Sustainability
At Sanquin, everything we do is about helping people—through our blood products, our diagnostic services, and our research. This comes with great responsibility: we strive to carry out our work as effectively, safely, and efficiently as possible, with the best outcome for the patient in mind. But we also want to do this in a way that is good for the world around us. That’s why we actively commit to sustainability in our buildings, processes, and services. We integrate sustainability into every part of our organization, focusing on four key areas:
Reducing consumption and emissions
We are working to lower our CO₂ emissions by saving energy, switching to renewable sources, and making our transport more sustainable.
Sustainable waste and procurement management
We minimize waste and make conscious choices in our use of materials and procurement—by recycling more and critically evaluating packaging, for example.
Promoting equal treatment and opportunities
We safeguard our inclusive organization where everyone feels welcome and has equal opportunities to grow and contribute.
Providing sustainable services
Our services are primarily focused on patient health, but we also consider our social and environmental impact. We ensure our processes are safe, accessible, and environmentally conscious.
These themes form the foundation of our sustainability strategy and are embedded in our daily work.
How do we measure our impact?
Sanquin tracks its sustainability performance using clear goals across the themes of environment, social, and governance (ESG). Progress is continuously monitored and reported annually in our sustainability report. The 2024 edition is our first and serves as a baseline for future years. Transparency is key: we openly share what’s going well and where there’s room for improvement.
Legislation and corporate social responsibility (CSR)
Although Sanquin is not legally required to report under the European CSRD directive, we’ve chosen to publish an annual sustainability report. This reflects our commitment to social responsibility and keeps the conversation going with our stakeholders about building a sustainable future.
What does this mean for you as a donor?
As a donor, you may not always immediately see Sanquin’s sustainability efforts. Still, there are things you may notice. Like many other healthcare organizations, blood bank locations generate a lot of waste. While we critically review our waste, many materials are single-use for hygiene and medical safety reasons. We also rent some locations, which limits our control over waste separation and processing. Where possible, we separate waste streams and reuse materials. We also actively engage with suppliers about more sustainable products and packaging.
Your experience as a donor is an important part of our sustainability approach. You can contribute too—by coming to your donation appointment by bike, on foot, or using public transport. Got ideas on how we can be more sustainable? Please share them with us via our contact form—we’d love to hear from you! (Please mind that the contact form is yet only available in Dutch.)
Want to learn more?
Curious about our sustainable initiatives? Read our 2024 Sustainability Report below.
