LEGO sustainability veteran moves to Hikma Pharmaceuticals

Tim Brooks, who drove sustainability efforts at The LEGO Group for more than a decade, has taken on the top sustainability role at Hikma Pharmaceuticals.

Brooks was Head of Sustainability at the toymaker since 2016, but joined the company as Director of Environmental Sustainability in 2012. (LEGO appointed its first Chief Sustainability Officer, Annette Stube, at the start of 2024.)

During his tenure at LEGO, Brooks led research and development efforts to find a replacement for virgin plastics in bricks – which has not been without hurdles – and pioneered an employee-wide bonus scheme tied to carbon reduction targets.

He announced his move to Hikma Pharmaceuticals on Linkedin last week: “There are many similarities between toy manufacturing and pharmaceuticals, (quality and safety to name a few), but it’s totally different in most of the ways that count. It’s going to be an exciting and challenging learning curve, but just as in the LEGO Group, at the centre of Hikma is also purpose; mission-driven purpose. 

“Bringing affordable medicines to people across the world in order to fundamentally change their lives was something that excited me from the beginning of my conversations with Hikma. I can’t wait to see where it leads,” Brooks said.

LEGO’s company-wide sustainability incentives

LEGO has a target to reduce emissions by 37% by 2032 and achieve net zero by 2050. This year, the brand launched its company-wide carbon incentive programme, with Brooks calling this “one of the initiatives I’m most proud of”. 

The initiative did present some challenges in terms of getting the auditing, accuracy and scope right, he added, listing some of the lessons learned along the process. However, it generated a record level of engagement, which led him to advise that other companies considering similar schemes be prepared with “plans and ideas for all the teams that will reach out and want to take action”.

Other recommendations include involving the finance team “from day one” and planning for a buffer year to work out any potential issues before making the scheme official.

Hikma Pharmaceuticals sustainability strategy

Hikma Pharmaceuticals, which posted revenue of US$2.8 billion in 2023 (up 14% year on year), produces generic medicines across North America, Europe and MENA. Its environmental strategy includes reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 25% by 2030, as well as improving water and waste management.  

The firm also hopes to adopt water targets by 2025 – a goal Brooks will surely help to deliver in his new role as Global Head of Sustainability.