Recognizing the importance of adherence to the highest global standards of modern and responsible business, the pharmaceutical company JADRAN-GALENSKI LABORATORIJ d.d. from Rijeka (JGL) published its seventh Sustainable Development Report which provides an overview of the economic, environmental and social operation in 2014. In the Report, covering a whole range of actions and activities in the company, and all company relationships, JGL adheres for the first time to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G4 guidelines.
A three-person commission of the Croatian Business Council for Sustainable Development management board determined that the Report is made in accordance to the G4 guidelines core option requirements, which has satisfied the requirement for publishing information on the company's influence on tangible aspects, with a required overview of general standard data showing the manner of directing the non-financial influences. This provides the basic context of the company's business, i.e. a framework for better understanding the influences, risks, opportunities and related management decisions.
At the end of its opinion, the Commission commends JGL's efforts and emphasizes: "The first JGL sustainability report was created in accordance with G4 guidelines and it is excellently prepared, moderate in size, amount and the manner of presenting information, making it particularly transparent, balanced and credible. We consider it to be one of the better sustainability reports published this year in Croatia. We congratulate JGL on its great efforts and we are looking forward to new results and success stories to read about in the following report."
A written and visual message of the PAKS society's national project "Sea is alive" under financial sponsorship of JGL is spread through the Report, which confirms JGL is a company that takes care of the environment and the social community. Maja Novosel, PhD, the leader of the above-mentioned project and president of the society says in the Report: "The mission of the Ecological Research Society PAKS is to develop awareness of the fact that our sea is alive. Thank you JGL for recognizing the importance of these actions and for supporting us for full five years. We sincerely wish them a calm sea in the years to come." The illustrations that enrich the Report are a part of the awarded works by Croatian schoolchildren, created as part of the national competition in 2014.
It should be emphasized that the reporting year was one of the most demanding in JGL's history, but the company proceeded with its investment cycle and employment. Three strategically significant investments have carried the clear vision of the company - projects Pharma Valley, Adrialab and JGL Beograd Sopot. Total JGL revenue in 2014 amounted to HRK 634 million, with HRK 408 million generated on foreign markets, which still proudly confirms the company's international mark. JGL recorded a decrease of the net income of 75% in relation to the previous period mostly due to the problems of the Russian and Ukrainian markets, with the net income amounting to HRK 18 million. Total revenue of the JGL Group has fallen by 7% in 2014 and amounts to HRK 810 million.
In the organizational part, the reporting year was marked by preparations for the change of the organizational structure, i.e. the passage from a two-tier model to a one-tier corporate governance model, with the goal of contributing to better strategy realization and strengthening customer relations. In the manufacturing part, about 31 million products were realized, no less than 2,500 batches of finished goods were marketed, a record number of regulatory bodies' inspections was conducted, the portfolio was expanded with nine prescription drugs and two OTC drugs, and the best selling global brand of the company, Aqua Maris, celebrated its 15th anniversary and the appearance of the 100 millionth product.
During 2014 JGL received two awards in the area of corporate social responsibility awarded by the CSR Index in the category of large companies thanks to extreme efforts of the employees - in April for the results and activities in 2012, and in December for the achieved results in 2013. Apart from that, JGL was included in the Top 5 Employer Partners list for the third consecutive year in 2014, which proves the quality of internal processes in human resource management.
Ivo Usmiani, President of JGL's Board of Directors, says in the introduction of the Report: "With responsible management and employee commitment, JGL will continue to do business in an environment-friendly manner. Additionally, technical security and stakeholder health protection are our set goals, starting from the beginning with product development and moving further on. Environment protection and natural resources preservation will still remain high on our priority list, and we will strive to remain a reliable and responsible member of the community where we live and work, trusting that good business practice also means good deeds."