAM

450

MEGAWATT HOURS OF ELECTRICITY PRODUCED

AT AMSTERDAM

350

TONS OF GHG EMISSIONS SAVED ANNUALLY

Corning Life Sciences’ European Distribution Center in Amsterdam was awarded an A++ energy label in 2016, which puts the site in the top 5% of office buildings in the Netherlands. A geothermal source, rather than natural gas, provides heating and cooling, and a rooftop photovoltaic (PV) array installed in 2019 provides over 60% of the site’s energy needs.

2021 Corning Sustainability Report Highlights

2021 Sustainability Report

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Sustainability at Corning

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Corning channels innovation to meet our corporate responsibility and environmental stewardship goals. 

Corning channels innovation...

Corning channels innovation to meet our...

Corning channels innovation to meet our corporate responsibility and...

Corning channels innovation to meet our corporate responsibility and environmental stewardship goals. 

Corning channels innovation to meet our corporate responsibility and environmental stewardship goals.