Corporate Responsibility
In addition to serving patients with ultra-rare diseases worldwide,
Alexion is committed to supporting our local and global communities –
through environmental responsibility, community service and corporate philanthropy.
A Commitment to the Environment
Alexion is committed to protecting our environment through responsible and innovative business practices. We recently earned two Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification awards and the 2010 Connecticut Green Building Council (CTGBC) Green Advocate Award for our global headquarters and research facilities in Cheshire, Connecticut. The gold-standard LEED certifications, awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council, recognize Alexion for constructing, operating and maintaining interiors that meet the highest green building and performance measures. The CTGBC Green Advocate Award recognizes an organization that has done the most by way of education, example, outreach, and leadership to promote environmental stewardship through sustainable practices within Connecticut. Alexion is proud to have been recognized for actively participating in green building and sustainable practices.
We design our facility operations and construction projects at our headquarters to adhere to high standards of environmental responsibility. In 2009, we installed a solar PV system on the rooftop of our headquarters and research facility. The system satisfies up to 9% of our headquarter’s energy needs.
Alexion has also undertaken a number of other sustainability-focused efforts. In 2009, through an onsite recycling program, we diverted more than 45 tons of waste from landfills, including batteries, paper, equipment, metal and carpeting. We’ve also installed a new heat recovery system to reduce heating and cooling loads in the company’s laboratories, thus reducing the carbon footprint associated with our operations. We offer preferred parking for carpoolers at our headquarters, and have implemented green cleaning programs, developed from LEED guidelines.
Community Service
Alexion employees are involved in a number of programs designed to support our local communities. For the past several years, employees have participated in HomeFront, a project organized by AmeriCares, to renovate and restore homes for people in need. Our home renovation projects have incorporated energy-efficiency elements to reduce operating costs to the home owners, such as energy-efficient replacement windows, insulation, and heating systems, all with an eye on indoor air quality and reduced heating costs. We also recycled materials from the renovations. At one home, we added ramps and features to accommodate family members with disabilities. This work is consistent with our mission to change lives for people in need. Beyond AmeriCares, Alexion employees get involved in other ways – from providing science scholarships and judging science contests at a nearby school, to participating in the American Red Cross Blood Drive held at our headquarters each summer.
Corporate Philanthropy
At Alexion, our efforts to help people go beyond the therapies we research and develop. We are also committed to supporting non-profit organizations that play an important role in education, disease awareness and access to medicines. We support the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), the European Organization for Rare Diseases (EURORDIS) and similar groups in major countries around the world. We regularly sponsor the PNH Research & Support Foundation's Annual Walk for PNH.
We show our commitment through our sponsorship of the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, a 5K-race to benefit the Petit Family Foundation, and the Susan G. Komen Race for A Cure.
We are also focused on helping young people who have an interest in the life sciences, and this year we expanded the number of scholarships awarded. We offered five Alexion Life Sciences Scholarships and five Alexion Chemistry Scholarships to students in Cheshire and Waterbury public schools, to support graduating seniors who are committed to pursuing a career in the life sciences.
Through the Alexion Life Sciences Student Internship Program, Alexion hosts several students each summer. At the end of their internships, many students go on to graduate school or careers in life sciences.