The Sustainability Reports and Pharmaceutical Industry in 2023 Limits and Opportunities of EU Standards Development, China Policy Regulations and Independent Organisation Standards

Abstract

In response to the environmental crisis and the recent Covid-19 pandemic, governments and private institutions worldwide are accelerating the development of existing sustainability reporting standards. The pharmaceutical industry is a significant part of both the EU and China's economies, constituting a substantial percentage of their exports. Given the relevance of these trade values and the increasing demand from investors for high-quality sustainable data, this research aims to explore the main sustainability reporting standards, which include EU SFDR & CSRD and China's policies on one side, and SASB and GRI individual institution's standards on the other. The research will highlight the advantages and limitations of these standards. Furthermore, the research aims to provide basic concepts and knowledge necessary to make informed corporate decisions for both EU investors seeking to invest in the pharmaceutical sector and pharmaceutical companies seeking to attract EU investments.