Charles River Labs Now operates on 100% Renewable Electricity

The Pharma companies are trying their best to make decisions for a sustainable future. Charles River Laboratories is one such Pharmaceutical and microbial testing company, which is now operating all of its international branches with 100% renewable electricity as of Q1 of 2024, as reported.

By achieving this milestone, the UK-based company became one of the first 200 members of RE100, an initiative of global corporate renewable energy in 2020. 

As a member of this initiative, Charles River is committed to operating on 100% renewable electricity worldwide by 2030. On achieving this noteworthy milestone, it has joined a small group of companies working on the same values. 

Charles River has executed two crucial virtual power purchase agreements in Europe and the US to achieve this noteworthy milestone. In addition, it has initiated a 15-year contract with Derive Energy for a 102 MW solar vPPA based in Texas. 

It executed two crucial virtual power purchase agreements in Europe and the US.

In 2020, it initiated a 15-year contract with Derive Energy for a 102 MW solar vPPA based in Texas, which, as of January 2023, now meets 100% of the company’s North American electric power needs with clean and renewable energy.

In 2023, the company's 12-year-old, 30-MW wind power vPPA, a partnership with the Spanish multi-energy company Repsol, became operational. This output now covers Charles River's entire European electricity load. The company has also collaborated with leading organisations to support adopting green energy solutions. 

In 2022, Charles River gained recognition from the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership as the leader in utilising green electricity. 

Moreover, Charles River is also sponsoring Energise, a program driven by Schneider Electric to expand access to renewable energy within pharmaceutical supply chains.

The company has also invested approximately USD 13.5 million in sustainability-centric projects through the Charles River Sustainability Capital Fund.

Within the last three years, Charles River has funded over 100 projects globally that reduce its environmental footprint and advance energy conservation and GHG reduction efforts.