Achieved LEED Gold certification, a global benchmark for sustainable buildings, reinforcing ESG management

Highly rated for energy efficiency and resource conservation, securing both operational efficiency and sustainability

Following the Andong L HOUSE, all major sites now certified for eco-friendly standards, advancing global readiness

SK bioscience has strengthened its ESG management foundation as its new headquarters, the “Global R&PD Center,” has obtained a green building certification.

SK bioscience announced on the 30th that its Global R&PD Center in Songdo, Incheon, has achieved LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED is one of the most widely used global standards for green buildings, comprehensively evaluating sustainability across factors such as energy efficiency, water conservation, resource use, indoor environmental quality, and site selection. It is also a key benchmark used by global companies to assess sustainability in construction and operations. The Gold rating is awarded to buildings that achieve a balanced level of sustainability and operational efficiency.

The company received high marks for reducing energy consumption through high-efficiency systems, as well as incorporating designs that minimize water usage and optimize resource utilization. In addition, the Center was positively evaluated for its spatial design that enhances both indoor environmental quality and research efficiency, contributing to improved productivity and working conditions for researchers.

The Songdo Global R&PD Center serves as an integrated research hub that connects R&D, process development (PD), and quality analysis functions. It is designed to enable the entire process from early research and process establishment to technology transfer to be conducted within a single location, thereby accelerating development timelines and optimizing resource utilization.

The biopharmaceutical industry is known for its high energy consumption during research and process development. In this context, the certification is particularly meaningful as it reflects the systematic integration of sustainability into a core R&D facility.

Following the LEED-certified L HOUSE manufacturing facility in Andong (2013), SK bioscience has now secured eco-friendly certifications across all major sites, including its headquarters and research center, further strengthening its sustainable ESG management infrastructure.

Ahn Jae-yong, CEO of SK bioscience, said, “The Songdo Global R&PD Center is a key hub for developing innovative technologies in vaccines and biopharmaceuticals, and a research infrastructure that reflects our commitment to sustainable growth. We will continue to enhance our global eco-friendly competitiveness by applying ESG principles across the entire R&D process.”

Meanwhile, SK bioscience has maintained an ‘A’ rating for three consecutive years in the MSCI ESG assessment and continues to achieve high ratings from the Korea Institute of Corporate Governance and Sustainability (KCGS). The LEED Gold certification is regarded as a meaningful example of extending ESG management capabilities into R&D infrastructure.