Merck & Co., Inc., commonly referred to as Merck, is a leading global healthcare company headquartered in the United States. Founded in 1891, Merck has established itself as a pioneer in the pharmaceutical industry, focusing on innovative medicines, vaccines, and biologic therapies. With a strong presence in North America, Europe, and Asia, the company is dedicated to improving health outcomes worldwide. Merck's core products include groundbreaking treatments in oncology, infectious diseases, and vaccines, notably the HPV vaccine Gardasil and the cancer immunotherapy Keytruda. These offerings are distinguished by their commitment to research and development, which has led to numerous key milestones in medical advancements. As a market leader, Merck consistently ranks among the top pharmaceutical companies globally, recognised for its contributions to public health and its robust pipeline of future therapies.
How does Merck And Co's carbon action stack up? DitchCarbon scores companies based on their carbon action and commitment to reducing emissions. Read about our methodology to learn more.
Mean score of companies in the Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing industry. Comparing a company's score to the industry average can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
Merck And Co's score of 100 is higher than 100% of the industry. This can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
In 2024, Merck & Co., headquartered in the US, reported total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of approximately 7,721,200,000 kg CO2e. This includes 721,200,000 kg CO2e from Scope 1 emissions, 163,000,000 kg CO2e from Scope 2 (market-based), and a significant 6,057,900,000 kg CO2e from Scope 3 emissions. The previous year, 2023, saw similar figures with total emissions of about 7,731,600,000 kg CO2e, comprising 731,600,000 kg CO2e (Scope 1), 170,100,000 kg CO2e (Scope 2), and 5,863,500,000 kg CO2e (Scope 3). Merck has set ambitious climate commitments, aiming to reduce its operational GHG emissions (Scopes 1 and 2) by 46% by 2030, using 2019 as a baseline. Additionally, the company is targeting a 30% reduction in its Scope 3 emissions within the same timeframe. Furthermore, Merck has committed to achieving carbon neutrality across its operations (Scopes 1 and 2) by 2025 and aims for net-zero GHG emissions across all scopes by 2045, in alignment with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). These targets reflect Merck's commitment to sustainability and its proactive approach to addressing climate change within the pharmaceutical industry.
Access structured emissions data, company-specific emission factors, and source documents
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 | - | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 |
| Scope 2 | 1,532,400,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 |
| Scope 3 | 5,760,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 |
Merck And Co's Scope 3 emissions, which increased by 3% last year and increased by approximately 5% since 2014, demonstrating supply chain emissions tracking. The vast majority of their carbon footprint comes from suppliers and value chain emissions, representing the vast majority of total emissions under the GHG Protocol, with "Purchased Goods and Services" being the largest emissions source at 78% of Scope 3 emissions.
Climate goals typically focus on 2030 interim targets and 2050 net-zero commitments, aligned with global frameworks like the Paris Agreement and Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to ensure alignment with global climate goals.
Merck And Co has established climate goals through participation in recognized frameworks and target-setting initiatives. Companies often set interim 2030 targets and long-term 2050 net-zero goals to demonstrate measurable progress toward decarbonization.


Common questions about Merck And Co's sustainability data and climate commitments