A letter from the CEO

Sustainability is about giving people and our environment the same importance as our business and financial objectives. Like no other year in living memory, 2020 showed the business world that social and environmental developments can affect – and easily overpower – the most positive commercial trends. It demonstrated that companies cannot separate strategy and operations from the issues beyond the gates of their plants. Factoring social and environmental problems into day-to-day business is not about bearing them as best-avoided costs that only add to the price of doing business. It is to recognize them as an investment into being able to continue operating as a company.

At QIAGEN, we have long recognized this. We take our responsibility towards society and environment very seriously. Day in, day out, we see the importance of focusing on our strategy points to ensure we continue to achieve these goals. Our commitment to aiming for a sustainable future goes to the core of our vision – making improvements in life possible. We are dedicated to reducing the environmental impact of our operations, to being socially responsible to communities, and to fostering a diversity that allows all employees to develop. And we know these pillars of sustainability carry one thing ­– the success of our company. We do not consider it an option, but a real commitment.

Reducing our environmental footprint

We are committed to minimizing the impact our business operations have on the planet – from the energy we consume and the resources we use in our manufacturing processes to the materials we use in our labs and canteens. We have taken steps to reduce our carbon footprint by modifying the way we ship our products, reducing our business travel and incorporating energy modelling into our building design. We have further pledged to reduce our CO2 emissions in line with a 1.5˚C climate goal by 2050. Our sustainability teams have also taken significant steps to reduce the plastic packaging in our products and shipping materials, and we will continue to assess where we can reduce, replace or recycle single use plastics.

Being socially responsible

Providing access to our cutting-edge molecular technologies to communities around the world regardless of economic or social status is at the heart of our mission. This year, as the COVID-19 pandemic swept the globe, the importance of this mission has never felt more immediate and we have been glad to see our solutions making an impact in helping fight the spread of disease. Our teams stepped up to the challenge, rapidly developing new testing solutions to help combat the virus, and working with government organizations to ensure their widespread availability. We have one motto : leave no one behind.

But being socially responsible at QIAGEN means so much more to us than delivering molecular testing solutions. Making a positive contribution to society is incredibly important to us, and on our Society page you will find details of how we engage with and play an active role in our local communities, from our involvement in refugee integration programs to supporting science summer schools. I am especially proud to head an organization who’s employees contribute thousands of hours to volunteer work in their communities each year.

Developing a diverse and first-rate working culture

The same guiding principles also apply to QIAGEN's employees. We understand that our long-term sustainability and economic performance relies on their exceptional talent, skill and passion. As a top employer in the industry, QIAGEN has won awards for its commitment to the diversity, health and professional development of our people. Our teams excel when their members have a wide variety of backgrounds and characteristics, and we accelerate their performance through high-quality training and professional development. One of our goals has been to increase the number of women in leadership roles, and it’s been effective—but we still have a lot of work ahead.

I truly believe that it is efforts like these that have given QIAGEN its global reputation for integrity, passion, and innovation. And I know we are not alone in our philosophy. QIAGEN’s determination to be environmentally sustainable, socially responsible and professionally cultivating is as important to our stakeholders, customers and investors as it is to us.

In our sustainability pages you will find further details of the steps we have taken to integrate sustainability throughout our business. We welcome your feedback. Your insights will be invaluable to helping us refine our methods. We have made some significant changes and set ourselves ambitious targets, but we recognize that we are just at the beginning of this journey to a more sustainable future, and that we have much room to improve. Together we can create a lasting impact.

Thierry Bernard, Chief Executive Officer

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