SUSTAINABILITY REPORT

BioNTech

2

PROF. UGUR SAHIN, M. D.
Chief Executive Officer and Founder

JENS HOLSTEIN
Chief Financial Officer

SEAN MARETT
Chief Business and Chief Commercial Officer

RYAN RICHARDSON
Chief Strategy Officer

JAMES RYAN , PH.D.
Chief Legal Officer

PROF. ÖZLEM TÜRECI, M. D.
Chief Medical Officer and Founder

SIERK POETTING, PH.D.
Chief Operating Officer

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

BioNTech

3

FIGHTING AGAINST COVID-19

INFECTIOUS DISEASE PROGRAMS

~460

7

million total vaccine
doses ­distributed 1

clinicalprograms

3 first-in-human ­trials started

ONCOLOGY PIPELINE

20+
clinical­programs in

A 21 ST CENTURY IMMUNOTHERAPY POWERHOUSE

Fully integrated biotechnology company
Multi-platform strategy
Diversified product pipeline

Shingles 2

Tuberculosis 3

Mpox 430 ongoing­clinical trials

SOCIALENVIRONMENTAL~6,300from over

employees 5

80 nations

Based on global social responsibility

OUR ­VALUES

SBTi-validated Scope 1, 2 and 3
targets in 2024
unitedpassio­nate

innovative

1 January to December 3, 2023. | 2 Partnered with Pfizer. | 3 In collaboration with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. | 4 Partnered with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). | 5 Including 328 InstaDeep employees as of December 31, 2023.

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

CONTENTS

4
OUR PURPOSE

1.0

About BioNTech 

6

2.0

Our Responsibility 

14

3.0

Corporate Citizenship 

22

4.0

Responsible Governance 

29

5.0

Environmental and Climate Protection 

47

6.0

Attractive Employer 

60

7.0

ESG Ratings and Memberships 

75

8.0 Appendix and Data 

79

BioNTech was founded in Mainz, Germany, in 2008 with the­understanding that each cancer patient’s tumor is unique and thevision that each patient’s treatment should be individualized. Toturn this idea into reality, we have combined innovative researchwith ­cutting-edge technologies.
Our objective is to develop breakthrough therapies against cancer,
infectious diseases and other serious diseases.
As a next-generation immunotherapy company, we are working
to clinically prove the benefits of our treatment approach. Our
COVID-19 vaccine is an important milestone. We are continuously
expanding our collaborations, our team and our own manufacturing capabilities with the aim of providing individualized treatments
to patients around the world.

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We are accelerating the development of our diversified pipeline of
next-generation immunotherapies, aspiring to improve the healthof people worldwide by harnessing the full potential of the immune
system. In addition to cancer, infectious diseases and other s­ erious
diseases, this includes autoimmune diseases and allergies andregenerative medicine.

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

5
Dear Reader,
Since its founding, BioNTech has been driven by a fundamental motivation to act responsibly towards patients and society. This remains
true today and will continue to be our driving force in the future.
This motivation shapes our vision, mission, culture, and ways of working. Our goal is to translate science into survival by developing new
immunotherapies and vaccines to improve the health of people worldwide. We believe this gives us wide corporate responsibility and an
ambition to do everything in a sustainable way.
Over the last 15 years, we have steadily expanded our pipeline, which
now includes several platform technologies and candidates targetingcancer, infectious, and other serious diseases. The first-ever approved
mRNA vaccine – the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, or COMIRNATY – was created in our labs.
The progress of our COMIRNATY vaccine business and the advancement of our innovative oncology pipeline are key components of oursustainability efforts and reflect our unwavering commitment to theUnited Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We aim toleverage the resources and skills of our new Global Health Office(GHO) to support the advancement and expansion of our infectious
disease programs and further contribute to equitable access to mRNA
medicines. The GHO provides a public health perspective to support
the end-to-end development of innovative medicines that aim toaddress major unmet public health needs, particularly those affecting
populations in low- and middle-income countries and those with an
inequity or pandemic preparedness dimension.

Our commitment to sustainability extends to our focus on improving
and reinforcing healthy processes and systems surrounding our people,
culture, and organization to achieve our business objectives. With afocus on corporate responsibility and sustainability, this report outlines
our developments in this area in 2023.
We have continued to develop responsible corporate governancepractices across our business, which we believe will further strengthen
our resilience in an increasingly competitive environment. Our progress in respecting human rights is worth highlighting. We see the introduction of respective regulations in Germany and worldwide as anopportunity to further enhance our due diligence processes in thisregard to improve the lives of affected people regarding basic humanrights.
Protecting our climate remains a key objective. Our ambitious science-­
based climate targets were validated by the Science Based Target­Initiative (SBTi) in 2024. With a dedicated global decarbonization team,appropriate investments, and consistent individual measures, we
believe we are well-positioned to achieve our climate targets by 2030.
The Management Board would like to thank everyone who has supported us in the past year and continues to do so. We are grateful to our
passionate employees, whose hard work is key to our success. We
also appreciate our business partners’ trust and collaboration that help
us achieve our goals and make a positive impact on the world. Lastly,
we want to thank our investors, shareholders, and the Supervisory
Board for their ongoing support. GRI 2-22

Prof. Ugur Sahin, M.D.
Chief Executive Officer
and Co-Founder
Prof. Özlem Türeci, M.D.
Chief Medical Officer
and Co-Founder
Sean Marett
Chief Business and Chief
Commercial Officer

Sierk Poetting, Ph.D.
Chief Operating Officer
Jens Holstein
Chief Financial Officer
Ryan Richardson
Chief Strategy Officer
James Ryan, Ph.D.
Chief Legal Officer

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

6

1.0

Developing a
Next-Generation
Immunotherapy
Company
FOR A BETTER FUTURE:

We are always aspiring to deepen our­understanding of the human immune­system.

1.0 BioNTech

1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4

Business Overview 
2023 Financial Results 
Economic Contributions Group Management CSR 

7
10
10
10

40 +

Completing construction of BioNTech’s
first proprietary plasmid DNA manufacturing
facility in Marburg, Germany

clinical trials

3.8

billiontotal revenues
in 2023 ­financial year in euros

10phase 2 or phase 3
clinical trials in oncology

Acquisition of InstaDeep, enabling BioNTech
to leverage artificial intelligence and machinelearning technologies across its therapeutic
platforms and operations

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

7

1.0 ABOUT BioNTech
1.1 BUSINESS OVERVIEW
BioNTech is a global next-generation immunotherapy company pioneering novel medicines against cancer, infectious diseases and other s­ erious
diseases. Since its founding in 2008, the Company has focused on harnessing the power of the immune system to address human diseases
with unmet medical needs and major global health burdens. BioNTech’s
fully integrated model combines decades of research in immunology with a multi-technology innovation engine, GMP manufacturing,trans­lational drug discovery, clinical development, commercial capabilities, computational medicine, data science and artificial intelligence (AI)and machine learning (ML) capabilities to discover, develop and commercialize its marketed products and product candidates.
BioNTech has built a broad toolkit across multiple technology platforms,
including a diverse range of potentially first-in-class therapeutic
approaches. This includes investigational messenger ribonucleic acid,or mRNA vaccines, protein-based therapeutics (including targeteda­ ntibodies such as monoclonal, bispecific and antibody-drug conjugates, or ADCs), cell therapies and small molecules.
The Company expects each platform to yield a pipeline of productcandidates for further development. BioNTech’s multi-technology­­combination of platforms and product candidates positions the Company as a pioneer in the field of individualized, patient-centric therapeutic
approaches in oncology and infectious diseases. BioNTech aims to
expand this status into other disease areas in the future.

Advancing Our Vision: A Once-in-a-Generation Opportunity to Transform Medicine
We aim to be a multi-product global biotechnology leader, working to address the world’s most­pressing health challenges with pioneering, disruptive technologies delivered at scale.

Maintain and deepen COVID-19 vaccine leadership
Globally marketed COVID-19 vaccine franchise1
Oncology

Infectious diseases

20 + programs in 30 clinical t­ rials
10 Phase 2 or Phase 3 trials

7 programs in
10 + clinical trials

Initiating additional potentially registrational trials

DRIVING TRANSFORMATION TODAY

Launch next-generation and combination
COVID-19 vaccines
Launch multiple oncology products from 2026
onwards
Innovation engine producing multiple INDs
per year

MID-TERM GOALS 2025 – 2029

Approved products across oncology and infectious­disease portfolio
Potential new disease areas
CardiovasculardiseasesNeurodegener-

Autoimmune
diseases

ative diseases

LONG-TERM VISION 2030

1 Partnered with Pfizer; IND = Investigational New Drug.

1.0 BioNTech | 1.1 Business Overview

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

In oncology, BioNTech endeavors to address the continuum of cancer
patients. The root causes of cancer treatment failure are cancer heterogeneity and interindividual variability. Driven by random sequential mutations, every patient’s cancer is different and within one patient’s tumor,
every cell is different. Addressing these two challenges is the core of
BioNTech’s strategy. To augment anti-tumor activity and to counteract
resistance mechanisms, the Company seeks to combine compoundswith non-overlapping, synergistic mechanisms of action.
In infectious disease, BioNTech’s product strategy is rooted in global
social responsibility and the Company’s goal of contributing to equitable
access to medicine.
BioNTech’s approach has generated a robust and diversified productpipeline across a range of technologies in oncology and infectious­disease, and has led to the approval of its first marketed product,­COMIRNATY.
BioNTech’s key objectives include building a sustainable respiratory
infectious disease vaccine business based on the BioNTech-Pfizer
COMIRNATY franchise and developing an innovative precision medicine
pipeline targeting multiple product approvals in the coming years.
BioNTech is well-positioned to pursue its objectives by leveraging a technology-agnostic approach rooted in decades of research in immunology
coupled with expertise in emerging mRNA technologies. The Com­pany’s
vision is to establish a multi-product company based on its pioneering
technologies and science to contribute to improving the health of people
worldwide.
Progress on Strategic Objectives in 2023
In 2023, BioNTech executed across four key strategic pillars to strengthen
its technology platforms, digital capabilities and infrastructure throughstrategic investments, acquisitions, licensing agreements and public­private partnerships impacting patients, shareholders and other stakeholders.

1 Includes InstaDeep.

1.0 BioNTech | 1.1 Business Overview

1. Leadership in COVID-19 Vaccine Development
BioNTech continued to build its COVID-19 vaccine franchise and maintained market leadership in multiple key geographies. In 2023, BioNTech
and Pfizer distributed over 460 million total COMIRNATY doses, of which
over 190 million doses were BioNTech’s Omicron XBB.1.5-adapted­monovalent COVID-19 vaccine. BioNTech and Pfizer introduced singledose vials and never-frozen syringes in the United States.
2. Healthcare and Social Responsibility
BioNTech advanced its goal of contributing to equitable access to medicine around the globe, with over 30 % of COMIRNATY doses delivered
to low- and middle-income countries in 2023 in line with demand. The
Company continues to work with non-governmental organizations(NGOs), institutes and governments to plan for equitable access to novel
medicines, especially in low and middle-income countries and regions.
BioNTech is progressing the development of mRNA vaccine candidates
for infectious diseases with high medical need, including vaccine candidates against tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV, as well as against infectious
diseases with pandemic potential, such as mpox. In December 2023,
BioNTech reached an important milestone towards the establishment ofmRNA vaccine manufacturing capacities in Africa with the inaugurationof its facility in Kigali, Rwanda.
3. Innovative and Diversified Pipeline
BioNTech continued to develop its innovative oncology and infectious
disease pipeline. Today, BioNTech’s pipeline consists of over 20 programsin oncology and seven programs in infectious disease being evaluated inover 40 clinical trials, including eight Phase 2 and two Phase 3 clinical­trials in oncology. In 2023, BioNTech and its partners reported data
across their portfolio at multiple medical meetings and published manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals.
In oncology, BioNTech started seven clinical trials and in-licensed six
clinical assets throughout the year. Most importantly, BioNTech brought
several assets into mid- and late-stage development, namely Phase 2
and Phase 3 clinical trials, across a range of technologies, in particular,
ADCs and mRNA vaccines.

BioNTech expanded its technology base to include ADCs by initiating
new collaborations with DualityBio and MediLink Therapeutics. BioNTech
believes ADCs have the potential to supplement or replace high toxic
chemotherapy regimens as a new combination backbone of cancer
treatment. BioNTech’s growing ADC pipeline includes ADCs directedagainst four distinct targets and is of interest for a broad range of cancer
types. BioNTech’s collaborations with OncoC4 and Biotheus complement its toolkit of technologies with next-generation immuno-oncology
antibodies that offer unique mechanism of action and have augmented
BioNTech’s oncology pipeline with mid- to late-stage clinical programs.
In infectious diseases, BioNTech started three first-in-human Phase 1
clinical trials leveraging its proprietary mRNA prophylactic vaccine technology, including candidates being evaluated against shingles, tuber­culosis, and mpox.
Over the next year, BioNTech aims to advance additional product candidates towards late-stage development and expects to have ten or morepotentially registrational trials running by the end of 2024. The Company
expects to continue building its pipeline towards its planned first oncology
launch in 2026. BioNTech aims to have ten indication approvals by 2030.
4. Innovation at Scale
BioNTech is building and scaling biotech innovation with the aim of
becoming a patient-centric, AI-driven, multi-product company. In 2023,
BioNTech attracted top talent, including clinical and regulatory experts,
to advance the development of its pipeline. The Company expanded its
team to roughly 6,300 employees 1 globally by welcoming more than
1,600 new hires. BioNTech’s diverse workforce represents more than
80 nations, and BioNTech has subsidiaries in countries across five­continents.
In 2023, BioNTech expanded its organization in Asia, Africa, North­America, Australia and Europe. BioNTech increased its overall researchand development and production capabilities, including completing­construction of its first proprietary plasmid DNA manufacturing facility in
Marburg, Germany. BioNTech also established a corporate office inShanghai, China.
BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

8

In 2023, BioNTech entered into multiple complementary agreements
and collaborations, including:•	The completion of the acquisition of its long-time strategic collaboration partner, InstaDeep Ltd, or InstaDeep, which enables BioNTech toleverage AI and ML technologies across the Company’s therapeutic
platforms and operations. With the acquisition of InstaDeep, BioNTech
has added industry-leading AI and ML capabilities and approximately
290 highly skilled professionals to its organization. InstaDeep operates
as a L­ ondon-based subsidiary.
•	A strategic collaboration with the Government of the United Kingdom,or the U.K., to provide up to 10,000 patients with personalized mRNA
cancer immunotherapies by 2030, either in clinical trials or as authorized treatments. BioNTech plans to invest in a research and development hub in Cambridge, U.K., with an expected capacity of more than
70 highly skilled scientists.
•	A multi-year agreement with Australia’s state of Victoria to set up
and operate clinical-scale mRNA vaccine manufacturing through theCompany’s BioNTainer units and establish an mRNA Innovation Center in Melbourne.
Post year-end, in February 2024, in line with BioNTech’s goal of scaling
up innovation, BioNTech and Autolus Therapeutics plc, or Autolus,
announced a strategic collaboration aimed at advancing both companies’ autologous CAR-T programs towards commercialization, pending
regulatory authorizations. As part of the strategic collaboration, BioNTech
has the option to access Autolus commercial and clinical site networkand manufacturing capacities in the U.K. and commercial supply infrastructure in a cost-efficient set-up allowing for the accelerated development of BioNTech’s product candidate BNT211.
In 2023, BioNTech strengthened its balance sheet through strong financial performance, ending the year with approximately USD 17.7 billion
in total cash, cash equivalents and security investments. With a strong

1.0 BioNTech | 1.1 Business Overview

f­inancial position, leading COVID-19 vaccine franchise, and innovative­oncology and i­nfectious ­disease pipeline, BioNTech believes it is well
positioned to continue executing on the Company’s vision of pioneering novel ­medicines against cancer, infectious diseases, and otherserious ­diseases.
Further detail on the collaborations, marketing rights, manufacturing operations, and facilities, as well as a full commercial, clinical development andregulatory update on BioNTech’s and Pfizer’s COVID-19 v­ accine, can befound in BioNTech’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended
December 31, 2023, which is available on BioNTech's website. GRI 2-6
Marketed Products: COMIRNATY,
BioNTech’s COVID-19 Vaccine Program (BNT162)
BioNTech’s commercial product, COMIRNATY, was the first-everapproved mRNA-based product, and, to the Company’s knowledge, represents the fastest ever developed prophylactic vaccine from viral sampling to approval. As of December 2023, BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine
products have been authorized or approved for emergency or temporary
use or granted marketing authorization in more than 180 countries andregions worldwide. BioNTech’s efforts have resulted in more than 4.8 billion doses shipped globally.
Under BioNTech’s collaboration with Pfizer, BioNTech is the Marketing
Authorization Holder in the United States, the European Union, or E.U.,
the U.K., Canada and other countries. Additionally, BioNTech is the holderof emergency use authorizations, or EUAs, or equivalents in the UnitedStates (jointly with Pfizer) and other countries for the COVID-19 vaccine
program. Pfizer has marketing and distribution rights worldwide apartfrom Greater China, Germany, and Türkiye. BioNTech has the marketingand distribution rights to COMIRNATY in Germany and Türkiye.

Manufacturing and Distribution
BioNTech and Pfizer continue to collaborate with governments andhealth ministries around the world to efficiently distribute COMIRNATY.
BioNTech has developed a global COVID-19 vaccine supply chain andmanufacturing network spanning four continents to meet the ongoing
global demand of COMIRNATY.
In 2023, BioNTech began transitioning from an advanced purchase agreement framework to commercial market ordering in some geographies.
In May 2023, BioNTech and Pfizer announced an agreement with theEuropean Commission, or the EC, to amend the previous COVID-19­Vaccine Purchase Agreement to deliver COVID-19 vaccines to the E.U.
The amended agreement reflects BioNTech’s and Pfizer’s commitment
to working collaboratively to help address ongoing public health needs,
while respecting the principles of the original agreement. The agreement
rephased delivery of doses annually through 2026. In addition, the­agreement includes an aggregate volume reduction, providing additional­flexibility for E.U. Member States. The EC will maintain access to future
adapted COVID-19 vaccines and the ability to donate doses, in alignment
with the original agreement.
In October 2023, BioNTech and Pfizer announced an agreement
between the Japanese government and Pfizer Japan Co., Ltd. to supply
an additional 9 million doses of the Omicron XBB.1.5-adapted COVID-19
vaccine for the special vaccination program in Japan, which started inautumn 2023. The agreement followed an agreement between the­Japanese government and Pfizer in July 2023 to supply 20 million doses
and additional supplies as needed, and an agreement announced in September 2023 to provide additional 10 million doses of the ­com­panies’
Omicron XBB.1.5-adapted COVID-19 vaccine for the special ­vaccination
program in Japan.

Under BioNTech’s collaboration with Fosun Pharmaceutical Industrial
Development, Co., Ltd, or Fosun Pharma, Fosun Pharma has marketingand distribution rights in Mainland China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, or SAR, Macau SAR and Taiwan.

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

9

Legal Structure
The Company was founded and incorporated on June 2, 2008 as­Petersberg 91, V AG, a German stock corporation (Aktiengesellschaft).
The Company changed its name to BioNTech AG on December 11, 2008.
On March 8, 2019, the Company converted to a European stock corporation (Societas Europaea, or SE) under the laws of Germany and theEuropean Union called BioNTech SE. BioNTech completed its initialpublic offering in October 2019. ADSs representing its ordinary sharesare currently listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the­symbol “BNTX”.

In this sustainability report, “BioNTech”, the “Group”, the­“Company”, “we”, “us”, and “our” refer to BioNTech SE and its
subsidiaries, except where the context requires otherwise.
The full list of subsidiaries and parent companies, including an entity withsignificant influence over the Group, as well as comprehensive documentation on changes to the Group structure, are published in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the 2023 financial year, which isaccessible on the website of BioNTech. GRI 2-1, 2-2
Organizational StructureManagement
The Company has a dual management system. The Management Board,as the managing body, currently has seven members who are appointed
and supervised by the Supervisory Board, which also approves major­business decisions. The Supervisory Board is elected by the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and currently consists of six members. A more detailed
over­view of board practices is provided in Chapter 4.1 Managing Responsible ­Governance.
On May 3, 2023, BioNTech’s Supervisory Board expanded the Company’s Management Board by appointing James Ryan as Chief Legal­Officer (CLO), effective as of September 1, 2023. As CLO, James Ryan
heads up BioNTech’s legal department and is responsible for developing

and leading the Company’s corporate legal strategy to promote andprotect BioNTech’s global operations. His current appointment to­
BioNTech’s ­Management Board will end on August 30, 2027.
In 2023, the term of office of the Supervisory Board members Ulrich
Wandschneider, Christoph Huber and Michael Motschmann, who were
elected by the shareholders at the Annual ­General Meeting (AGM) on
September 17, 2018, ended at the close of the Annual General Meetingon May 25, 2023. As part of the 2023 AGM, Ulrich Wandschneider andMichael Motschmann were re-elected as Supervisory Board members.
In addition, Nicola Blackwood was appointed to BioNTech’s Supervisory
Board. She succeeded Christoph Huber, who left the Supervisory Board
after reaching the applicable retirement age limit. Ulrich Wandschneider’s, Nicola Blackwood’s and Michael Motschmann’s c­ urrent appointments to BioNTech’s Supervisory Board will end at the AGM in 2027.
Workforce
As of the December 31, 2023 reporting date, there were 5,964 employees (6,292 employees including InstaDeep), of which 3,166 were
employed by BioNTech SE (December 31, 2022: 4,692, of which 2,304
were employed by BioNTech SE). The average number for the year was
5,640 employees (2022: 4,104).

1.2 2023 FINANCIAL RESULTS
In the 2023 financial year, BioNTech’s total revenues were EUR 3.8 billion(2022: EUR 17.3 billion).
For more details on the Company’s 2023 financial results, please refer
to BioNTech’s Annual Report 2023 on Form 20-F filed with the SEC
on March 20, 2024. This report is available on the website of BioNTech
and the website of the SEC.

1.0 BioNTech | 1.1 Business Overview | 1.2 2023 Financial Results | 1.3 Economic Contributions | 1.4 Group Management CSR

1.3 ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONSBioNTech’s financial results for the 2023 financial year, including its revenues and expenses for research and development, sales and marketing,and administration, are available in BioNTech’s Annual Report 2023 on
Form 20-F filed with the SEC on March 20, 2024. This report is available
on the website of BioNTech and the website of the SEC.
Information describing BioNTech’s community involvement can be foundin Chapter 3.0 Corporate Citizenship. GRI 201-1

1.4 GROUP MANAGEMENT CSR
CSR Governance
As a biotech company engaged in research and commercial manufacturing, BioNTech bears responsibility for how it conducts its businessand the impact its activities have on the wider economy, people and theenvironment.
The overall responsibility for managing such impacts within BioNTech’s
corporate social responsibility (CSR) lies with the Management Board. It
receives support from the CSR Steering Board, which is responsible forthe strategic, group-wide management of CSR and sustainability topics.
The CSR Steering Board consists of BioNTech’s Chief Medical Officer,
Prof. Özlem Türeci, M.D., and Chief Operating Officer (COO), Sierk ­Poetting,
Ph.D., as well as 16 senior executives representing departments that are
critical from both a business and CSR perspective. GRI 2-12
BioNTech’s CSR team is the driving force behind the systematic incorporation of CSR and sustainability into the organization, its processes,­corporate culture and work practices. The CSR team reports directly to
the COO and is responsible for preparing strategy proposals, analyses,
decision papers and recommendations. It also coordinates the CSR
issues for the BioNTech Group as a whole and ensures that the Group’s
operational development and sustainability reporting are addressed bycross-functional teams and work groups.

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

10

The operational management and CSR-related tasks are carried out
by the designated departments and subsidiaries. The objective of CSR
management is to anchor sustainability expertise for all material topics inthe business units and departments. To achieve this, the following operational areas were strengthened in 2023:•	Energy and Sustainability Projects (ESP) Department: In 2023,
BioNTech’s Management Board approved a multi-year budget to equip
its central ESP Department with the necessary resources to carry out
the Company’s decarbonization measures. The budget is intended tofinance measures to reduce the Company’s CO2 footprint at existingsites over a five-year period and will be managed centrally by the
ESP Department. The decarbonization budget is available independently of other allocations to provide a solid foundation to achieve
BioNTech’s near-term CO2 reduction targets. The budget is earmarked
for investments to support the capital requirements of the decarbonization ­pathway towards BioNTech’s near-term 2030 target. Furthermore, the ESP Department was strengthened with additional expert
staff to drive BioNTech’s decarbonization efforts.
•	Global Health Office: BioNTech aims to advance and expand its
infectious disease programs and pipeline while contributing to equitable access to mRNA medicines. To further advance this vision,
BioNTech established its Global Health Office (GHO) in 2023. The
GHO provides a public health perspective that supports the end-toend development of innovative medicines that address major unmet
public health needs, particularly those affecting populations in low- andmiddle-income countries and those with an inequity or pandemic­preparedness dimension.
•	Human Rights Officer: Effective January 1, 2023, BioNTech’s Manage­
ment Board appointed a human rights officer (HRO) as part of theCompany’s preparation for the introduction of the German Act on­Corporate Due Diligence Obligations for the Prevention of Human
Rights Violations in Supply Chains (Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichten­
gesetz – LkSG). The responsibility for human rights management washanded over from CSR to the HRO. This function is responsible for all

1.0 BioNTech | 1.4 Group Management CSR

subsidiaries of the BioNTech Group and reports directly to the Chief
Operating Officer (COO), who is the designated Management Boardfor human rights matters. The function of the HRO was further reinforced with the employment of a human rights m­ anager in September
2023, reporting directly to the HRO.

BioNTech is also preparing for the implementation of the European­Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), which will begin to apply tocorporate sustainability reports published in 2026 for the 2025 financial
year. A key principle of the new standards is the concept of “double materiality”, which BioNTech will be required to incorporate into its process.
The ESRS’ double materiality rules require companies to identify issues•	In 2023, the CSR Team was expanded with two additional employees. from two perspectives. The first, “impact materiality,” focuses on a comIn particular, the areas of sustainable performance (ESG rating and pany’s own impacts on people and the environment (i.e., from the insidedata management) and sustainability reporting, as well as the integra- out). The second, “financial materiality,” focuses on how social andtion of sustainability issues into BioNTech’s core businesses, were environmental issues create financial risks and opportunities for thestrengthened as a result.
company (i.e., from the outside-in). A topic can either be impact material,
financially material, both or neither. BioNTech’s latest CSR and sustain•	Corporate Citizenship: In 2023, BioNTech further developed its ability materiality analysis has taken into account the double materiality­Cor­porate Citizenship Concept to reflect the Company’s increasing perspective for the first time. However, the ESRS will require reportingglo­balization. The three pillars concept was carefully recalibrated and companies to quantify thresholds for both impact and financial materialsubsequently approved by the Management Board. The “Health-­ ity. BioNTech has not yet defined these quantitative thresholds for its
Related Causes” pillar was revised and renamed “Health-Related sustainability reporting. The Company’s current approach applies a
Impacts”. The changes made lay the foundation for a gradual shift in ­subjective materiality threshold and assessments from experts, reprecommitment from ad hoc activities to strategic impact projects.
sentatives of different departments, and its CSR Steering Board to determine the materiality of CSR and sustainability topics as an intermediate
All departments are supported by the CSR Team, which is directly step as it prepares for full compliance with the ESRS requirements once
involved in all major CSR projects. GRI 2-13, 3-3
in effect.
CSR and Sustainability Materiality Analysis
BioNTech regularly conducts an analysis to identify the most important(i.e., “material”) topics to the Company in the areas of CSR and sustainability, referred to as a materiality analysis. The process by which theCompany makes and acts on these assessments has undergone meaningful developments over the past few years. Starting with interviews
with external experts and stakeholders in 2021 and 2022 and including
the views of the Company’s management in 2022 and 2023, the Company has continued to refine the process in 2023 and 2024 with the aimof establishing a standardized annual materiality analysis process for
CSR and sustainability topics. As discussed in this report, “materiality”
refers to this CSR- and sustainability-driven analysis, which is a distinct
assessment from other forms of “materiality” analyses that may apply tosecurities, corporate governance, or auditing regulations.

Materiality Assessment 2023/2024
BioNTech conducted its latest materiality assessment between October
2023 and February 2024. The topics from BioNTech’s previous materiality analyses were mapped against the topics and standards of the ESRS
as well as relevant reporting frameworks and selected ESG ratings. This
analysis resulted in 14 potentially relevant topics in four topic clusters(see graphic on
page 12). For each of these topics, a factual topic
description (Impact Sheet) was developed, which facilitated and validated the subsequent discussion. The Impact Sheets shall provide thebasis for a first and internally aligned catalog of BioNTech’s most relevant
impacts, risks and opportunities related to sustainability matters andshall be used in an annual materiality process in accordance with ESRS
requirements in the future.

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

11

CSR Fields of ActionOUR
RESPONSIBILITY

12

Materiality Matrix 2023/2024• 
Contributing to Equitable
Access to Medicine

Patient Safety

ENVIRONMENTAL &CLIMATE PROTECTIONRESPONSIBLE
GOVERNANCE

ATTRACTIVEEMPLOYER

1.0 BioNTech | 1.4 Group Management CSR• Climate Protection• Pollution, Water & Waste• Patient Safety• Data Privacy & Information Security• Animal Welfare• Compliance & Good Governance• Business Ethics in the­Pharmaceutical Industry• Human Rights• Government Relations• Pioneer Pipeline• Pioneer Development• Equal Opportunity & Diversity• Growth & Culture

Impact on Society and Environment

Contributing to Equitable
Access to Medicine

Equal, Opportunity& Diversity
Compliance &Good Governance

Climate Protection
Business Ethics in the Pharmaceutical Industry

Growth & Culture

Pioneer Pipeline
Human Rights
Pioneer Development

Animal
WelfareData Privacy &­Information Security

Pollution, Water & Waste

Government Relations

Materiality
Threshold
Impact on Business Success

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

As some topics require further analysis to enable proper evaluation, such
topics were excluded from the assessment during the topic mapping
phase. The Company is taking steps towards assembling the relevant
information so that additional topics can be assessed in future cycles.
By way of example, the Company determined that a materiality determination with respect to biodiversity requires further in-depth information.
As a result, the Company has begun a first high-level desktop analysis
using the WWF Biodiversity Filter for its operations. Insights from these
initial steps are being further analyzed.
After identifying potentially relevant CSR and sustainability topics,
BioNTech invited representatives from relevant departments to two
workshop sessions. About 20 representatives provided a broad perspective on the overall materiality of the identified topics, covering a
range of expertise from departments such as the CSR Department,
Global Health Office, BioNTech’s Culture Campus, Global Regulatory
Affairs, Governmental Affairs, IT, Global Property Development, Human
Resources, Safety, Health & Environment (SHE), Legal, Enterprise Risk
Management, Compliance & Business Ethics, Procurement, Energy &Sustainability Projects (ESP), Cyber Security & Data Protection,
Non-Clinical Safety, Investor Relations, Financial Reporting as well as
representatives with a manufacturing perspective. During the workshop
sessions, participants discussed the identified topics and provided theirevaluation and assessment of each topic on both impact and financial
materiality. Input from these sessions was used to further substantiate
the Impact Sheets. As a next step, the workshop assessments were
­further supplemented with expert perspectives. The CSR Department
identified Special Matter Experts (SMEs) for each topic and requested
their professional evaluation and assessment of both perspectives –impact materiality and financial materiality.

1.0 BioNTech | 1.4 Group Management CSR

In a final step, the workshop assessments, SME assessments, CSR
Team assessments and a summary of relevant and notable results anddiscussions were presented to the CSR Steering Board. The CSR Steering Board is responsible for strategic and group-wide CSR management
and is the highest sustainability body below the Management Board. TheCSR Steering Board consists of BioNTech’s Chief Medical Officer andChief Operating Officer, as well as 18 senior executives representing
departments that are critical from both a business and a sustainability
perspective. The CSR Steering Board’s members discussed the potential impact of the topics as well as their opportunities and risks, the process results of the preceding materiality analysis, and specific strongly
divergent or disparate assessments in detail. Finally, the topics wereassessed within the scope of the upstream (quantitative) assessment
results using a preliminary materiality threshold proposed by the CSR
Department. However, the impacts, risks and/or opportunities have notyet been quantified and assessed as required by the ESRS standard.
The result of the materiality assessment is shown in the Materiality Matrix
on page 12. GRI 3-2
Material Topics and Sustainability Reporting
Largely as a result of the new double materiality approach, under which a
topic can be material from either an impact or a financial perspective, alarger number of issues have been identified as material than in previous
analyses.
The upper right quarter of BioNTech’s materiality matrix highlights the
topics that are considered material from both impact and financial dimensions. Patient safety is a crucial CSR topic for BioNTech, reflecting theCompany’s vision and mission to improve health globally. BioNTech
places the highest priority on patient safety from both regulatory and­ thical perspectives. Compliance and Good Governance, Business Ethe
ics in the Pharmaceutical Industry, Animal Welfare, and Data Privacy and­Information Security are considered material due to BioNTech’s industry
and global expansion. Human Rights are also material, reflecting theincreasing number of laws in this area, the global growth of the Company
and ethical as well as reputational considerations. BioNTech’s uniqueculture is important for the success of the Company (Growth and Culture) and fostering an inclusive work environment free of discrimination(Equal Opportunity and Diversity), which are top priorities. BioNTech’s
Pioneer Pipeline and Pioneer Development activities are also of highimportance, as we see them as critical for the Company’s success.
­Contributing to Equitable Access to innovative Medicines and Climate
Protection are considered material from an impact perspective, reflecting the Company’s commitment to its vision and mission and its efforts
to contribute to vaccine ecosystems while staying within planetary
boundaries and limiting global warming to 1.5°C, as outlined in the Paris­Agreement.
BioNTech also expects to continue to report on topics not explicitly
included in the materiality assessment, such as its Corporate Citizenshipactivities, which it believes demonstrate its values and are c­ ritical contributions to affected communities.
Moreover, BioNTech will continue to analyze new and proposed reporting requirements such as the ESRS and the U.S. SEC’s final rules on theenhancement and standardization of climate-related disclosures forinvestors. The Company will continue to iterate on its sustainability dataprocesses and management in preparation for complying with new­standards. GRI 2-29, GRI 3-1

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

13

14

2.0

Contributing toEquitable Accessto Medicine

2.1 Working Together to Promote Vaccine Equity 
2.2 Increasing Access to Innovative Medicines 
2.3	BioNTainer – A Sustainable, Scalable Solution
for mRNA Manufacturing 

19

BioNTech continues to focus on high and unmet medical
needs – especially through the development of medicines
against some of the world’s most prevalent infectious­diseases, cancer, and other serious diseases.

1stGlobalHealth Office
BioNTainer unit set up

Inauguration of the Company’ssite in Kigali, Rwanda

FOR PEOPLE EVERYWHERE:

We aim to improve health worldwide
through innovative medicines and­technologies.

15
16

A BioNTainer is a clean room that BioNTech equips
with turnkey mRNA manufacturing solutions.

Tuberculosis 1

Malaria 2

HIV

Mpox 3

established at BioNTech in 2023
to support the a­ dvancement of
its infectious disease programs
and further ­contribute to equitable
access to mRNA medicines

BioNTech is progressing the developmentof prophylactic mRNA vaccines

1 Partnered with Pfizer. | 2 In collaboration with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. | 3 Partnered with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).

2.0 Our Responsibility

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

15

2.0 OUR RESPONSIBILITY
2.1 WORKING TOGETHER TO PROMOTE VACCINE EQUITY

countries (LMICs) continue to bear much of the burden of communicablediseases, including tuberculosis, HIV, malaria and neglected tropicaldiseases. Climate change, growing populations and global travel may
also contribute to an increased risk of global infectious disease outbreaks. For example, in Africa, every year, approximately 1.6 million people die from tuberculosis, 0.6 million deaths are attributed to malaria (witha high mortality rate in children), and a similarly high number of people
die from HIV. These statistics and more information can be found in the

The United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals outline a global
ambition for the world for 2030, which includes global health and well-­being. BioNTech supports the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs). The Company focuses particularly on its contribution to SDG 3,“Good health and well-being”, and its related targets 3.3 “Fight communicable diseases” and 3.b “Support research, development and universal
access to affordable vaccines and medicines”. Further information on
SDG 3 can be found on the UN SDG website.

The COVID-19 pandemic also negatively impacted the progress being
made towards SDG 3. There has been a documented decline in childhood vaccinations and an increase in tuberculosis and malaria deaths
compared to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels. While some progress has
been made in global health, challenges remain in terms of inequity andaccess to healthcare. Infectious diseases remain among the leading
causes of death and disability worldwide. Low- and middle-income­

The COVID-19 pandemic affected every country worldwide. According
to theWHO Coronavirus (COVID-19) ­Dashboard, there have been over773 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported to the World HealthOrganization (WHO) and more than 6.9 million deaths as of December 24, 2023. Considerable progress has been made on vaccinationsand vaccine supply, public health and social measures, in addition to thedevelopment of some infection-related immunity. However, COVID-19
and new viral variants still pose a serious risk. Annual or seasonal vaccinations may be required in the future to prevent people from contracting
the disease and becoming seriously ill.1 Many countries encourage theircitizens to get vaccinated.

The E.U. is proud to work with Rwanda and BioNTech
to develop a vibrant biopharmaceutical industry on
the continent. Global Gateway, Europe’s investment
strategy, invests in vaccine production in Africa andin the right skills, jobs and capacities to spur healthinnovation at the scale of the continent.

UN Sustainable Development Goals Report 2023.

H.E. URSULA VON DER LEYEN,
President of the European Commission on the occasion of BioNTech’s site inauguration in Kigali, Rwanda on December 18, 2023

1	World Health Organization Tracking SARS-CoV-2 variant (www.who.int) accessed October 30, 2023; Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (gisaid.org) accessed October 30, 2023;
FDA Briefing Document Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee Meeting June 15, 2023; Brannock et al. Nature Comm. 2023; 5. Stankov M. V. et al. medRxiv preprint, 2023.

2.0 Our Responsibility | 2.1 Working Together to Promote Vaccine Equity

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

BioNTech collaborates with the German Center for ­Pandemic Vaccines and Therapeutics (ZEPAI)
In 2022, BioNTech signed a pandemic preparedness contract with
the German Center for Pandemic Vaccines and Therapeutics­(Zentrum für Pandemie-Impfstoffe und -Therapeutika – ZEPAI) to
facilitate the rapid and sufficient supply of vaccines in the event of apandemic. Similar agreements have been concluded between
ZEPAI and other pharmaceutical companies based in Germany.
BioNTech has shown its continued commitment to pandemic­preparedness in Germany and the European Union by entering into

The road to a fair international
health architecture is not a
short-distance race, but a teammarathon. That is why Team
Europe supports the goal of­Africa’s own vaccine production –from conception to injection.
H.E. ANNALENA BAERBOCK, Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republicof Germany during the inauguration of BioNTech’s site in Kigali on December 18, 2023

this agreement. Under the agreement, BioNTech maintains manufacturing capacities for vaccines on standby for the German Federal
Government and has agreed to provide these in case of a pandemic.
It shall be ensured that production can be increased as quickly as
possible in case of an acute demand situation. ZEPAI was established at the German Paul-Ehrlich-Institute in 2021. In 2023, it conducted several audits to verify BioNTech’s pandemic preparedness.
The final feedback from the German Federal Ministry of Health(Bundesministerium für Gesundheit – BMG) is expected in 2024.

2.2 INCREASING ACCESS TO INNOVATIVE MEDICINES
BioNTech’s ambition to improve the health of people worldwide is thedriving force behind the Company’s work to advance the developmentof novel medicines. As part of this effort, BioNTech continues to focus
on high and unmet medical needs, especially by developing medicines
against some of the world’s most prevalent infectious diseases,
cancer, and other serious diseases. This effort is highly relevant, as lowand middle-income countries are disproportionately affected by such­diseases.
Facilitating such access could be an intermediate step towards a common goal of promoting vaccine equity. Vaccines could be produced
regionally, on highly flexible medical and technological platforms withlocal participation and engagement to address a region’s most urgent
diseases. The Company’s four principles – transparency, integrity,
respect for the environment and human rights – and the UN Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) guide BioNTech in implementing this vision.

2.0 Our Responsibility | 2.1 Working Together to Promote Vaccine Equity | 2.2 Increasing Access to Innovative Medicines

In 2020 and 2021, BioNTech took a key step towards promoting vaccine
equity by significantly increasing reliable production capacity for the ­PfizerBioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine early on. BioNTech remains committed toadapting the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to new variants and sublineages of SARS-CoV-2 in the foreseeable future, just as it did in 2023.
BioNTech aims to advance and expand its infectious disease programs
and pipeline while contributing to equitable access to mRNA medicines.
To further advance this vision, BioNTech established its Global Health
Office (GHO) in 2023. The GHO provides a public health perspectivethat supports the end-to-end development of innovative medicines that
address major unmet public health needs, particularly those affecting
populations in low- and middle-income countries and those with an inequity or pandemic preparedness dimension. The GHO is establishing clinical development and manufacturing capacity to support our goals. This
includes BioNTech’s engagement in the “AFRIKA KOMMT” program, inwhich BioNTech hosted its first group of internship fellows in Germany in2023. The GHO works closely with a large ecosystem of partners, including the WHO, the African Union, the Africa Center for Disease Control(Africa CDC), local authorities, study centers, and organizations such as
the ­Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and Gavi.
The head of the GHO reports to BioNTech’s CEO, Ugur Sahin.
To help establish a sustainable vaccine ecosystem in Africa, BioNTech is
progressing the development of prophylactic mRNA vaccines targeting
infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, HIV and diseases withepidemic or pandemic potential, such as mpox. Clinical trials for tuberculosis and malaria vaccine programs are already underway in South Africa
and the United States, respectively. In 2024, BioNTech plans to conductclinical trials in Africa for vaccine candidates against malaria, tuberculosis and HIV. All three diseases are highly prevalent in Africa. If the four
prophylactic vaccines are successfully developed and authorized byregulatory authorities, BioNTech plans to provide lower-income countries with access to these vaccines at a not-for-profit price. In addition,
BioNTech is determined to manufacture mRNA-based cancer immunotherapies in the African continent upon their successful development
and approval. GRI 203-2

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

16

The following are examples of BioNTech’s development activities formRNA-based vaccines against infectious diseases with high and/or
unmet medical need:
1. Next-Generation COVID-19 Vaccine
i. BNT162b5/6/7
In collaboration with Pfizer, BioNTech is developing vaccine candidates
with a stabilized antigen design aimed to increase the magnitude andbreadth of antibody responses to better protect against COVID-19.
• A randomized, active controlled, observer-blind Phase 2 clinical trial toevaluate the safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of stabilized spike
antigen vaccine candidates is ongoing.

adapted bivalent COVID-19 vaccine and Pfizer’s quadrivalent modified
RNA (modRNA) influenza vaccine.
In December 2022, BioNTech and Pfizer announced that the companies
received Fast Track Designation from the U.S. FDA for the mRNA-based
combination vaccine candidate for influenza and COVID-19.
• In October 2023, BioNTech and Pfizer announced top-line results
were from a Phase 1/2 clinical trial (NCT06178991) evaluating thesafety, tolerability and immunogenicity of mRNA-based combination
vaccine candidates for influenza and COVID-19 among healthy adults
18 to 64 years of age. In the clinical trial, the vaccine candidates werecompared to licensed influenza vaccines and the Pfizer-BioNTech
COVID-19 Omicron BA.4/BA.5-adapted bivalent vaccine given separately at the same visit.

ii. BNT162b2 + BNT162b4
In collaboration with Pfizer, BioNTech is aiming to develop a vaccine­candidate that enhances and broadens SARS-CoV-2 T-cell responses. • T he data from the trial demonstrated robust immune responses to
BNT162b4 is a next-generation COVID-19 vaccine component designed
influenza A, influenza B and SARS-CoV-2 strains, as well as a safety
to elicit T-cell immunity across epitopes. BNT162b4 encodes variant-­
profile consistent with the safety profile of the companies’ COVID-19
conserved, immunogenic segments of the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid,
vaccine.
membrane, and ORF1ab proteins, targeting diverse human leukocyte
antigen, or HLA, alleles.
• A pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial (NCT06178991) was initiated in December
2023 and aims to enroll 7,500 healthy subjects 18 to 64 years old of age.
• A Phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate the safety, tolerability and immuno­
Further development is subject to entering into a definitive agreement.
genicity of BNT162b4 in combination with BNT162b2 is ongoing.
3. Influenza Vaccine Program – BNT161
In 2018, BioNTech and Pfizer entered into an agreement to collaborate
2. COVID-19 – Influenza Combination mRNA Vaccine Program –on an mRNA program to develop an influenza vaccine for an initial period
BNT162b2 + BNT161
In October 2022, BioNTech and Pfizer initiated a Phase 1/2 open-label, of three years, which ended in 2021. Pfizer has since the sole responsibildose-finding trial (NCT05596734) to evaluate the safety, tolerability ity, authority and control of the development, manufacturing and comand immunogenicity of a combination of the COVID-19 and influ­enza mercialization of all candidates and products related to the program.
mRNA vaccines in 180 healthy adults 18 to 64 years of age. The com­ Upon potential approval and commercialization, BioNTech is eligible tobination vaccine consists of BioNTech’s Original/Omicron BA.4-5- receive a royalty on Pfizer’s sales.

2.0 Our Responsibility | 2.2 Increasing Access to Innovative Medicines• A Pfizer-initiated, randomized Phase 3 clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy, safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of a quadrivalent modRNA
influenza vaccine candidate is ongoing.
4. Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Vaccine Program – BNT163
BioNTech has a research collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania
under which BioNTech has the exclusive option to develop and commercialize mRNA vaccine candidates against up to 10 infectious disease
indications. As part of this collaboration, BioNTech is developing a HSV
vaccine candidate.
A first-in-human, controlled Phase 1 clinical trial (NCT05432583) evaluating the safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of BNT163, an HSV­vaccine candidate for the prevention of genital lesions caused by HSV-2,
and potentially HSV-1, is ongoing. Dose escalation Part A has been completed, with the last subject visit in December 2023, and Part B (safetyand dose evaluation) is opening for enrollment across sites in the UnitedStates.
5. Tuberculosis Vaccine Program - BNT164
Two randomized, controlled, dose-finding Phase 1 clinical trials evaluating BNT164 are ongoing (NCT05537038, Germany and NCT05547464,
Republic of South Africa). The clinical trials’ first subjects were dosed in
April and August 2023, respectively. Both clinical trials will assess thesafety, reactogenicity and immunogenicity of two mRNA vaccine candidates against tuberculosis. This program is run in partnership with theBill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

17

The local manufacturing agenda represents the second independenceof Africa, and the ­inauguration of the BioNTainer manufacturing facility
represents a significant milestone in our collective efforts to strengthen
vaccine production capabilities, enhance health security, and improveaccess to life-­saving vaccines across the African continent.
DR. JEAN KASEYA,
Director General, Africa CDC during the i­ nauguration of BioNTech’s Kigali site on December 18, 2023.

6. Malaria Vaccine Program – BNT165
BioNTech’s malaria program aims to develop a well-tolerated and highly
effective mRNA vaccine with durable immunity to prevent blood-stage P.
falciparum malaria infection, thereby aiming to reduce morbidity, mortality and onward transmission and develop sustainable vaccine production and supply solutions on the African continent. BioNTech plans toassess several vaccine candidates, featuring components of known targets such as circumsporozoite protein (CSP), conserved, immunogenic
segments of liver stage-expressed proteins as well as other antigens.
•	A first-in-human Phase 1 clinical trial (NCT05581641) to evaluate thesafety, tolerability and exploratory immunogenicity of a vaccine candidate BNT165b1 had its last subject last dosed in September 2023.
­Follow-up is ongoing until September 2024.

2.0 Our Responsibility | 2.2 Increasing Access to Innovative Medicines•	A randomized, dose escalation Phase 1/2 (NCT06069544) trial to evaluate the safety, tolerability, immunogenicity and efficacy of a second
investigational RNA-based vaccine candidate in a controlled humanmalaria infection model has been initiated. The first subject was dosedin November 2023.
7. Mpox Vaccine Program – BNT166
BioNTech’s fully owned BNT166 program aims to develop an effective,
well-tolerated and accessible vaccine for the prevention of mpox. The
multivalent BNT166 mRNA vaccine candidates encode surface antigens
that are expressed in the two infectious forms of the mpox virus to efficiently fight virus replication and infectivity. The program is supported
through a partnership with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness
Innovations (CEPI) to provide equitable access to the vaccine, if successfully developed and approved, in low- and middle-income countries.

•	A Phase 1/2 clinical trial (NCT05988203) evaluating the safety, tolerability, reactogenicity and immunogenicity of a mRNA-based multivalentvaccine candidate has been initiated and the first subject was dosed in
October 2023. The trial aims to enroll 64 healthy subjects with andwithout prior history of known or suspected smallpox vaccination.
8. Shingles Vaccine Program – BNT167
BioNTech and Pfizer are developing the first mRNA-based vaccine candidate against shingles. While there are currently approved vaccines forshingles, the goal is to develop an mRNA vaccine candidate that potentially shows high efficacy and better tolerability and is more efficient to­produce globally.
A randomized, controlled, dose-selection Phase 1/2 clinical trial(NCT05703607) to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicityof BNT167 in up to 900 healthy volunteers, 50 through 69 years of age,
was initiated in February 2023.
9. Anti-bacterial Programs
BioNTech R&D (Austria) GmbH is a wholly owned subsidiary of BioNTech
SE focused on the development of novel anti-bacterial drugs to treat
persistent bacterial infections. These development programs are basedon the proprietary LysinBuilder platform, which allows the targeted development of precision anti-bacterials. The development pipeline focuses
on chronic bacterial infections where antibiotics fail to cure or destroy thenatural microbiomes.
Further information about BioNTech’s pipeline and development programs can be found in the Company’s annual report on Form 20-F.
SASB HC-BP-240a.1

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18

2.3 BIONTAINER – A SUSTAINABLE, SCALABLE SOLUTION FOR mRNA MANUFACTURING
In 2022, BioNTech presented its “BioNTainer” concept, a flexible container solution delivering turnkey mRNA manufacturing facilities fordesigned to support scalable, local mRNA vaccine production. The
BioNTainer concept was developed to ensurecontribute to sustainable,
equitable access to novel medicines, particularly in low-income countries and regions with limited infrastructure. The BioNTainer allows scalable vaccine production by developing and delivering manufacturing
facilities based on a container solution that works as a “Plug & Play”
approach with modular design, standardized equipment, and software
components. Each ­BioNTainer is a clean room equipped with state-ofthe-art manufacturing solutions consisting of one drug substance andone drug formulation module. Each module is built from at least six ISOsized containers. B­ ioNTainer units can be equipped to manufacture a
range of mRNA-based ­vaccines, including the Pfizer-BioNTech
COVID-19 Vaccine, and can be tailored to regional needs. Manufacturing
could conceivably include BioNTech’s investigational malaria and­tuberculosis vaccines if they are successfully developed and approved;
additionally, they could conceivably support R&D and clinical-scalemanu­facturing of investigational mRNA-based medicines. Capacity canbe scaled up by adding further modules and sites to the manufacturing
network.

BioNTech’s Engagement Towards Building a Vaccine Ecosystem
in Africa – Inauguration of the Kigali Site in Rwanda
BioNTech reached the next milestone in establishing mRNA vaccine
manufacturing capacities in Africa with the inauguration of the Com­pany’s site in Kigali, Rwanda, on December 18, 2023, on the occasion ofsetting up the first BioNTainer unit. This is one of BioNTech’s many initiatives aimed at building a sustainable and resilient African vaccine ecosystem and supporting equitable access to novel medicines globally.
This effort encompasses research and development, clinical trials, manufacturing, and the local training of specialized personnel. The facility isbased on the Company’s high-tech, digitally enabled modular manufacturing units called BioNTainer, designed to manufacture a range ofmRNA-based vaccines. The manufacturing site will initially be equipped

BioNTech works closely with local authorities to facilitate compliancewith the relevant regulatory procedures of the national regulatory agencies in each partner country. The Company will also coordinate, whereappropriate, with the relevant continental and international agencies,
including WHO, the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention(Africa CDC), the African Medicines Agency (AMA), and the African
Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD).

The manufacturing facility in Kigali has been fully funded by BioNTech todate. The overall site is approximately 35,000 square meters and, once
fully operational, will have approximately 100 employees. In 2024,
BioNTech expects to complete all of the buildings on-site, including awarehouse, offices, and laboratories for quality control. The Company
anticipates that after training specialized personnel locally in 2024, it canstart to manufacture the mRNA-based vaccine batches required for­process validation in 2025. The purpose of the facility is to manufacture

Overview of mRNA Vaccine Manufacturing Process
BioNTainer Concept

Contract Manufacturing
Organization

BIOREACTOR

mRNAmRNA Purification &Concentration

mRNA Production

Drug Substance

2.0 Our Responsibility | 2.3 BioNTainer – A Sustainable, Scalable Solution for mRNA Manufacturingwith two BioNTainer units. The containers for the first BioNTainer arrived
in Kigali, Rwanda, in March 2023. They were set up in the manufacturing
hall and will serve to manufacture mRNA as a drug substance. The­second BioNTainer unit will serve to manufacture the formulated bulk
product and will be ready for shipment to the Rwanda site in the firstquarter of 2024.

Drug Product Formulation

Filling & Packaging

Bulk Drug Product

Final Drug Product

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

19

Vaccine inequity hit Africa
hard during the pandemic.
But BioNTech’s partnershipwith Africa demonstrates thatvaccine technology can be
democratized, so that Africa isready and resilient no ­matter
what happens in the future.
H.E. PAUL KAGAME, President of the Republic of Rwanda, during the inaugurationof BioNTech's Kigali site on December 18, 2023.

vaccines tailored to the needs of African Union members. Its manufacturing capacity depends on the mRNA product being manufactured andits various factors, such as dosage and formulation. BioNTech could
potentially manufacture up to 50 million doses annually of a product thathas an RNA process similar to that of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19
Vaccine. Vaccines manufactured at the Kigali facility are expected to be
dedicated to domestic supply in member states of the African Union at a
not-for-profit price.

In line with the needs of the continent and partner countries, BioNTech iscommitted to establishing additional manufacturing facilities in Africa
upon the successful validation of the facility in Kigali. Compared to thisfacility, additional sites could be designed as larger facilities to increasecommercial-scale manufacturing capacity in Africa. They could also be
smaller and specialized to manufacture batches for the clinical evaluation of product candidates.
BioNTech Aims to Help Build an mRNA Ecosystem in Australia
On December 8, 2023, BioNTech signed a multi-year strategic partnership with the Australian state of Victoria for an initiative to strengthen
the local mRNA ecosystem with its BioNTainer technology. This partnership is aimed at providing high-tech manufacturing capabilities and
BioNTech’s expertise to curate encouraging projects for further researchand development.
The state of Victoria has contracted BioNTech to develop and commission a state-of-the-art mRNA manufacturing facility tailored to the needsof the local mRNA ecosystem and strengthen local manufacturing.

The site is intended to support R&D and clinical-scale manufacturing ofinvestigational mRNA-based medicines from the local ecosystem aswell as from other third parties globally. The site in Victoria will be locatedat the Bundoora campus of La Trobe University in the Melbourne region.
The facility will be based on BioNTech’s BioNTainer solution: one unit will
be equipped to manufacture mRNA and the formulated drug, and a second unit will enable aseptic filling. The BioNTainer units are designed tooffer manufacturing solutions in line with the needs of the local vaccine
ecosystem. Its groundbreaking is planned for 2024.
In addition, BioNTech will set up an mRNA Innovation Center in Melbourne, where the Company will leverage its mRNA expertise to support
the development of the mRNA ecosystem in the state of Victoria.
BioNTech will assess and identify mRNA-focused research projects
from academia or the biotech industry to help facilitate their transition
into clinical-stage development as potential product candidates.
GRI 203-2

The BioNTainer is designed to provide consistent manu­facturing
processes that could be applied globally and could be tailored toregional needs. We have set up the B­ ioNTainers to be updated ona regular basis with the aim to remain one of the most advanced
BioNTech is not just building a site in Kigali, Rwanda, but also a team andits capabilities to run the BioNTainer-based facility. BioNTech currently mRNA manufacturing facilities globally.
employs about 20 employees. The team comprises colleagues from different countries and professional backgrounds. Further information on
how BioNTech works to build local capacities can be found in Chapter

SIERK POETTING, PH.D.,
Chief Operating Officer BioNTech on the occasion of BioNTech’s site inauguration in Kigali, Rwanda, on December 18, 2023.

6.5 Pioneer Development.

2.0 Our Responsibility | 2.3 BioNTainer – A Sustainable, Scalable Solution for mRNA Manufacturing

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21

­I NAUGURATION OF THE COMPANY’S KIGALI SITE, RWANDA

Together with our partners, we are advancing
towards our first ccommercial-scale mRNA facility
in Africa, as a cornerstone of our joint vision of a­sustainable health future. I would like to express
my gratitude to our local and international partners
for their contributions to this joint effort, as wellas to the entire BioNTech team for their dedicatedwork which made this inauguration possible.
PROF. UGUR SAHIN, M.D.,
CEO and Co-Founder of BioNTech, at the inauguration of BioNTech’s Kigali site on December 18, 2023.

2.0 Our Responsibility | ­Inauguration of the Company’s Kigali site, Rwand

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

22

3.0

Contributing to
Our Communities
FOR OUR COMMUNITIES AND BEYOND:

We embrace our responsibility as a­corporate citizen and are committed tosupporting our local communities and­beyond through donations, sponsorships, volunteer activities, and more.

3.0 Corporate Citizenship

3.1 Donations 
3.2 Sponsorships 
3.3 Volunteer Work 

1.1

24
26
26

million euros
in donations for humanitarian aid in
Ukraine, Türkiye, Morocco and Libya

Further developmentof ­Corporate­Citizenship Concept

1.25

million euros
in total donations in 2023

Increasing number of corporate
volunteer activities worldwide

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

3.0 CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP23
REGIONAL CAUSESAs a Company committed to corporate citizenship, BioNTech strives tomake a contribution to society beyond its core business. It aims to meetthis responsibility by fully embracing the Company’s Corporate Citizenship Concept, adopted by the Management Board in 2020. All of
BioNTech’s potential corporate citizenship activities – corporate volunteering, financial donations, in-kind donations, and sponsorships – areassessed using a strategic filter. This approach is based on three pillars(see graphic on the right).

On a local and regional level, BioNTech ­supports causesthat are near its sites or ­affiliates on a case-by-case basis.
This includes requests from BioNTech employees.

BioNTech’s corporate citizenship activities are strategically led by the
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) team. In 2023, further strides
were made in aligning national and international corporate citizenshipactivities group-wide.

HEALTH-RELATED IMPACTS

In 2023, BioNTech further developed its Corporate Citizenship Concept
to reflect the Company’s increasing globalization. The three pillars­concept was carefully recalibrated and subsequently approved by the­Management Board. The “Health-Related Causes” pillar was revised andrenamed “Health-Related Impacts”. The changes made lay the foundation for a gradual shift in commitment from ad hoc activities to strategic
impact projects.
The scope of the Donation Policy is planned to be expanded. The revised
policy is intended to apply to a broader scope of funding ­activities: charitable donations and corporate volunteer programs. The policy does not
apply to the Company’s medical funding and sponsoring a­ ctivities (seeInfobox “Medical Funding and Sponsoring activities”).

On a national and international level, activities should be
impact-oriented and must make a contribution to improving
people’s health beyond BioNTech’s products and pipeline.
A specific focus should be placed on the diseases the Company aims to address with its investigational therapies andvaccines.

EXCEPTIONAL CAUSES

BioNTech supports exceptional causes, such as relief
efforts in emergency and ­disaster ­situations or other­circumstances.

3.0 Corporate Citizenship

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

3.1 DONATIONS

Medical funding and sponsoring activities
BioNTech is also engaged in medical funding in the interest of
improving healthcare and supporting educational and patientadvocacy activities. These activities are managed by the Company’s Medical Affairs department in line with the Company’s
Global Medical Affairs strategy. Funding for these activities isallocated in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, andindustry codes outlined in the internal Healthcare Trans­parency­Policy.
Medical funding and sponsoring activities include the following:• Medical, scientific, and educational grants to healthcare organizations (HCOs) and patient organizations (POs) to support
medical and scientific research, education, and patient advocacy initiatives and projects.
• Sponsoring activities for scientific medical educational activities and to promote research, clinical trials, strategic partnerships and projects.

BioNTech’s donation strategy was developed by the CSR team andapproved by the Management Board as part of the Corporate Citizenship Concept. The following revisions were made in 2023:
Regional Causes:
Local BioNTech sites have been given a more active role in deciding on
local and regional donations. Donation budgets have been allocated toall sites. The CSR team has developed guidance to help sites identify
appropriate areas of engagement. Volunteer Local Engagement Heroes
have been designated as points of contact for colleagues and the CSR
team in order to closely coordinate regional donation activities. All corporate donations must be reported to the CSR team for internal andexternal reporting.

Exceptional Causes:
BioNTech continues to provide support in exceptional emergency anddisaster situations, as well as in other special circumstances outside
the scope of the other donation pillars. To respond to these situations
quickly and to more effectively benefit those in need, the Company
decided to pre-designate suitable partner organizations that can bedirectly ­supported if needed.

Donations in 2023
Amount of donation, including in-kind donations in euros

EUR 48,120
Healthcare-related medical funding is not part of BioNTech’s
Corporate Citizenship Concept and is conducted indepen­dently. For more information about BioNTech’s interactions with
the Healthcare Community, see Chapter 4.2 Compliance and

Health-Related Impacts:
To improve the health of people worldwide, BioNTech plans to shift its
engagement focus from ad hoc activities to strategic impact projects.
It will be seeking holistic engagements in the areas of preventative medicine, therapeutic medicine and medical aftercare. Engagements should
be related to BioNTech’s core business of innovative medicines and therapies against infectious diseases and cancer indications with a highunmet medical need. A central budget has been dedicated to these
efforts, and the Company is currently evaluating suitable engagement
options with national and international o­ rganizations.

Health-Related Causes1(2022: EUR 53,073.11)

EUR 103,461
Regional Causes(2022: EUR 130,121.50)

Business Ethics.

The areas for donations and the approval processes are defined in
BioNTech’s Donation Policy. Donations must fall within the scope of theCompany’s donation strategy and policy and are individually evaluatedby the Compliance Advisory Committee (CAC). Local approval committees and processes have been strengthened and defined to facilitate thecoordination and approval processes for affiliates outside Germany.
To simplify the approval process for in-kind donations, a threshold value
has been set.

EUR 1,100,000
Exceptional Causes(2022: EUR 1,100,015)

1	Donations for health-related causes are listed using the former strategic Corporate C­ itizenship­pillars and logic: Microfunding ranging from a minimum of EUR 500 to a maximum of EUR 10, 000
with a reference to health causes.

3.0 Corporate Citizenship | 3.1 Donations

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

24

Donation Requirements
All donations are evaluated according to the following requirements:

These requirements will also be reviewed as part of the revision of theDonation Policy.

• BioNTech’s donations only serve charitable purposes and must be inline with its Corporate Citizenship Concept.
• Donations can be made to charitable or not-for-profit organizations but
not to individual or for-profit entities. Donations cannot be made tohealthcare organizations.
• Donations to public hospitals or clinics in developing countries (especially middle-income and low-income countries [MICs and LICs]) are
acceptable under strict compliance scrutiny.
• Donations cannot be received by organizations that have a parallel(business) relationship with BioNTech.
• Donations cannot be made to organizations or any affiliated organizations that simultaneously provide services to BioNTech.
• Donations cannot serve the personal interests of any individual.
• Donations cannot directly/ specifically serve the commercial interestsof BioNTech.
• Donations can only be received by organizations that are appropriately
registered or accredited under applicable local laws.

BioNTech donated a total of approximately EUR 1.25 million in 2023
(2022: EUR 1.28 million), of which EUR 2,375 (2022: EUR 20,600) werein-kind donations1.

25

In 2023, BioNTech donated EUR 500,000 to support humanitarian aid
to the earthquake-affected regions of Türkiye and Syria to the nonprofit
organization Action Alliance for Disaster Relief (Aktionsbündnis Katastrophenhilfe), the German partner of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). For
humanitarian aid in the earthquake- and flood-affected regions ofMorocco and Libya, BioNTech donated an additional EUR 100,000 in
2023 to the Action Alliance for Disaster Relief. In addition, BioNTech
donated a ­further EUR 500,000 in 2023 to the UN Refugee Aid Germany(UNO-­Flüchtlingshilfe e. V.) for humanitarian aid in Ukraine as a follow-up
to its donation in the previous year. GRI 203-2

1	The donation and sponsorship data are subject to some uncertainty, as it cannot be reasonably assured that all
decentralized requests were forwarded to the CSR team.

3.0 Corporate Citizenship | 3.1 Donations

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

3.2 SPONSORSHIPS

BioNTech distinguishes between medical and non-medical sponsorships. For an overview of medical sponsorships, please refer to theinfo box on page 24. Non-medical sponsorship activities are managed
by the CSR team and primarily focus on regional activities in the vicinityof the funding BioNTech affiliate. The Company supports health-related
and societal initiatives and external organizations in consideration
for marketing opportunities for the BioNTech brand, name, or logo or to­participate in corporate events, such as marathons, regattas, and fairs.
Each sponsorship request is examined and accepted only after a thorough review by the Compliance & Business Ethics, Legal and Corporate
Communications departments.
The Company’s 2023 non-medical sponsorships included the following:• Christopher Street Day in Mainz, Germany: As a global company
and signatory of the Diversity Charter, BioNTech is committed to a prejudice-free work environment that values all dimensions of diversity,
such as gender equality, gender identity and sexual orientation.
BioNTech demonstrated this commitment in 2023 through its supportof the local Christopher Street Day event in Mainz by showing its colors
and pledging its commitment to focus more intensely on the areas ofdiversity, inclusion, equity and belonging.

3.0 Corporate Citizenship | 3.2 Sponsorships | 3.3 Volunteer Work

• The Living with Cancer Foundation: A sponsorship was enteredinto with The Living with Cancer Foundation in 2023. BioNTech has
supported their annual charity event, “Rowing against Cancer”, inMainz, Germany, since 2018. The Living with Cancer Foundation offers
on-site therapeutic-support programs at oncology facilities, including­moderate sports and exercise activities.
• Mainzer Fastnacht eG: Staying true to BioNTech’s roots in Mainz,
Germany – the location of our headquarters – the Company sponsored the Mainzer Fastnacht eG foundation in 2023. The foundation isdedicated to promoting carnival customs in the carnival stronghold ofMainz as well as the cultural and social interests of its members. The
foundation’s signature event, the Mainzer Fastnacht (Mainz Carnival),
is one of the largest traditional events of its kind in Germany.
Sponsorships of healthcare and patient organizations are consistently
documented and monitored on BioNTech’s digital healthcare compliance platform. The platform is used to assess compliance-related
requirements and principles as well as BioNTech’s compliance with
­globally applicable healthcare transparency reporting obligations.
GRI 203-2

26

3.3 VOLUNTEER WORK
BioNTech encourages employees to participate in volunteer activities.
It supports this by giving employees one workday each year to volunteer.
In 2023, BioNTech employees around the world participated in a rangeof corporate volunteer activities, in which they volunteered during theirworkday on projects benefiting their local communities (see highlights
pages 27 and 28). The Management Board has made special provisions
for volunteers in the event of disasters and emergencies, such as the
major earthquake in Türkiye and Syria in 2023.
Corporate volunteering has only recently become a systematic part of
BioNTech’s Corporate Citizenship Concept. Currently it encompasses
mostly local activities. The Company aims to develop a corporate volunteer strategy in the course of 2024 to strengthen these activities and­foster more engagement throughout the Company.

1

workday each year
to volunteer

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

27

CORPORATE VOLUNTEERING – SPOTLIGHTS IN GERMANY AND RWANDA

Spotlights in Germany
PRO BONO CAMP
In 2023, for the third consecutive year, employees in Mainz, Germany,
had the opportunity to participate in the PRO BONO CAMP sponsoredby the social enterprise Haus des Stiftens (House of Foundations). Each
year, the week-long digital knowledge transfer event brings together
dedicated employees from various companies with representatives
from nonprofit organizations. Through webinars and online one-on-one
coaching sessions, 24 volunteers supported nonprofit organizations. All
BioNTech employees at the Mainz site were invited to participate in up
to two 60-minute sessions during their workday to offer their expertisein areas such as project management and strategy development. The
feedback from BioNTech participants in 2023 was again very positive.
 upport for the HomelessS
In 2023, BioNTech continued its support of Thaddäusheim, an institution in Mainz, Germany, for the homeless and those at risk of becoming
homeless. For this year’s summer party, employees in Mainz helped toprepare and hold the event, in addition to spending time with Thaddäusheim residents. The event fostered a sense of community andexchange about different life situations among participants.

Spotlight in Rwanda
As part of the Home Grown Solutions (HGS) initiative in Rwanda to
involve citizens in the country’s development, there is a monthly
clean-up event across neighborhoods on the last Saturday of themonth called “Umuganda”. In April 2023, BioNTech Rwanda took partin this campaign to clean up the neighborhood of the Company’s
offices in Kigali. In August 2023, BioNTech’s Chief Operating Officer
joined the team in a Umuganda organized by the City of Kigali in its
Rebero neighborhood.

SPECIAL OLYMPICGAMES 2023

Special Olympics World GamesIn 2023, the Special Olympics World Games, one of the world’s largest
inclusive sports events for athletes with intellectual disabilities, took
place in Berlin, Germany, from June 17 – 25. Special Olympics is a global
inclusion movement that supports people on their way to greater recognition and self-determination. It accomplishes this through sports
and health, education and skills programs. Under the motto “#Unbeatable together”, 6,500 athletes from 176 countries took part in 26 sports
in 2023. Colleagues from BioNTech’s Berlin locations took part as­volunteers and provided support in a range of areas.

3.0 Corporate Citizenship | Special: Volunteer Highlights

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

28

CORPORATE VOLUNTEERING – SPOTLIGHTS IN THE UNITED STATES

Spotlights in the United States
Cambridge, Massachusetts School Volunteers
Employees in Cambridge continued their volunteer work for local
schools in 2023. As Reading Buddies for first and second grade students at a local Cambridge school, they met with their assigned partners weekly to bring books to life by reading them aloud. In addition,
the NetPals program pairs BioNTech employees with seventh gradersfrom local schools. The employees mentored the students, acting
as pen pals to answer their questions about working in the fields ofscience, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and­hosted them for an on-site visit at BioNTech, including a lab visit.
Cooking for those in need
BioNTech employees from our Cambridge sites came together toshow their support by cooking and preparing meals for people in need.
Volunteers cooked and served meals at a local shelter to 50 guests on
two occasions. In their engagement for the American Cancer Society
Boston Hope Lodge, volunteers donated and prepared meals forguests. Cancer patients undergoing treatment at local hospitals canstay with their caregivers at the Hope Lodge at a significantly reduced
rate.

GLOW WEEK & BioNTeer WEEK
Volunteer weeks
From October 16-20, 2023, our Gaithersburg, Maryland site held
its annual BioNTeer Week of volunteering. The local Culture andEngagement Team site partnered with local nonprofit organizations
to organize a week of various volunteering opportunities for our employees. Activities included packing 350 general hygiene kits to hand out
to individuals in need, supporting an event at an institution providing
childcare to low-income families, and cleaning up a local park.
­

3.0 Corporate Citizenship | Special: Volunteer Highlights

Around 90 employees participated and helped to make the BioNTeer
Week a success. Our Cambridge site also organized a week of volunteering in August 2023 called Glow Week, during which employees
similarly engaged in different volunteering projects. Around 150 volunteers contributed a total of over 400 hours of service at a varietyof local organizations, including urban farms and gardens, donation­processing centers and homeless shelters.

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

4.1 Managing Responsible Governance 
4.2 Compliance and Business Ethics 
4.3 Human Rights 
4.4 Global Resilience 
4.5 Cyber and Information Security 
4.6 Patient Privacy and Data Privacy Management 
4.7 Patient Safety 
4.8 Animal Welfare 
4.9 Government Relations 

4.0

Ensuring BioNTech’s
Resilience
FOR GOOD RELATIONSHIPS:We act ethically and responsibly
and take all stakeholder interests
into account.

From the research and clinical trial phases to theapproved and distributed product, BioNTech makes
the well-being of its patients highest priority.

20 %of variable Management Board remuneration
linked to sustainability targets

12
4.0 Responsible Governance

30
32
35
37
38
40
41
45
46

new or revised policies andguidelines implemented

1stGlobal Human Rights
and Environmental Risk
Analysis for own operations and supply chain

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

29

30

4.0 RESPONSIBLE GOVERNANCE
4.1 MANAGING RESPONSIBLE GOVERNANCE
The Management Board and Supervisory Board work together for the
benefit of BioNTech. They pursue the objective of sustainable value creation, taking into account the interests of the shareholders, the workforce
and other stakeholders associated with BioNTech. These principles
demand not only legal compliance, but also ethically sound and responsible conduct.
With the exception of “Government Relations”, all CSR-related corporate
governance topics were assessed as material for the company and fornon-financial reporting. BioNTech and the individuals serving on its corporate bodies are aware of their responsibility and role in society. Socialand environmental factors may influence the Company’s success. The
Management Board and Supervisory Board act in BioNTech’s best interest to ensure that the potential impact (opportunities and risks) of thesefactors on corporate strategy and operational decisions is recognized
and addressed.
Detailed information about BioNTech’s Management Board, Supervisory
Board, compensation and board practices can be found in the Company’s
annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023.This
report was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission(SEC) on March 20, 2024, and is available on the SEC’s website. Key­corporate governance are also available on BioNTech’s website in the
Corporate Governance section.

Sustainability Performance and Variable Remuneration
At the Annual General Meeting of BioNTech SE on June 22, 2021, theSupervisory Board adopted a remuneration system, which was approvedby the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting 2021.

4.0 Responsible Governance | 4.1 Managing Responsible GovernanceOne component of total remuneration is the short-term variable compensation (Short-Term Incentive, STI), which is based on Company targets and sustainability targets. The STI is a performance-based cash
bonus with a one-year assessment period. It depends on the financial
and sustainability performance criteria (performance targets) of the
BioNTech Group.
For the year ending December 31, 2024, the Supervisory Board defined
the following performance targets and their weighting for all Management Boards Members. The building blocks of the ambitious and­measurable financial and non-financial performance targets comprisevarious ­Company goals as well as Environmental, Social and C­ or­porate
Governance targets and additional incentives. Each of the per­formancetargets containing sub-targets with a relative weighting that adds to a
maximal total achievable target of 125 %, whereby the maximum payout
on the STI is capped at 100 %.
BioNTech’s sustainability or ESG targets are to further improve ESG and
Global Health impact. As a results, 20 % of the variable compensation(STI) of the members of the Management Board of BioNTech SE are forthe financial year 2024 are linked to sustainability targets. These targets
include:• 	Maintain ISS prime rating and further improve CSA Rating by S&P
Global• 10 % CO2 reduction compared to 2023 for 2021 site portfolio• Sustained Global Health Concept in place• People and Culture: Plan as a result of employee survey

Board Practices
Two-Tiered Board Structure
BioNTech is a European public company with limited liability (Societas
Europaea or SE) (also referred to as a European stock corporation, andin the official terminology of the European legislation referred to as aEuropean public limited-liability company), having its seat in Germany.
BioNTech has chosen to have a two-tiered SE structure. Hence, theCompany’s corporate bodies are the Management Board (Vorstand),the Supervisory Board (Aufsichtsrat) and the shareholders’ meeting(Hauptversammlung). BioNTech’s Management and Supervisory
Boards are entirely separate, and, as a rule, no individual may simultaneously be a member of both boards.

The members of both boards owe a duty ofloyalty and care to the Company.

BioNTech’s Management Board is responsible for the day-to-day man­age­ment of the Company’s business in accordance with applicable laws,
the Company’s Articles of Association (Satzung) and the Management
Board’s internal rules of procedure (Geschäftsordnung). BioNTech’s­Management Board represents the Company in its dealings with third
parties.

Detailed remuneration reports are available on BioNTech’s website in the
Corporate Governance section.

GRI 2-20

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

The principal function of the Supervisory Board is to supervise the Company’s Management Board. The Supervisory Board is also responsible
for appointing and removing the members of the Management Board,
representing BioNTech in connection with transactions between a current or former member of the Management Board and BioNTech, andgranting approvals for certain significant matters.
BioNTech’s Management Board and its Supervisory Board are solely
responsible for and manage their own areas of competency (Kompetenztrennung); therefore, neither board may make decisions that, pursuant to applicable law, our Articles of Association or the internal rules ofprocedure are the responsibility of the other board. Members of bothboards owe a duty of loyalty and care to BioNTech. In carrying out theirduties, they are required to exercise the standard of care of a prudent anddiligent businessperson. If they fail to observe the appropriate standardof care, they may become liable to BioNTech.
In carrying out their duties, the members of both boards must take into
account a broad range of considerations when making decisions, including BioNTech’s interests and the interests of BioNTech’s shareholders,
employees, creditors and, to a limited extent, the general public, while
respecting the rights of our shareholders to be treated on equal terms.
Additionally, the Management Board is responsible for implementing anappropriate and effective internal control system and risk management
system with regard to the scope of business activities and the risk situation of the Company.
BioNTech’s Supervisory Board has comprehensive monitoring responsibilities. To ensure that the Company’s Supervisory Board can carry out
these functions properly, BioNTech’s Management Board must, among
other duties, regularly report to the Supervisory Board regarding
BioNTech’s current business operations and future business planning(including financial, investment and personnel planning). In addition,

4.0 Responsible Governance | 4.1 Managing Responsible Governance

BioNTech’s Supervisory Board or any of its members is entitled to request
special reports from the Management Board on all matters regarding theCompany, its legal and business relations with affiliated companies andany business transactions and matters at such affiliated companies that
may have a significant impact on BioNTech’s position at any time.
Under German law, BioNTech’s shareholders have, as a general rule, nodirect recourse against the members of BioNTech’s Management Boardor the members of BioNTech’s Supervisory Board in the event that they
are believed to have breached their duty of loyalty and care to BioNTech.
Apart from when BioNTech is unable to fulfill its third party obligations,
tortious conduct to board members or other special circumstances, only
BioNTech has the right to claim damages against the members of its
two boards.
BioNTech may waive these claims to damages or settle these claims
only if at least three years have passed since a claim associated with any
violation of a duty has arisen and only if BioNTech’s shareholders approve
the waiver or settlement at a shareholders’ meeting with a simple majority of the votes cast, provided that no shareholders who in the aggregate
hold one-tenth or more of BioNTech’s share capital oppose the waiver orsettlement and have their opposition formally recorded in the meeting’s
minutes.
Independence of Supervisory Board Members
German law requires that the Supervisory Board consists of at least
three members, while a company’s articles of association may stipulate acertain higher number. BioNTech’s Supervisory Board currently consistsof six members.

German Stock Corporation Act (Aktiengesetz). German law does not
require the majority of the Supervisory Board members to be independent and neither our Articles of Association (Satzung) nor the rules ofprocedure for BioNTech’s Supervisory Board provide otherwise. As per
BioNTech’s Supervisory Board’s assessment, an appropriate number ofshareholder representatives on the Supervisory Board (i.e. the entire
Supervisory Board) are independent if the Supervisory Board has
two independent members. The Supervisory Board considers Helmut­Jeggle and Michael Motschmann to be independent irrespective of thefact that they will soon have been members of the Supervisory Board fora period of more than 14 years. As stated in the declaration to the German Corporate Governance Code, or the Corporate Governance Code
(Entsprechenserklärung) published by the Company on February 27,
2024 pursuant to Section 161 para. 1 of the German Stock Corporation
Act (Aktiengesetz), which in accordance with the Corporate Governance Code is issued in connection with the Declaration pursuant to
Section 315d in conjunction with Section 289f of the German Commercial Code (HGB), the length of membership does not give rise to any fears
of material conflicts of interest on the part of the members of the Supervisory Board and therefore does not stand in the way of their independence. However, the rules of procedure for BioNTech’s Supervisory
Board provide that the Supervisory Board should have an independent
member with expertise in the field of accounting, internal control processes and auditing. Ulrich Wandschneider, Anja Morawietz, Michael
Motschmann and Rudolf Staudigl fulfill this role.
A full description of BioNTech’s board practices can be found in the Company’s annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31,
2023, which was filed with the SEC on March 20, 2024 and is available
on the SEC’s website.

As BioNTech is not subject to co-determination, the members of
BioNTech’s Supervisory Board are all elected by the shareholders’­meeting in accordance with the provisions of the SE Regulation and the

BioNTech Sustainability Report 202331

4.2 COMPLIANCE AND BUSINESS ETHICSManagement and Responsibilities
In keeping pace with its growth, BioNTech continued to strengthen andexpand the Compliance & Business Ethics Department and compliancemanagement in the reporting year. The head of the Compliance & Business Ethics Department leads three teams: Transparency Reporting,Compliance Operations, and Compliance Commercial.
The Company has implemented a comprehensive compliance program
built on three elements: prevention, detection and response:

BioNTech’s Compliance Program

prevent

detectrespondPrevention:• Policies and procedures: All employees are bound by the Company’s
policies to act ethically and in compliance with applicable law. Clearly
defined procedures are in place to prevent actions that are inconsistent
with regulations or the Company’s values.
• Campaigns to reinforce ethical awareness: The compliance principles
of integrity, transparency and responsibility are an essential part ofcampaigns and supported by the tone at the top.

4.0 Responsible Governance | 4.2 Compliance and Business Ethics• Training and communication: BioNTech’s ethics and compliance policies are made tangible through repeated exercises and thoroughexplanations. The Company provides on-site training, online videos
and interactive virtual training.
Detection:• Timely detection of compliance risks: As BioNTech’s activities expand,the compliance program continues to implement various measures tofacilitate the detection of new compliance risks.
• Monitoring: BioNTech’s compliance program includes checks and­balances that are integrated into the relevant business processes.
• Whistleblowing and Speak-Up Program: The Company’s “Ethics Contact Point” provides an anonymous channel for reporting any misconduct. Reports can be made online or by phone. The Compliance &Business Ethics Department also serves as a point of contact for raising concerns.
Response:• Internal investigation: Each report of potential misconduct is analyzed
to determine whether it warrants further investigation. All investigations
follow a pre-defined process ensuring a professional, objective andconfidential approach.
• Disciplinary and remedial measures: Based on the outcome of investigations, audits, and risk assessments, the Compliance & Business­Ethics Department provides recommendations on the disciplinary andremedial measures to take. Disciplinary measures address individual
responsibilities, whereas remedial measures seek to improve structural and procedural weaknesses.
• Continuous improvement: The Compliance & Business Ethics Department systematically compiles feedback from the organization to adapt
the compliance program to the needs of the organization. GRI 2-25, 3-3
Digital Compliance Platform
The measures described above are facilitated by a digital complianceplatform, internally referred to as the BioNTech Best Practices Hub(BxP Hub). The BxP Hub offers wide-ranging functionality that supports
the rollout of policies, training, and monitoring activities. Using various
modules, it captures interactions across various compliance topics:
transfer of value (ToV) with healthcare community representatives, meal
invitations, corporate gift giving, potential conflicts of interest, and violations and concerns reported via BioNTech’s reporting channels.
Compliance Responsibilities
The overall responsibility for the compliance program lies with the­Management Board. The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is the Management Board member responsible for compliance and business ethics.
The head of the Compliance & Business Ethics Department reports
directly to the COO and provides the COO with information on criticalcompliance concerns every two weeks. The Management Board provides the Audit Committee of the Supervisory Board with regular reportson the operation of the compliance program.
The Compliance & Business Ethics Department chairs the Company’s
Compliance Advisory Committee (CAC). The CAC is comprised of seniorleaders representing different functions, such as Quality Assurance,
Legal, Finance, Controlling, and Operations. It acts as a forum to review
and discuss new corporate policies and guidelines (apart from compliance policies) to ensure that they are streamlined and examined in across-functional manner. The CAC also serves as a joint discussion panel
for compliance risks and plays a crucial role in the Company’s policy­governance model.
It is each and every employee’s responsibility to comply with Company
rules and policies and applicable laws and promote an environment freeof corruption, discrimination, and harassment. The Company supports
this by requiring new staff members to take part in compliance training
as part of the onboarding process. Senior executives are also provided
with compliance training tailored to the areas dealt with in their departments. The Compliance & Business Ethics Department is responsible forthe rollout and monitoring of policies via the BxP Hub. GRI 2-24

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

32

Progress in 2023
The compliance program at BioNTech continued to evolve in 2023, making significant progress in terms of team size, specialization, and content.
• General progress: The Compliance & Business Ethics Department
has been equipped with additional resources, including two new fulltime employees. This will support the continuous development of thecompliance program and its global implementation in a number of local
sites. A specific focus has been placed on the U.S., where a full-time
local compliance employee has started to tailor the program further tolocal needs. Additionally, a Compliance Champions program has been
set up, which appoints compliance contacts at local sites. ComplianceChampions act as local multipliers of the compliance principles andprovide first-level support to address questions and local needs.
• Policy governance: The global policy governance framework lays out
the centralized process for the development, approval and implementation of global and local corporate policies and guidelines. A total of
12 new or revised policies and guidelines were implemented in 2023.
By the end of the year, BioNTech’s compliance program comprised a
total of 14 policies and guidelines, a selection of which are described on
page 34.

Your Voice Mattersstraightforward

protected

anonymous

Acting with integrity is
non-negotiable for BioNTech.
BioNTech Code of Business Conduct & Ethics• Whistleblowing and Speak Up programs: The German Whistle­
blower Protection Act (Hinweisgeberschutzgesetz – HinSchG), whichcame into force on July 2, 2023, defines multiple legal requirements forwhistleblowing systems and the handling of information received. With
BioNTech’s whistleblowing system and Speak Up Policy already inplace, the Company’s processes were largely compliant with the new
Act and only minor adjustments were necessary. Based on the German Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations for the Prevention of
Human Rights Violations in Supply Chains (Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetz – LkSG), the Compliance & Business Ethics and CSR
departments also analyzed ways to improve the accessibility, transparency and effectiveness of BioNTech’s Speak Up program with a viewto human rights risks.
• General equal treatment: Germany’s Act on General Equal Treatment (Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz – AGG) comprehensively defines discrimination from a legal perspective and supports
BioNTech’s zero tolerance for any disadvantage or discrimination
based on “race or ethnic origin, gender, religion or belief, disability,
age or sexual orientation” (Section 1 AGG). In addition to the Speak Up
program, employees can bring their discrimination concerns to theCompany’s General Equal Treatment Officers. The importance ofequal treatment has been acknowledged by the entire Management
Board. The Company’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), for example,
has highlighted the importance of equal treatment and management’s
zero-­tolerance position towards discrimination in internal communications and at global town hall meetings. An interactive training module
was also launched, complemented by a toolkit for line managers.
GRI 2-16, 2-26

4.0 Responsible Governance | 4.2 Compliance and Business Ethics

33

Compliance Lighthouse2

new compliancespecialists hired
in 2023

22

active compliancetrainings in 2023

For BioNTech, it’s simple: B­ riberyof anyone, at any level, at any
organization is never acceptable.
BioNTech Code of Business Conduct & Ethics

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

34
BioNTech’s compliance program comprised a total of 14 policies and guidelines, a selection of which are described below.

GRI 2-23­­

01

Conflicts ofInterest Policy

BioNTech’s Conflicts of Interest Policy establishes
binding procedures for potential and actual conflictsof interest. The policy applies to the members of theSupervisory Board and Management Board, as wellas to all directors and employees of the Company
and its subsidiaries. The policy requires all BioNTech
representatives to disclose any actual or potential
conflicts of interest to the Company, such as personal workplace relationships, outside engagements (including board memberships), personal
financial interests and relationships with business
partners and competitors. In the event of a conflictof interest involving a member of the Management
Board or Supervisory Board, the respective board
member is required to consult the Compliance &Business Ethics Department for guidance andadvice on managing the matter responsibly, transparently, and with integrity. GRI 2-1502Anti-Bribery andAnti-Corruption

BioNTech is committed to eliminating all formsof corruption, including extortion and bribery. This
commitment is underlined by BioNTech’s support,

4.0 Responsible Governance | 4.2 Compliance and Business Ethics

Communication on Progress and the signed UN
Global Compact. The Company has an Anti-Bribery
and Anti-Corruption (ABAC) Policy in place outlining
its processes to ensure adequate management ofbribery and corruption risks. BioNTech exercises a
zero-tolerance policy towards passive or active,
indirect or direct corruption and bribery. The ABAC
Policy is provided to all employees at BioNTech
with the expectation that employees participate
in related online training. The Company tracks
the number and nature of confirmed incidents of­corruption. GRI 205-1, 205-2

03

Compliance Due Diligence
Guideline

The Company has a risk-based third-party due diligence process that addresses potential ABAC risks
with high risk third parties. A high risk third party is
any external person or entity with whom BioNTech
interacts and/or conducts business that poses an
ABAC risk either due to the nature of the planned
business relationship (e. g., clinical research organizations, sales intermediaries, distributors) or the party’s registration in a country with increased ABAC
risks. For each compliance due diligence performed,
the internal person responsible for the business relationship receives an assessment that outlines therisks identified and includes recommendations on
how to mitigate those risks, for example, through theaddition of contract provisions.

04

Business Gifts andHospitality Guidelines

BioNTech has a business gifts and hospitality
guideline in place. It prohibits BioNTech employees from giving business gifts to healthcare professionals (HCPs) and government officials. It setsa threshold (maximum value) in various currencies
for business gifts and meals in general and specifies other requirements for giving and receiving
business gifts and providing or receiving meals
vis-à-vis external parties. The guideline also regulates documentation in the Company’s businessgifts and hospitality register.

05

Healthcare Interaction andTransparency Policies

BioNTech has been a member of the German­Voluntary Self-Regulation for the PharmaceuticalIndustry (Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle für die Arznei­
mittel­industrie e. V. – FSA) since 2021. The Company
is committed to disclosing all payments made toGerman healthcare professionals (HCPs), healthcare­organizations (HCOs), and patient organizations(POs) in accordance with the FSA’s Transparency
Code. To ensure compliance with applicable laws
and industry codes, BioNTech’s Healthcare Transparency Policy outlines the internal requirements thatmust be followed. The Healthcare Interactions Policy
also details specific requirements that must be followed when interacting with the healthcare community. All engagements involving a transfer of value(ToV) to the healthcare community must be documented in a dedicated IT system and are assessedby the Compliance & Business Ethics Department.
BioNTech places a strong emphasis on ensuring
appropriate interactions with the healthcare community (HCPs, HCOs, and patients) and has included
a dedicated section on this in its Code of BusinessConduct and Ethics. To further support this, theCompliance & Business Ethics Department conducts training on interactions with the healthcarecommunity. In 2023, the Compliance & Business
Ethics Department continued to educate andupdate employees on the importance of complying
withhealthcare transparency reporting obligations incountries with legal requirements, such as the­Belgian Sunshine Act, the French Bertrand Act andthe U.S. Physician Payments Sunshine Act.
SASB HC-BP-510a.2

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

4.3 HUMAN RIGHTS
BioNTech is a growing and evolving global company with operations andvalue creation in a wide range of countries worldwide. The Company has
a responsibility to respect human rights in its operations and business
relationships around the world. BioNTech recognizes this and is committed to ensuring that it does not cause or contribute to adverse impacts
on human rights. This commitment is consistent with the Company’s
core values and the expectations of BioNTech’s stakeholders. The Company also firmly believes that respect for human rights contributes to its
long-term competitiveness.
In recent years, many governments have developed National Action
Plans (NAPs) for human rights, which has resulted in new humanrights-related legislation in several countries. The German Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations for the Prevention of Human Rights Violations in Supply Chains (Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetz – LkSG), forexample, is particularly relevant for BioNTech. The Company falls within
the Act’s scope and has been required to comply with the Act since it
came into force on January 1, 2023. Other human rights-related legis­
lation also applies to BioNTech, including the United Kingdom Modern
Slavery Act 2015.
The regulatory landscape continues to evolve. In 2022, for example, theE.U. Commission presented a proposal on the Corporate Sustainability
Due Diligence Directive, which was further discussed by E.U. institutionsin 2023. This proposal would go beyond existing legislation, such as the
LkSG, in many respects, including in its scope of application, supply chain
coverage, due diligence issues, and liability. BioNTech monitors thedevelopment of human rights regulations at a national, European, andinternational level.

Human Rights Frameworks and Guidelines
BioNTech has developed a comprehensive approach to human rights.
The Company’s strategies and commitments are based, among others,on the following leading human rights standards:• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights• The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights• The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights• The International Labour Organization’s Declaration on Fundamental
Principles and Rights at Work
• The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
Additionally, BioNTech is a signatory to the UN Global Compact, an­initiative based on 10 principles in the areas of human rights, labor,
environment, and anti-corruption.
Human Rights Statement
BioNTech has a publicly available Human Rights Statement in accordance with the German LkSG. It describes the Company’s commitment,
governance and current due diligence processes, as well as relevant
human rights topics. The revised Human Rights Statement is available
on BioNTech’s website.
The following human rights topics for the Company’s own operations
and its direct suppliers are the result of the annual human rights and­environmental risk analysis conducted in 2023. These topics have beenprioritized, taking nationally and internationally accepted criteria into
consideration:• Right to health• Access to innovative medicines• Clinical trials• Health and safety at work
• Non-discrimination, inclusion and diversity• Work hours and rest breaks• Child labor• Freedom of association• Forced labor• Environment and climate protection

The Human Rights Statement is supplemented by BioNTech’s humanrights commitments contained in the Code of Business Conduct andEthics that applies to its own operations and employees. In addition,
BioNTech’s Supplier Code of Conduct defines its human rights and­environmental-related expectations for its suppliers as part of existingprocurement strategies and practices. Requirements are based primarily on the Pharmaceutical Industry Principles for Responsible Supply
Chain Management of the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Initiative(PSCI). They are implemented within the scope of standard operating­procedures, training, upskilling, and internal reviews to ensure they are
understood and complied with.
BioNTech’s Human Rights Organization
BioNTech has set up a human rights organization and program to monitor
its human rights obligations. The organization and program encompass
the following:
Human Rights Officer: Effective January 1, 2023, BioNTech’s Management Board appointed a human rights officer (HRO) as part of the Company’s preparation for the introduction of the LkSG. The responsibility forhuman rights management was handed over to the HRO. This function is
responsible for all subsidiaries of the BioNTech Group and reports
directly to the Chief Operating Officer (COO), who is the designatedManagement Board member for human rights matters. The appointmentof the HRO does not relieve the Management Board of its supervisory
and monitoring responsibilities for human rights compliance.

GRI 2-23, 407-1, 408-1, 409-1
4.0 Responsible Governance | 4.3 Human Rights

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

35

Human rights risk management and compliance with human rights due
diligence obligations are overseen by the HRO. The HRO is tasked withconflict management, decision-making, and setting the human rights
agenda. The HRO has a designated budget as well as staff support.
Nominated risk owners are supported and consulted by the HRO in performing risk management for specific risk topics. The HRO also regularlyaligns with other departments on relevant matters, such as Compliance &Business Ethics and Enterprise Risk Management.
As part of annual reporting duties, the HRO personally reported to theManagement Board in November 2023 on the HRO’s work, existing due
diligence compliance processes, the results of the risk assessment, andkey challenges.

We view our human rights
due diligence as a processthat we continuously adapt
and improve. This is why
we constantly challenge ourown approach.
SVEN GRIEMERT,
Human Rights Officer at BioNTech

4.0 Responsible Governance | 4.3 Human Rights

Human Rights Due Diligence Process
German law requires companies to conduct human rights due diligence
to ensure that they assess and address potential and actual human rights
violations in their value chains. Through this process, BioNTech aims toidentify, prevent, and mitigate adverse human rights impacts associatedwith the Company’s activities. BioNTech’s human rights due diligenceprocess in 2023 encompassed the following aspects:
Risk Identification
BioNTech performs regular proactive risk analyses to identify potential
and actual human rights and environmental risks and incidents early andworks on preventing and mitigating them accordingly. The risk analysis isconducted annually and, if necessary, on an ad hoc basis to evaluate
potential risks in the event of significant changes to the Company’s operations or business relationships or when specific concerns related tohuman rights and environmental risks arise. BioNTech conducted risk
assessments for its own operations in 2023 at both an abstract and concrete level, incorporating information from external experts and internalsources. In the context of the supply chain, the risk assessment was
based on country- and sector-specific risk data.
Preventive Measures
Relevant preventive measures are taken as part of standard operatingprocedures, particularly in the areas of clinical studies and safety, healthand environment. BioNTech monitors and assesses existing measuresand adapts them where necessary, particularly based on risk analysis
findings. The Company also continues to strengthen its business functions related to its human rights due diligence obligations. There are anumber of tools in place to help ensure the Human Rights Officer canperform his duties effectively, including an appropriate budget, access to
all LkSG-relevant information and IT systems, human and external consulting resources and sufficient decision-making and instructional powers. The responsible employees receive appropriate training and areadvised and supported by internal and external human rights experts.

RemedyIdentified risks and violations are carefully weighed, reviewed, and prioritized to derive the appropriate engagement level and course of action.
BioNTech prioritizes the implementation of effective and appropriate
remedial actions to prevent, address, and minimize the effects of ­potential
adverse impacts or violations.
Grievance Mechanism
BioNTech strives to identify and mitigate risks both in its own operations
and throughout its supply chain. The Company encourages all internaland external stakeholders to report any concerns or potential risks to
BioNTech in areas such as human rights, environmental practices, products and product candidates, and corruption. In accordance with theCompany’s Speak Up Policy, these concerns are reported and handed
to the responsible employee or department, or the human rights representatives may be contacted directly. Concerns can be reported (anonymously) through BioNTech’s whistleblowing tool, the Ethics ­Contact
Point. The Ethics Contact Point is open to the public worldwide, 24 hours
a day, 7 days a week. BioNTech is committed to protecting anyone raising a concern on reasonable grounds, regardless of which reporting
channel was utilized. GRI 2-24, 2-25, 2-26
Reporting
BioNTech will publish an annual report on its human rights due diligenceobligations. The report will include the identification of human rights andenvironmental risks and potential violations of due diligence obligations
under national and international laws and standards. The report will present information on the preventive and mitigation measures that BioNTech
takes to avoid identified potential risks and remedy violations. BioNTech
will continuously refine and adapt the assessment and the actions derived
from it while evaluating and reporting on their impact and ­effectiveness.
Documentation of BioNTech’s compliance with its due diligence obligations will be stored. The report will be publicly available on the Company’s
website for a minimum of seven years following its publi­cation. GRI 3-3

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

36

A focus of the human rights management process in 2023 was the discussion and preparation for integrating human rights risks into BioNTech’sEnterprise Risk Management. The integration is done in coordination
with BioNTech’s Risk Performance department. Further integration andthe establishment of corresponding formal governance structures will­continue in 2024.

Proactive Due Diligence
Human rights policy ­statement
and governanceGrievancemechanism andremedyProcedures to
identify and ­assess­adverse impacts
Meaningful
stakeholder
engagement

BioNTech is committed to avoid causing orcontributing to adverse human rights impacts,
be it in its own operations or in its business
relationships with others.

Measures tocease, ­preventor mitigate­adverse impacts

Communication
and reporting

Tracking and monitoringof ­implementation

Progress in 2023
In 2023, BioNTech carried out its first human rights risk analysis encompassing its own operations and direct suppliers. The analysis was thebasis for the definition of the relevant human rights topics as statedabove. Through this process, BioNTech takes the appropriate preventive
measures to address the risks identified. BioNTech plans to continuously
enhance and adapt its human rights risk assessment and monitor its
effectiveness.

4.0 Responsible Governance | 4.3 Human Rights | 4.4 Global Resilience

BioNTech has integrated human rights and environmental expectations
for suppliers into its procurement process. The results of the risk analysis
will be used to further strengthen the process using a risk-based
approach. In 2023, the Company began integrating regulatory requirements in a targeted manner. This included the development of an internal
ESG score for the supplier selection process, a comprehensive revisionof the Supplier Code of Conduct, and the integration of a digital sustainability supply chain risk platform. The revision of the Supplier Code of
Conduct was approved internally after an in-depth internal consultation
process with the relevant functions. The Supplier Code of Conduct was
published in the first quarter of 2024 on BioNTech’s website. Following the
publication of the revised Supplier Code of Conduct, BioNTech will adapt
the relevant processes. To strengthen sustainability in purchasing processes, the Purchasing Department will add a further sustainability

expert as of March 1, 2024, and another sustainability position is currently
being advertised.
In 2023, the Company investigated reports of human rights concerns
stemming from observations and concerns raised by departments orindividual employees. None of the investigated concerns were substantiated as actual human rights violations. Consequently, they did not havean influence on the re-assessment of the related risk topics. BioNTech
has updated its Human Rights Statement based on the results of thehuman rights risk analyses in 2023. It is available on the
Company’s­website to inform stakeholders. GRI 308-1, 308-2, 414-1, 414-2

4.4 GLOBAL RESILIENCE
Business Continuity, Emergency and Crisis Management
BioNTech’s Global Resilience Team works to ensure that BioNTech realizes its mission without any major interruption in order to protect human
life, patient health and safety, and the Company’s assets and reputation.
The team aims to make BioNTech highly resilient to disruptive events
such as emergencies, crises and other potentially significant businessinterruptions.
The Global Resilience Team implemented a Business Continuity­Manage­ment System (BCMS) in 2021 to ensure the continuation of business operations in the case of a disruptive event. As part of the BCMS,
the team started implementing an Emergency and Crisis Management(ECM) system in 2022 to make certain that BioNTech is adequately prepared for emergencies and crises. The system’s general framework isoutlined in the BioNTech Group-wide Business Continuity (BC) Policy
and guideline and the Emergency and Crisis Management (ECM) Policy.
These also define the relevant roles and processes to enable effective
BC and EC management.

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37

BioNTech’s Global Resilience Team is part of the Business Planning andAnalysis (BPA) Department. The Director of Global Resilience reports
directly to the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Financial Officer(CFO) on BCMS activities. Global Resilience is supported by local leads
as well as a wider team, including function heads, across all BioNTech
locations. They are responsible for the implementation and continuousfunctioning of BC and EC management at their site and within the departments. The global BCM and ECM teams provide implementation support to the sites and functions by training team leads and team members.
All local and global BC and EC plans are established and maintained inline with the Company’s growth and regularly reviewed and tested. The
plans encompass both preventive and recovery strategies for outages of
personnel, machinery, IT systems and suppliers, as well as for failure scenarios, including incidents at production sites caused by climate change.
BioNTech’s IT infrastructure is safeguarded by an IT disaster recovery
plan that includes preemptive measures based on relevant standards.
Measures include data center and server management, disaster recovery for critical systems, and maintaining the priorities of critical systems
during recovery.
All relevant documents are centrally stored and protected by access
restrictions so that only authorized employees, such as the BC and EC
teams, are granted access. BCMS and ECM are subject to the Plan-DoCheck-Act (PDCA) cycle, which is a four-step process for implementingchange and ensuring continuous improvement of the system.

4.0 Responsible Governance | 4.4 Global Resilience | 4.5 Cyber and Information Security

Given its importance for BioNTech’s strategy and vision, the Global Resilience Team is deeply integrated into the organization and frequentlyaligns with top management. All plans are required to be updated at least
once annually. The team ensures BioNTech’s new locations and business activities are appropriately integrated into the BCMS at all times.
Using this approach, the Global Resilience Department ensures that
BioNTech and its sites are adequately prepared for any disruptive eventin the future. GRI 3-3
Progress in 2023
The Global Resilience function made several improvements in 2023.
These included increasing the number of on-site tests and successfully
integrating the U.S. sites into the Business Continuity Management System (BCMS). It also launched an annual BC Awareness Week and a dedicated biannual newsletter. These initiatives were implemented to foster
awareness of BC- and EC-related topics at BioNTech. The energy andgas crises response measures initiated in 2022 were continued, and thesituation was further monitored. In the course of 2023, the department
evaluated and continuously monitored several other situations. These
included, for instance, the earthquake in Türkiye and Syria, which did notcause any interruptions of BioNTech’s business operations in 2023.
­Furthermore, the conflict in Israel is being monitored continuously.
In 2023, BioNTech has taken precautionary measures to reduce risks
for business activities and project execution in Israel.

4.5 CYBER AND INFORMATION SECURITY
To achieve BioNTech’s ambitious vision, the Company needs access toreliable, trustworthy information and data at the right time. The significant
and increasing volume of sensitive information that the Company
receives, generates and stores – such as patient, employee and customer data – requires robust cyber and information security capabilities
across the entire organization. BioNTech’s security approach, which isaligned with its business objectives, strives to adequately protect all
information, systems, assets, physical locations, and people.

The Main Objectives of Cyber and Information
Security at BioNTech:• Information confidentiality: Ensuring information is only sharedwith authorized parties.
­• Information integrity: Ensuring changes to information, systems, and assets can only be made by those authorized.
• Information availability: Ensuring authorized parties have theappropriate access to information, systems, and assets without ­disrupting business-critical information processing.

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38

From a business perspective, this means protecting the key information
assets and complying with all applicable international and national privacy laws, information security policies and contractual obligations.
These include the German Commercial Code (HGB), the General Data
Protection Regulation (GDPR), the German Federal Data Protection Act(BDSG), the German IT Security Act 2.0 (IT-SiG 2.0), and the German
Federal Office for Information Security Act (BSIG). Since April 2023,
BioNTech has been designated as one of the critical infrastructures­(KRITIS) as defined by the BSIG. This classification is based on regulatory definitions of critical services and thresholds under German law thattake into account an organization’s importance for society and public
safety. BioNTech is therefore required to comply with the BSIG reportingand verification obligations in Germany.
Management Approach
BioNTech takes a centralized approach to managing cyber and information security to ensure a consistent level of security and complianceacross all entities and locations.
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is ultimately accountable for ensuring that the BioNTech Group has the proper information security capabilities in place. The COO also makes certain that information security isrepresented in the Management Board and that the Information Security
Organization (ISO) has the resources to achieve the set objectives. The
ISO oversees all roles and responsibilities associated with the Information Security Management System (ISMS). Aligning the strategic direction of the ISMS with the information security policies and objectives of
the BioNTech Group is the task of the Chief Information Security Officer(CISO). The CISO is accountable for the security strategy, global security policy development and implementation, and security operations.
The CISO is supported by the Head of Cyber & Information Security(C&IS) in all cyber and information security matters.

4.0 Responsible Governance | 4.5 Cyber and Information Security

Achieving the Information Security Transformation
BioNTech aims to implement a best-in-class information security function. The overarching information security strategy was developed by
the COO and CISO in 2021, in close alignment with the Data Protection
Officer and the Head of Global Security and Protection and is continuously updated. The strategy reflects BioNTech’s priority to protect its
assets and has been endorsed by the Company’s senior management.
In 2023, the Company introduced its Information Security Policy, defining the objectives, scope and principles for information security management. This policy applies to BioNTech SE and its affiliates, including all
Supervisory Board and Management Board members, as well as allother officers and employees. Violations of the policy are to be reported
to the ISO. The policy will be reviewed every two years and adapted if
required. In addition, the following two policies covering other security
aspects were introduced internally in 2023:• The Information Classification Policy, which directs information owners
on how to assign classification levels to assets (digital and/or physical)
and ensures that assets are protected according to their classification.
• The Acceptable Use Policy, which describes how to handle IT resources and data without compromising their security. In addition to technical measures and controls, human behavior is just as important to fully
address cyber and information security.
To achieve and preserve information security, BioNTech strives for theorderly planning, implementing, controlling, and optimizing of all activities
required for protection, detection, response and recovery. BioNTech
relies on applicable international standards as guidance, including the
ISO/IEC 27001, which is internally recognized and serves as the framework for the Company’s ISMS. BioNTech aims to obtain the relevant­certifications in 2024 as official documentation for its internal and external stakeholders. Initially, certifications are planned to include the main

­ anufacturing facility and an R&D site. After implementing the key milemstones of the Security Transformation Roadmap over the past two years,
the focus in 2023 was on• improving the operational excellence of cybersecurity services;• identifying further automatization options (e. g., introducing self-­services);• optimizing the ISMS framework based on an internal audit, independent feedback and recommendations;• conducting mandatory cyber and information security training for all
employees, including phishing simulations;• reducing the internal and external attack surface through regular­vulnerability scanning and penetration testing; and• establishing a security reporting dashboard to provide executive­stakeholders with transparency into relevant activities.
Creating a Cyber and Information Security Culture
Creating and maintaining mature levels of cyber and information security
within BioNTech, in the supply chain, and in close collaboration with partners requires the commitment of all employees. As part of the ISMS, forexample, employees are required to communicate any potential improvements or discrepancies as the system evolves.
BioNTech will continue to center its focus on people, IT, and operational
technology processes to further strengthen its cyber and information
security posture.
BioNTech also continually streamlines information security processes
and measures in its business operations and ensures newly introduced
applications adhere to the “secure by design” principle. It also works to
improve its cyber and ISMS on an ongoing basis to address evolving
risks and regulatory requirements according to the relevant certification
processes.

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

39

4.6 PATIENT PRIVACY AND DATA PRIVACY ­MANAGEMENT
BioNTech takes responsibility for the transparent communication andproper processing of personal data. This includes the storage, access,retention, and security of all personal data when engaging with patients,
employees, customers, business partners, and vendors. BioNTech­transparently communicates its Data Privacy Policy on the Company’s
website.

Since 2022, the Company has been using a data privacy system thatassesses the data privacy risks for each process and system in place.
It also provides for proper data mapping, up-to-date recordkeeping on
processing, data transfer impact assessments, and vendor data­management. In 2023, BioNTech established a dedicated, standardized
process to report data breaches. This process is intended to ensure that
BioNTech is notified of data breaches and can promptly inform the­people affected.
In 2023, BioNTech also began deploying Data Privacy Regional Leads,
supported at a team level by Data Privacy Liaisons. At the end of 2023,
BioNTech was continuing to recruit for these positions for further support. Members of relevant teams, such as IT and Clinical Operations, areselected to work closely with the Data Privacy Team to ensure privacy
compliance.

At BioNTech, privacy means fair data processing
for a good p­ urpose in accordance with an­individual’s desire for freedom from interference
and intrusion.

4.0 Responsible Governance | 4.6 Patient Privacy and Data Privacy ­Management

Global Data Privacy Framework
When processing personal data, BioNTech is responsible for ensuring
it complies with applicable data protection laws. These include the­European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) andother p­ rivacy laws in the various countries where BioNTech operates.
The requirements and standards applicable to BioNTech for processing
personal data are set out in the Company’s global data privacy framework and are projected to be implemented in 2024.
BioNTech’s data privacy strategy focuses on three pillars:

BioNTech’s Data Privacy Strategy
Clear Framework
A well designed privacy
policy framework will ensurea ­globally consistent data
privacy level. Operationalguidelines will help individuals to comply with overallrequirements.

• Company-wide framework: The Company’s Data Privacy Policy
ensures a consistent level of data privacy and data protection at
BioNTech.

Strong Cooperation
Frequent dialogue and­transparency are key to a­compliant organization.
Synergies can be used
and risks can be identified
at early stages.

Intuitive Usability
Usability of data privacy templates andprocesses enable the decentralized applicationof data privacy measures. Expert capacities
are not unnecessarily strained.

• Intuitive usability: Operational guidelines support departments andemployees in complying with the overall data privacy and data protection requirements.
• Strong collaboration: The Data Privacy Department fosters strong
collaboration with other relevant functions at BioNTech and facilitatesa dialogue regarding data privacy and data protection requirements.

40

In 2023, BioNTech implemented mandatory online data privacy training
for its employees. Training sessions were conducted on-site and focusedon several of the departments that process personal data, including the
Human Resources, Clinical Operations and Procurement departments.
GRI 3-3

The global data privacy framework fosters compliance with the applicable regulations and sets minimum standards for the Company. The dialogue between the Data Privacy Department and other functions at
BioNTech also supports the early detection of data privacy risks. As partof the Company’s global strategy, privacy-related documents, suchas informed consent forms for clinical trials, are being standardized­company-wide. The forms facilitate the user-friendly implementation of
the standards established at BioNTech and provide transparency on
how and why BioNTech processes personal data. Personal data is­processed strictly in accordance with the applicable laws and with the­highest ­security standards.

There were no substantiated complaints concerning data breaches,
including leaks, thefts, or losses of personal data, such as patient or­customer data, in 2023. All contracts and confidentiality agreementswith clinical trial sites were confirmed to be compliant with relevant­regulations. GRI 418-1

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

4.7 PATIENT SAFETY
BioNTech addresses the needs of patients 1 and health care professionals (HCPs) within the framework of national and international regulations,guidelines and harmonized global standards. Achieving this involves thetransparent disclosure of product-related risks and benefits, securing
operational excellence, and continuously working to build trust with society on a local, national, and international level. Ensuring the safety of
BioNTech’s products and product candidates covers the entire productlifecycle. From the research and clinical trial phases to approved and­distributed products, BioNTech makes the well-being of its patients its
highest priority. The Company fosters teamwork and effective communication, as these are central to ensuring product safety. BioNTech iscommitted to communicating openly with regulators, patients, and otherstakeholders and requires all employees to report drug safety and q­ uality
issues immediately to the Company’s specialized personnel.

From the research and clinical trial phases tothe approved and distributed product, BioNTech
makes the well-being of its patients its highest
priority.

Management Approach
BioNTech’s Quality Management System is designed to ensure compliance with national and international legislation, regulations, and guidelines encompassing the clinical development, production, registration,and marketing of medicinal products. The relevant guidelines for this­system include, but are not limited to, the International Council for Harmonization (ICH) guidelines, including Good Clinical Practice (GCP),
Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), Good Distribution Practice (GDP),and Good Pharmacovigilance Practice (GVP).
BioNTech’s Global Regulatory Affairs Department is responsible formanaging all submissions and correspondence to regulatory authorities
during clinical trials and for obtaining and maintaining regulatory approvals globally. It is also in charge of ensuring regulatory compliance withtechnical requirements, fulfilling post-approval commitments and obligations, and coordinating the lifecycle management of approved products
to keep the relevant dossiers and product information aligned with available scientific knowledge. Within the Global Regulatory Affairs Department, the Regulatory Affairs Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls(CMC) team is responsible for all regulatory matters related to CMC forinvestigational medicinal products and approved products. This includes
the establishment and maintenance of regulatory documentation andglobal dossier compliance with manufacturing processes and control
strategy.

Implementation of BioNTech’s Quality Management System is continuously monitored by BioNTech’s Quality Assurance Department. Thisfunction is responsible for ensuring that systems and processes are
implemented to assure the quality of products entering the market orused in clinical trials. Thus, the Quality Management System enables
control of risks throughout the production process, from the raw materials to the final product or product candidate. It also supports compliancewith relevant quality and legal standards.
BioNTech strengthens its efforts in patient and trial participant safety bycontinuously expanding its Medical Safety & Pharmacovigilance Department (MSPv). Pharmacovigilance is defined as the science and activities
related to the detection, assessment, understanding, and communication of adverse events from clinical trials and of marketed products,
including reports on suspected adverse events following administration.
GRI 3-3Training
To raise general awareness for patient safety, BioNTech promotes acompany-wide understanding of the fundamentals of pharmacovigilance. This includes mandatory pharmacovigilance awareness training
for its employees and relevant contractors to enable them to identify andappropriately report safety-related events. All employees receive thismandatory training as part of the onboarding process, with refresher
training conducted on an annual basis. In addition, all employees directly
involved in the safety and quality of BioNTech’s active pharmaceuticalingredients (API) receive regular job-specific training in accordance withinternationally applicable rules.

1	For the purpose of this sustainability report, the term “patient” is used to identify subjects receiving investigational medicinal products from BioNTech either within or outside a clinical trial as well as individuals receiving an approved­medicinal p­ roduct from BioNTech, including prophylactic vaccines against infectious diseases.

4.0 Responsible Governance | 4.7 Patient Safety

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

41

Transparency
Sharing health-related information is fundamental for the good functioning of healthcare systems. It helps ensure patient safety, advances
research and medical understanding, and improves public health. This is
why BioNTech goes beyond what is legally required when it comes totransparency in clinical trial data. More information can be found on
page 34.
Interventional clinical studies (Phase I and beyond) with the first participant enrolled after March 2022 are registered on the publicly accessible
websiteclinicaltrials.gov. Within 12 months of the last participant lastvisit (LPLV), primary and secondary outcomes of the studies are posted
on clinicaltrials.gov. The same outcomes are also posted as laypersonand expert summaries on the Company website.1 Within 30 months of
LPLV, BioNTech also submits the primary and secondary outcomes ofin-scope studies for publication in scientific journals. There were no study
outcomes requiring submission to scientific journals in 2023.
For clinical studies submitted to regulatory authorities, BioNTech shares
clinical study reports with researchers upon request and subject to­contractual stipulations to protect personal data and commercially­con­fidential information. This is done in an effort to support marketing

Transparency

Summarized for ­laypersons
on website

Submitted for p­ ublication injournals

These commitments apply to all BioNTech-sponsored interventional
clinical studies (Phase I and beyond) investigating authorized treatments,
non-authorized use of authorized treatments, investigational treatments (i. e., non-authorized treatments), and those with first participants
enrolled after March 25, 2022. These commitments do not apply to clinical s­ tudies where BioNTech cannot disclose the above information due
to ­contractual agreements with development partners.
Due to the exceptional and immense public interest in the PfizerBioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine COMIRNATY, BioNTech will also sharewith researchers upon request individual participant data for COMIRNATY clinical studies submitted to health authorities for applications
granted for marketing authorization in the European Union and/or UnitedStates. This goes beyond BioNTech’s commitment outlined in the­Company’s Transparency Declaration. This access to data is subject
to contractual and technical stipulations designed to protect personal
data and commercially confidential information. Access is also subject tothe approval of the proposed research by an independent review committee and the commitment of the researchers to submit the research­outcomes for publication in publicly accessible journals.

Outcome of clinicalstudies

Provided on websites forexperts

authorization applications in the European Union and/or United States.
The clinical study reports comply with the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human
Use (ICH) E3 – Structure and Content of Clinical Study Reports, outlinedin the guideline dated July 1996.

Submitted tohealth authorities

Shared with ­researchers1	The website for in-scope clinical studies is currently under development. There were no in-scope study outcomes requiring summary posting in 2023.

4.0 Responsible Governance | 4.7 Patient Safety

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42

Patient Safety in Clinical Trials
Based on the regulatory framework and international guidelines for clinical trials, BioNTech works within a rigorous safety governance model toensure trial participants’ safety. BioNTech conducts global clinical trials
by commissioning them to qualified contract research organizations(CROs). Monitoring patient safety across trials and programs continues
to be conducted in-house in collaboration with development partners
where applicable, led by the MSPv medical and clinical safety experts inclose collaboration with the responsible clinical development physician.
For individualized therapeutic candidates, BioNTech ensures a complete
and strict chain of custody in compliance with national regulations andclinical trial protocols.

BioNTech applies a rigorous safety framework
to its clinical trials to ensure patient safety.

The ethics committees review the clinical trial process from start to ­finish,
ensuring, among o­ thers, that clinical trial participants are well informed
and procedures and treatment methods are disclosed transparently.
Should ethical questions arise during a study, solutions are developed inclose cooperation with the ethics committee.
The ethics committee and regulatory authorities monitor each trial andits data from approval to completion. All parties involved – BioNTech, theCROs, the authorities, and the ethics committees – contribute to ensuring that the well-being and safety of the patients are safeguarded. If, at
any time during a clinical trial, an unexpected risk is identified, internal

4.0 Responsible Governance | 4.7 Patient Safety

procedures prompt the appropriate cross-functional safety team to evaluate the issue and recommend the most appropriate actions to protect
patient safety. BioNTech’s safety governance allows for the immediate
escalation of urgent and significant risks to a senior safety council chairedby the Chief Medical Officer. The requirements for reporting unexpectedsafety issues to the regulatory authorities and/or ethics committees are
met in compliance with local and international laws and regulations.
SASB HC-BP-210a.1

Contract research organizations (CROs) are actively managed and overseen by BioNTech’s clinical trial teams and vendor management functions. Underlying contracts describe the quality strategies, service levelstandards, and expectations. They also outline the quality management
responsibilities of BioNTech and the CRO, including but not limited torisk-based quality management (RBQM), quality control, and quality
assurance for clinical studies.
Contracts are intended to promote consistency, transparency, and open
communication between BioNTech and the CRO for the proactive andeffective risk-based management of clinical trial quality and compliance.
The specific objectives of these agreements include the following:• Establishing operating principles and guidelines for maintaining ethical,
regulatory and scientific quality throughout a project. The creation of
specific roles and responsibilities to ensure consistent standards areused across all of the relevant projects shared by BioNTech and theCRO.
• Outlining the governance and oversight mechanisms for BioNTech’s
projects to ensure quality management.
• Ensuring that BioNTech and the CRO agree in advance on the quality
definitions and expectations for services and deliverables.
• Determining the reporting structures and the quality and performance
metrics to be used to measure BioNTech and CRO- and subcontractorsupported projects.

• Defining metrics and acceptance criteria to measure the quality ofdeliverables.
• Identifying a collaborative BioNTech/CRO audit process and a mechanism for communicating and collaborating on audit planning, audit
activities, audit outcomes and significant Good Clinical Practice (GCP)
non-compliance issues, including serious breaches of GCP, the protocol and applicable laws.
• Specifying the operational principles for maintaining a continued stateof inspection readiness and the process for regulatory inspection
preparation.
In 2023, no clinical trials were terminated as a result of violations of GMP /GCP or other regulatory requirements. SASB HC-BP-210a.3
Monitoring Vaccine Safety
BioNTech and Pfizer continue to distribute the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19
Vaccine worldwide. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine (BNT162b2)
is the Company’s first approved and currently only marketed mRNA
­product.
As with other medicinal products, rare or potentially serious side effects
may be detected post-approval. BioNTech’s Medical Safety and Pharma­
covigilance department, together with BioNTech’s partner Pfizer, continuously monitors the benefit-risk profile of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19
Vaccine.
This firm commitment is formalized in the Pharmacovigilance Agreement
signed by BioNTech and Pfizer, outlining the responsibilities for safety
activities. In addition to regular internal audits, regulatory authorities conduct periodic inspections to ensure that BioNTech complies with Good
Pharmacovigilance Practices (GVP) and the applicable local laws andregulations.

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43

BioNTech’s Medical Safety & Pharmacovigilance department (MSPv,
see above), in close collaboration with business partners Pfizer andFosun Pharma, oversees the recording, monitoring and reporting of any
instances of suspected vaccine adverse events.
As in prior years, BioNTech was not issued any FDA warning letters or
subject to any FDA enforcement actions, and no comparable actions
were taken by regulatory authorities outside the United States in 2023.
In 2023, there were no market recalls of BioNTech’s marketed medicinal
products in the reporting year.
Details are included in Chapter

8.4 Detailed Data.

GRI 416-1

Preventing Counterfeiting
BioNTech applies high safety standards along the value chain of the­Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. This ensures high production quality and effectively excludes any outside interference. The Company uses
the following methods and technologies in place to ensure producttraceability throughout the supply chain and prevent counterfeiting:• Raw materials are sourced exclusively from qualified service providers
with whom BioNTech has long-standing relationships. For the collection of finished products, BioNTech ensures high safety standards
through close cooperation with the Company’s partner Pfizer andthrough external contract manufacturers with high-level, specialized
qualifications.
• Raw materials and intermediate and finished products are stored insecure warehouses located on fenced, restricted access and speciallysecured, camera-monitored sites.

• Materials inspections in the incoming goods department are carriedout, without exception, using delivery bills and a digital inventory management system that monitors all inventory management activities.
This enables cargo to be accurately identified at any point using digitally stored configurations and unique two-dimensional matrix codes.
For finished product shipments to countries that require serialization(e. g., under the E.U. Falsified Medicines Directive [2011/62/EU]), a unique,digitally assigned serialization number is printed on the package andreported to the respective national medicines verification system. Finally,
the manufacturer’s batch information is printed on each individual vial
and its secondary and tertiary packaging containers. At the nodes of the
supply chain, the batch number and barcode information is verified when
the goods arrive. Finished products are sealed in secondary packaging
with a tamper-evident feature. Enhanced features are also incorporated
into transport packaging. BioNTech uses specific security measureswhen delivering its products. All relevant BioNTech partners and vendors
in the supply chain have been qualified by BioNTech, and quality agreements are in place regarding the product’s end-to-end quality and­traceability.
Special security measures for supplying to the E.U. markets include• full supply traceability and real-time goods monitoring through active
logging with temperature monitoring and GPS tracking and a three-tiercontrol tower, including established alerts and an escalation process
for any incidents;• secure pick-up and delivery;• an established BioNTech/Pfizer controlled distribution channel, including qualified service providers to ensure the vaccine’s security; and• additional safety features that go beyond regulatory requirements
applied to the product presentations.

Product Information
Providing adequate information about the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19
Vaccines to ensure its optimal use is a critical element of patient care.
­Pfizer’s and BioNTech’s global product and information website provides
access to the most up-to-date, country-specific product information. For
example, the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) for COMIRNATY and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine informs healthcare
professionals on the correct use of the vaccine and enables informed
treatment decisions. It contains all essential details describing the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine in accordance with legal requirements,
such as dosing, administration, scheduling, storage, handling, contraindications, warnings/­precautions, and possible side effects. The package
leaflet, which is available in country-specific languages, provides all of therelevant information about the vaccine. BioNTech has submitted multiple
updates of the product information (SmPC and package leaflet) to the relevant regulatory authorities as legally required. These included variations
to ­introduce updated variant-adapted vaccines developed according to
the recommendations on updated composition for COVID-19 vaccines
issued by WHO, EMA/European Center for Disease Prevention and­Control (eCDC) and the FDA/VRBPAC (Vaccine and Related Biological­Products Advisory Committee) supporting the introduction of monovalent vaccines encoding the XBB.1.5 SARS-CoV-2 subvariant. BioNTech
strives to comply with the legal and regulatory requirements for the­marketing of pharmaceutical products. Any deviations from the strict regulation for pharmaceutical product information would be corrected in acontrolled process; in 2023 no deviations nor legal proceedings regarding product information have occurred. GRI 3-3, 417-1 SASB HC-BP-270a.1

SASB HC-BP-260a.1

4.0 Responsible Governance | 4.7 Patient Safety

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Promotion of Off-Label Use
Promotion of off-label use of drugs and products is strictly prohibited by
the Compliance Policy on Business Interactions with Healthcare Professionals. The policy includes the principle that all sales-related business
functions are prohibited from answering off-label use questions that areraised by HCPs. Any unsolicited off-label use questions raised by HCPs
can only be answered by the Medical Information team, which is part of
the Global Medical Affairs team.

4.8 ANIMAL WELFARE
BioNTech conducts research with the aim of improving the health of­people worldwide. The safety, efficacy and quality of BioNTech’s products and product candidates are top priorities. BioNTech develops its
products and product candidates with scientific care and precision, firstin preclinical studies and then in clinical trials. For this purpose, it is essential that BioNTech also conducts studies that involve the responsible useof animals. The knowledge that BioNTech obtains from the complex
interaction of cells and their functions in a living being plays a critical rolein helping to prevent diseases and improve their diagnosis and treatment
options.

practices (Replacement). The number of animals required to obtain thenecessary scientific information is kept to a minimum (Reduction). Moreover, all animal testing is designed to reduce the severity of necessary
treatments and examinations to the indispensable level for every
research animal (Refinement).
BioNTech has also added a fourth dimension to the 3R principles:
Responsibility. Paying special attention to the specific needs of species,
BioNTech’s goal is to create favorable living conditions and ensure thewell-being of animals in the Company’s stewardship throughout their
entire lives. All actions are therefore directed at not only meeting the legal

Main Commitments & Approach

Reduction

Refinement

Management Approach
BioNTech is committed to combining excellent research results and individual animal welfare in a thoughtful, careful and conscientious way.
Responsible research at BioNTech is guided by the implementation of
the 3R principles: Replacement, Reduction and Refinement. Wherever
possible, BioNTech seeks to apply non-animal methods in its testing

During preclinical research, animal studies are conducted in state-ofthe-art animal facilities with housing conditions that are in accordancewith applicable law and good animal practice as defined by the Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Associations (FELASA). In
other regions, BioNTech expects its external partners to be in compliance with the standards of the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) or similar regional standards
or guidelines. Business partners in animal testing are obliged to comply
with BioNTech’s Supplier Code of Conduct. In the General Terms andConditions of Purchase, BioNTech reserves the right of extraordinary
termination if animal welfare standards are violated.
Progress in 2023
In coordination with the CSR Steering Board, an internal working groupconducted a review of BioNTech’s existing animal welfare measures in2023 with the goal of strengthening the Company’s animal welfare management. Based on the review, and in light of the Company’s growth, animal welfare management will be enhanced by implementing a stronger
global management role and anchoring it in the BioNTech organization.
GRI 3-3

Replacement

4.0 Responsible Governance | 4.7 Patient Safety | 4.8 Animal Welfare

requirements for species-appropriate housing and performance of animal testing but also at continuously improving practices based on theadvancements in science and technology. Consistent with the European
Commission’s “Ethics for Researchers” and European and national laws,
it is BioNTech’s responsibility to not inflict pain, suffering or harm on any
animal without reasonable justification and to limit adverse effects asmuch as possible.

Responsibility

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4.9 GOVERNMENT RELATIONSTaxes
BioNTech’s Tax & Customs Department reports directly to the Chief
Financial Officer (CFO). Ultimate responsibility for all tax-related topics
rests with the Management Board.

Financial Assistance
Government Grants
BioNTech received two government grants from the Austrian researchpromotion agency (Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft, FFG) between
2018 and 2022 totaling EUR 2.5 million. As of December 31, 2023, theloans amounted to EUR 2.2 million and mature between 2026 and 2029.
GRI 201-4

BioNTech cooperates with the relevant tax authorities in all tax matters ina trustworthy and transparent manner, in line with the mandatory Codeof Business Conduct & Ethics. This includes not performing any tax-­
motivated transfer mispricing. The Company also makes certain that it
effectively monitors tax-relevant business processes in a risk-oriented
manner.

Special Non-Governmental Grants
On September 18, 2023, BioNTech and the Coalition for Epidemic­Preparedness (CEPI) signed a funding agreement under which CEPI
provides BioNTech a grant supporting the development of mRNA-based
mpox vaccine candidates (vaccine program BNT166).

In the 2023 financial year, BioNTech operated primarily in Germany and,
therefore, the tax expenses described concern mainly the German tax
group (see Chapter 1.3 Economic Contributions). The Company’s income
tax and financial position for the year ended December 31, 2023 are disclosed in the annual report and in Form 20-F, the latter of which was filedwith the SEC on March 20, 2024. Both the annual report and the 20-F
are available on BioNTech’s website in the Investors section.

On November 8, 2023, BioNTech and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) signed a new grant agreement under which BMGF provided
BioNTech a grant supporting the development of a tuberculosis (TB)
vaccine candidate (vaccine program BNT164). On December 15, 2023,
BioNTech and BMGF terminated a grant agreement entered into in 2020
regarding the development of an investigational COVID-19 immuno­
therapy.

In keeping with its commitment to transparent communications withstakeholders, in 2023, the Company informed non U.S.-based holdersof American Depository Receipts of the double taxation on dividends.
Information on dividend payments and tax deductions is available on
BioNTech’s website. GRI 3-3, 207-1, 207-2

Advocacy
Political Contributions
BioNTech does not make monetary contributions to political parties
or affiliated political organizations. The same applies to initiatives that
support the objectives of either a political party’s or an individual representative’s candidacy for public office.
BioNTech is a member of the Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (Verband Forschender Arzneimittelhersteller e. V. –vfa), the association of research-based pharmaceutical companies inGermany. BioNTech’s Vice President Global Commercial and General
Manager Michael Boehler has been a member of the vfa board since2022. Other employees are actively involved in various vfa expert groups.

Public Affairs
Due to the high sociopolitical relevance of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19
Vaccine, the Company has continued to experience increasing interest
in its positions in the political realm. Where necessary, BioNTech has­presented its positions and views in direct dialogue with political stakeholders. In early 2021, the Company began strategically and operationally bundling public affairs activities into the Market Access & Public
Affairs department within BioNTech Europe GmbH. BioNTech aims topromote constructive exchange with political stakeholders and advancethe vision of fighting infectious diseases, cancer and other serious­illnesses through the development of novel therapies.

To advance the vision of fighting infectious­diseases, cancer and other serious diseases
through novel therapies, BioNTech promotes aconstructive exchange with all stakeholders.

Lobby RegisterIn compliance with legal obligations, the Company has been registeredin the E.U. Transparency Register since 2020 ( BioNTech SE) and in thelobby register of the German Bundestag since the beginning of 2022
( BioNTech SE and
BioNTech Europe GmbH). The registers trans­parently disclose the Company’s annual financial expenditures related
to lobbying, lobbying channels and lobbying positions. GRI 3-3

GRI 415-1

4.0 Responsible Governance | 4.9 Government Relations

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46

47
5.1 BioNTech’s Impact on the Environment 
5.2 Group Environmental ­Management 
5.3 Waste 
5.4 Water and Effluents 
5.5	Climate Change Mitigation and Management 
5.6 Climate Risk Management 

5.0

Creating Value within
Planetary Boundaries
FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS:

We are following our path in a
Paris ­Agreement-aligned 1 and­environmentally conscious way.

BioNTech CO2e footprint 2023 (Scope 1, 2 and 3)

534,182

SBTi-validated Scope 1 and 2 target for 2030 vs. 2021:
Absolute reduction of GHG emissions of42   %

99.1 %of BioNTech’s GHG emissions
are ­generated in the value
chain (Scope 3)

5.0 Environmental and Climate Protection

metric tons

48
48
50
51
52
58

Share of renewableenergy among total energy
consumption in 2023:

62 %(2022: 41 %)Share of renewableelectricity among totalbought-in electricity in 2023:

59 %of BioNTech's workforce
is covered by ISO 14001­(environmental management)
and 45001 (occupational
health and safety management) certifications

85 %(2022: 84 %)1

Seepage 54

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5.0 ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE PROTECTION
5.1 BIONTECH’S IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT
As a research-based, commercially producing biotech company,
BioNTech has an impact on the environment. The Company’s production and R&D activities require resources, such as energy and water, andgenerate waste. The majority of the Company’s CO2e emissions aregreenhouse gas (GHG) emissions arising from BioNTech’s purchases ofgoods and services. In addition, many of BioNTech’s activities requireface-to-face interaction with other researchers, collaborators and business partners, making business travel essential. This is compounded by
BioNTech’s global presence. The biotech industry’s highly regulated
safety requirements in areas such as waste and water management alsopresent unique environmental challenges. The Company recognizes itsrole in seeking to reduce emissions from its own operations as well as
those in its supply chain.
Over the past three years, BioNTech has acquired new sites and undertaken several major infrastructure and construction projects, both in­Germany and globally. BioNTech continues to expand its global presence, among others, through further acquisitions and commissioning
new facilities. This growth and its associated projects will continue tohave an impact on the environment and the neighboring areas. It may
also result in a greater burden on the environment and the climate.

5.2 GROUP ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
Governance
Responsibility for operational environmental management at BioNTechlies with the Safety, Health & Environment (SHE) Department and isembedded in the Environmental Programs & Protection function. The
scope of the global SHE activities encompass environmental protection,

wastewater and waste management, energy management, and energy
audits. This function is also in charge of occupational health and safety,
plant and process safety, and sustainable construction and compliancewith relevant safety, health and environmental legislation.
Integrated Management System
BioNTech continuously develops, monitors and seeks ways to improveits group-wide environmental management policies and procedures.
Processes are intended to ensure that the Company complies with therelevant environmental, health and occupational safety laws and regulations. Group-wide policies, handbooks, guidelines, work instructions andstandard operating procedures (SOPs) are also in place to facilitate theCompany’s adherence to applicable national and local laws and regulations. They are also intended to help enhance the Company’s environmental performance through improvements such as better energy
efficiency. BioNTech’s Policy on Safety, Health, Environment & Energy
2023 is published on the corporate website.
Employees have access to the relevant documents and regulations,as well as to other environmental information, through an online library.
­Mandatory training on essential aspects of SHE management is provided to employees via in-person sessions and webcasts; policies arerolled out via BioNTech’s BxP Hub. The SHE management team takes
part in the design of new technical systems and processes and monitors
compliance with all relevant SHE requirements. The department communicates with authorities and assists other BioNTech functions withexternal audits related to SHE matters.
BioNTech has continued the implementation of a group-wide Integrated
Management System (IMS) in accordance with the international standards for environmental management (ISO 14001), energy management (ISO 50001) and occupational health and safety management(ISO 45001). To comply with internationally recognized standards and5.0 Environmental and Climate Protection | 5.1 BioNTech’s Impact on the Environment | 5.2 Group Environmental Management

improve the Company’s SHE performance, BioNTech is required to takecertain measures, which include evaluations of environmental aspects(ISO 14001), energy evaluations (ISO 50001) and occupational healthand safety risk assessments (ISO 45001). BioNTech aims to further
enhance and continuously improve its SHE management globally.
It plans to do this not only through the Integrated Management Systembut also by implementing global policies and standards applicable­group-wide and setting objectives and targets for the ongoing development of SHE ­management.

In 2023, the Company reached an important­milestone with the certification of its Integrated
Management System in accordance with
the international standards for environmental­management (ISO 14001), energy management(ISO 50001) and occupational health andsafety management (ISO 45001) at its Germansites in Mainz, Martinsried, Neuried and Halle.

In 2023, the Company reached an important milestone with the certification of its IMS. Compliance with the applicable standards was confirmedby an external certification company (DQS GmbH) in a Stage 1 andStage 2 audit that included BioNTech’s German sites in Mainz, Martins­ried, Neuried and Halle.

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

The Integrated Management System covers all of the BioNTech sites.
Certified sites implement respective processes and guidelines. Implementation audits are conducted on a rolling basis as part of the certification process. BioNTech received the ISO 14001 and 45001 certificationsin January 2024, which covered 59 % of its workforce at the end of 2023.
BioNTech plans to pursue ISO 50001 certification for locations in Mainz
and Marburg in 2024. GRI 403-8

In addition, BioNTech’s Management Board approved the defined global
SHE measures and objectives in 2023. The measures and objectives
require each BioNTech site to determine its own site-specific objectives
and take appropriate measures to improve SHE management.
To familiarize employees with BioNTech’s SHE policy, all employees havereceived mandatory training, which will continue to be conducted yearly.
The training is supplemented by SHE Management System training tosupport the implementation of the Integrated Management System.
Training is provided online or on-site to all employees. Also in 2023,
BioNTech introduced a global sustainability guideline (see page 50 for
more information) to integrate sustainability aspects into new construction and renovation projects. A monitoring concept is also being developed to enable BioNTech to better monitor energy consumption, wateruse, and wastewater generation.

BioNTech’s Green Team and Environment and Energy Teams

Green Team, BioNTech US:
The U.S. Green Team was established in 2022 with the goal of informing, motivating and engaging employees on sustainability-­related
topics. In its second year, the team increased its engagement with
BioNTech’s U.S. sites. The U.S. Green Team hosted a virtual Earth Day
event, which included a high-level review of BioNTech’s Sustainability
Report 2022 and featured Prof. Özlem Türeci, M.D., as a guest speakerto address the importance of sustainability in everyday life. During theyear, the U.S. Green Team also facilitated a total of five learning opportunities and hosted six campaigns and events, each addressing different aspects of incorporating more sustainable practices at workand at home. Activities included a second annual ­community service
event at a local park in Gaithersburg to clean up a historic flower garden. Other initiatives included facilitating the s­ haring of research supplies among the U.S. sites and continuing to expand site compost andrecycle programs. The team continues to grow in size as members
volunteer their time to lead and support s­ ustainability initiatives.

5.0 Environmental and Climate Protection | 5.2 Group Environmental Management

One of the key accomplishments in 2023 was the successful certification of the following four labs under the My Green Lab certification
program. My Green Lab is a nonprofit organization and a globally­recognized authority in laboratory sustainability.
• QC Analytical Labs (Gaithersburg), Gold Certification• QC Microbiology Labs (Gaithersburg), Silver Certification• General/Assay Lab (Gaithersburg), Silver Certification• Molecular Biology Lab (Gaithersburg), Silver Certification
These are the first labs across BioNTech to achieve this certification.
This certification program evaluates laboratories’ efforts to reduce
waste, conserve energy, and utilize eco-friendly materials. Receiving
this certification is just one step in BioNTech’s journey towards
improving work methods by integrating more efficient and sustainable practices.

Environment and Energy Teams, BioNTech Germany:
In 2022, Environment and Energy teams in Marburg and Mainz were
founded under the lead of BioNTech’s Safety, Health & Environment
Department. The teams comprise interested employees from various functions who met regularly throughout 2023 to design ways tomake BioNTech’s everyday operations more sustainable. In 2023, theteam at the Marburg location focused on raising employee awareness through different initiatives, including the introduction of a moresustainable office waste separation system, the organization of aclean-up day, and an environmental month to provide information on
more sustainable business practices. The team in Mainz is currently
revising its structure and processes to further focus its engagementin 2024.

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50

5.3 WASTE
Sustainability Guideline for BioNTech’s New Building Projects

BioNTech developed and implemented a global guideline in 2023
for new buildings and major renovations of existing facilities. The
guideline applies to the construction of all new BioNTech buildings
and extensive renovations of existing BioNTech sites. The guideline
covers sustainability aspects, including the prevention of CO2 emissions, energy efficiency, total energy consumption, and the use ofnatural resources such as water. The guideline also takes different
local aspects into account. Specific requirements for new offices,laboratories, logistics and production facilities are laid out and set
the standard at BioNTech. An example is the guideline requiring thatat least a portion of energy use comes from renewable sources,
such as photovoltaic systems.
The Company intends to systematically integrate sustainability
aspects as early as possible into the planning and execution of newbuilding ­projects and major renovations.

One of the minimum requirements for reducing energy consumption is the use of LEDs for lighting. In addition, every new building
project is required to assess the potential for using rainwater as a
substitute for fresh water, for example, for sanitary facilities, and todesign and implement options on a ­project-specific basis. The
Company also aims to optimize the use of p
­ rocess water.
The new global guideline complements the overall environmental
impact assessments conducted at BioNTech sites. In 2023, theguideline was applied for the first time to a building project at theCompany’s facilities in Mainz, Germany, and will continue to be
applied to future construction projects, including new buildings, fitouts, and renovations. In principle, the guideline covers all aspects
necessary for obtaining “green” building sustainability certifications,such as the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design(LEED) certification.

Safety, Health and Environmental Risk Management
The SHE Department is responsible for conducting risk assessments inthe areas of safety, health and environment, thereby contributing to groupwide Enterprise Risk Management. Risk assessments include environmental impact assessments for BioNTech’s own operations and for
new construction projects. The SHE Department also supports business
continuity processes in the areas of emergency preparedness and5.0 Environmental and Climate Protection | 5.2 Group Environmental Management | 5.3 Waste

hazard prevention for the Company’s sites and employees (see Chapter
4.4 Global Resilience). Occupational health and safety and environmental
considerations are also part of BioNTech’s human rights obligations (seeChapter 4.3 Human Rights). Potential risks are identified, evaluated, qualified, and financially quantified according to defined criteria, and action istaken when necessary.

BioNTech prioritizes waste prevention and professional waste disposal –especially where hazardous waste is concerned. The processes involved
are described in the Company’s internal operating and mandatory work
procedures. Every employee is trained in waste management andrequired to read and sign instructions on waste management procedures. Disposal service providers are carefully selected, and the terms ofdisposal are contractually defined. All service providers are required toprovide proof of proper waste disposal.
BioNTech’s Integrated Management System also covers waste management as part of environmental management (ISO 14001). Standard operating procedures (SOPs) and work instructions are continuously
implemented at each site and supplemented with further guidelines.
Each site has a responsible function for waste management. Employees
tasked with waste management receive mandatory training structured
according to the focus and characteristics of each site, such as officebuildings, manufacturing facilities, and laboratories. The SHE Department works closely with the sites to identify and tap the potential toreduce waste. The department also works to enhance the quality of
waste manage­ment data on an ongoing basis. This has led, for example,
to BioNTech’s plan to implement waste balance sheets that include thetypes and routes of waste disposed.
BioNTech generated 1,590 tons of waste in 2023 (2022: 1,488t; 2021:
897t; 2020: 1,558t; 2019: 371t). The year-on-year rise in the total waste
volume can be put into perspective by considering the Company’s continued strong growth and expansion of operations, which includes theacquisition and operation of new facilities in 2023. GRI 3-3, 306-1, 306-2

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

Waste accumulation
Waste in metric t
2023

327

2022

277

1,211

1,488

2021

247

650

897

1,590

1,263

In 2023, the Company started conducting audits at disposal facilities toensure compliance with the Company’s requirements. In 2023, one audit
was conducted at a disposal facility commissioned by BioNTech. Further
audits will be carried out at other facilities on an ongoing basis. BioNTech
also conducts audits at facilities outside of Europe prior to commissioning vendors, especially when the work involves the disposal of ­hazardous
waste. GRI 3-3

Water Withdrawal
BioNTech’s total water withdrawal amounted to 113 mega liters in 2023
(2022: 75 mega liters). The Company monitors its water withdrawal on
an annual basis, using the water invoices for each site. BioNTech plans tomonitor its water use more closely and has initiated the development of ametering concept. In 2023, BioNTech withdrew only a very small share of
0.46 % of its total water withdrawal from areas under water stress, as
defined by the WWF Water Risk Filter.

5.4 WATER AND EFFLUENTS
2020

274

1,558

1,283

Hazardous waste

Non-hazardous waste

Hazardous Waste
BioNTech prioritizes both waste prevention and proper disposal, which
includes hazardous waste, to prevent harm to people and the environment. About 20.6 % of BioNTech’s waste in 2023 was categorized
as hazardous waste 1 and required thermal treatment or incineration at­special facilities as required by law. This is also the process required at all
BioNTech sites worldwide that generate hazardous waste.
BioNTech expects disposal facilities to• have a certified environmental management system in place;• comply with all applicable safety and environmental laws and regulations;• have an established and certified occupational safety management
system; and• have the permission to transport, store, dispose and further use thegenerated waste.

1	Classification according to the 1989 Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements ofHazardous Wastes and Their Disposal.

5.0 Environmental and Climate Protection | 5.3 Waste | 5.4 Water and Effluents

Water and Wastewater Management
By 2050, 52 % of the world’s population is expected to be living in waterstressed areas. As the issues of water scarcity and pollution become
increasingly relevant, the ability to manage water and wastewater sustainably will be key to ensuring sustainable development. One goal of theCompany’s environmental management is therefore to ensure sustainable water and wastewater management. As BioNTech grows andexpands in Germany and in other countries worldwide, managing theavailability and careful use of water is important. In taking on this responsibility, BioNTech seeks to minimize the impacts of its operations on local
water supply.
Water Risk Management
BioNTech’s environmental impact assessments for its existing operations and new construction projects include water management andwater risks. This is also a part of BioNTech’s Enterprise Risk Management and due diligence processes according to the LkSG. The Company identifies and carefully evaluates risks related to water and effluentsand their potential longer-term impact. By taking a precautionary
approach, BioNTech also strives to protect the Company from adverse
effects of increasingly stringent water protection regulations. Generally,
the aspects of water and water discharge, which could include potentially hazardous substances released into water (see Chapter 5.3 Waste),are part of the permission process for new construction and other activities. BioNTech strives to maintain high water management standards at
its own sites globally. GRI 3-3, 303-1

Water withdrawal
Total water withdrawal in 1,000 cbm
2023

113

2022

75

2021

72

2020

25

Total water discharge in 1,000 cbm
2023

102

2022

75

2021

72

2020

25

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

51

Wastewater Effluents
BioNTech closely monitors the discharge of wastewater it generates. In
addition to greywater and blackwater generated by offices and otheradministrative establishments, wastewater is generated in the Company’s research and development laboratories and production facilities.
To prevent hazardous chemicals and substances from entering bodies
of water and the adjacent environment, pharmaceutical wastewaters are
not permitted to be discharged into municipal sewer systems. For thisreason, BioNTech has implemented mandatory procedures and internal
guidelines. Wastewater is also included in the Company’s environmental
management processes described above as part of the evaluation ofenvironmental aspects.
The Company closely monitors and analyzes wastewater before it is discharged via dedicated disposal channels in compliance with strict legal
and regulatory requirements. BioNTech designs and implements its own
neutralization systems in accordance with the current German water
legislation. Examples include the Company’s new wastewater treatment
facilities in 2022 for its laboratories in Mainz and in 2023 for its production facility in Marburg. GRI 303-2

52

5.5 CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION AND MANAGEMENT
The climate crisis is one of the main global challenges of our time. Since
the beginning of industrialization, human activities have been causing
human-induced greenhouse gas emissions, which are causing risingtemperatures. We are already experiencing the consequences in various
ways, including weather-related natural disasters. It is essential that­mankind limits global warming to 1.5°C compared to pre-industrial levels
and meets the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Contributing to this effort will require a profound transformation in theway BioNTech produces goods and manages its value chain to enablemassive and timely reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. BioNTech
has initiated the first measures to do so, which are described later in thechapter. After allocating electricity and heat emissions to the end-use
sectors, the industrial sector continued to be the sector with the highest

Global CO2 emissions by sector, 2021

38 %Industry

26 %Buildings

23 %Transport

13 %Others

Source: IEA (2023), Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Energy Data Explorer,
IEA, Paris.
Latest figures available are for 2021; electricity and heat emissions allocated to final sectors.

5.0 Environmental and Climate Protection | 5.4 Water Effluents | 5.5 Climate Change Mitigation and Management

emissions in 2021, accounting for about 40 % of emissions globally (IEA
2023, see diagram for further details). As an industrial company,
BioNTech takes responsibility for its own share of emissions.
BioNTech’s vision lies in improving people’s health worldwide, and theCompany’s climate protection efforts form an integral part of its strategy.
These are combined and reported as one comprehensive management
approach due to the direct link between the energy consumption of
BioNTech’s sites and its Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions footprint.
GRI 302, 305

Climate Change Mitigation GovernanceThe continuous development and execution of the Company’s climatechange mitigation strategy shows the increasing attention paid to climate protection and reducing BioNTech’s GHG emissions. Many areasof the Company, including the Management Board, are involved in driving the strategy forward, with the ultimate responsibility assigned to the
COO, who is briefed regularly on the topic. The COO’s task is to ensurethat the Management Board takes into account the relevant GHG emissions and energy issues in its work and decisions. Carbon emission-­
related performance indicators are reflected in the Management Board’s
variable remuneration (see Chapter 4.1 Managing Responsible Governance).
To achieve its near-term climate targets, BioNTech is in the process of
integrating various measures into its ongoing operations, future planningand supplier management. This transformation requires additional financial, operational and human resources and the respective management
capacity.
In 2023, BioNTech worked towards its targets and further strengthened
its Energy & Sustainability Projects (ESP) Department with additional
staff and resources. The ESP Department was established in 2022 aspart of the BioNTech Site Services (BSS) Department. One of its tasks is
to establish and implement the decarbonization targets at the operational level globally. In 2023, BioNTech further improved its climate

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

The ESP Department also works to enhance the monitoring and steering of GHG emissions at each site. For this purpose, a Carbon Dashboard
is under development, which is intended to inform the responsible functions of the implications of decisions for their sites and during relevant
projects, such as new building construction. To build up the required skills
and knowledge base, the relevant staff has undergone training on GHG
emissions standards and the requirements of the Science Based Targets
Initiative (SBTi) for their area of responsibility. Measures to raise awareness were also taken in 2023, and information is now being provided to awider range of employees through internal communication channels.
The ESP Team has set up a community to share knowledge and build up
expertise in the organization. This group brings together site representatives and other functions that are involved in BioNTech’s decarbonization
efforts. Colleagues have been exchanging exemplary practices in thisforum since the first quarter of 2023. Global and regional groups met
throughout the reporting year to identify local decarbonization potential
and jointly work towards executing the measures identified.

5.0 Environmental and Climate Protection | 5.5 Climate Change Mitigation and Management

53

GHG footprint (Scope 1, 2 and 3)
Overview of emissions – Financial Year 2023 in 1,000 t CO2e529.02

0.48

Upstream Scope 3

Downstream Scope 3

4.68

Emissions­ anagement and governance practices, including its financial planningmand decision-making process. Capital appropriation requests include anassessment of the project’s CO2 footprint. This is an important criterion
to steer the Company towards its near-term climate targets. GHG­emissions are also an important aspect in the development and execution of new building projects. BioNTech has implemented a sustainability
guideline for new building projects and major renovations, which is
described in Chapter 5.2 Group Environmental Management. In addition tothis guideline, the ESP Department developed guidance for the selectionof rented properties in 2023. The guidance includes criteria such as
the availability of meter readings to monitor the site’s energy consumption more closely and the availability of CO2-neutral energy supply at thesite help reduce the Company’s CO2 footprint. ­Guidance for ­purchasing
green power, cooling and heating has also been made a­ vailable, whichallows the use of fossil-based energy sources only in exceptional circumstances, such as for emergency power generators.

Operations (+ small fleet)
Scope 1+2
99.03 %

0.88 %

0.09 %

Upstream activities

BioNTechDownstream activities

Climate protection as a strategic objective is part of the CSR function
and CSR management, with direct and regular reporting to the COO. The
CSR and ESP departments work closely together to progress towards
targets with the support of other departments, such as Environmental
Programs & Protection, Procurement, Supply Chain Management, and
IT. Responsibility for climate protection and decarbonization is also being
established within BioNTech’s operating units, subsidiaries and branches
worldwide. GRI 3-3

Calculation of BioNTech’s Corporate Carbon Footprint 2023
BioNTech accounts for its greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with
the internationally recognized standards of the GHG Protocol, using
the operational control approach. Under this approach, the Company
accounts for 100 % of the GHG emissions from the operations over which
it has control. In 2023, BioNTech’s CO2 emissions footprint amounted to534,182 metric tons of CO2e. A total of 4,681 metric tons were Scope 1
and Scope 2 (0.88 % of total emissions), and 529,501 metric tons of CO2e
were Scope 3 (99.12 %). As in the previous year, upstream Scope 3 emissions constituted the largest share of BioNTech’s emissions in 2023.

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

From 2022 to 2023, Scope 1 and 2 emissions increased by 16 % asa result of the Company’s growth. Total Scope 3 emissions decreased
by 53 % during this period in line with the general business developmentof BioNTech.
More information can be found in the­environmental data on page 82.

GRI Content Index in the detailed

In 2021, BioNTech had its first full year of commercial production, which
led to higher energy consumption and the need for more goods and services for its operations. This was also the first year for which BioNTech
calculated its total carbon footprint, including Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions.
As a result, 2021 was chosen as the baseline year for future comparisonsof BioNTech’s climate protection efforts. In 2022, BioNTech establisheda GHG emissions recalculation policy according to the GHG Protocol
guidance. This sets rules for organic and inorganic growth, shall ensure a
consistent data set over time, and shall allow for meaningful comparisons of emissions data. In 2023, BioNTech drafted a carbon accounting
policy and manual to facilitate gathering its energy and CO2 emissions
data. Employees involved in collecting the data have been made familiar
with the manual. This approach is currently being tested and will be further
refined based on the feedback from the initial experience. BioNTech
aims to enhance the efficiency and reliability of its data processes andimprove data quality. Given BioNTech’s global growth and expansion, theCompany will also review its corporate carbon footprint data with the aimof reducing uncertainties and improving data quality according to the
GHG Protocol and the requirements of the SBTi. BioNTech also aims to
reduce the number of estimations and extrapolations used to calculate
its carbon footprint.

flights. BioNTech plans to mitigate part of these emissions through Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). At least 2,000 tons of CO2 are intended tobe mitigated by SAF annually, including for the 2023 financial year.
The revision of the Company’s global travel policy and other measuresare expected to contribute to the reduction of flights and the associatedCO2 emissions.
Climate Strategy and Decarbonization Budget
To meet BioNTech’s commitment to help protect the climate, a comprehensive climate strategy was developed in 2021 and further refined in
2022. The strategy sets emission reduction targets in line with the SBTi
to minimize the environmental impact of BioNTech’s business activities
by cutting GHG emissions in its own operations and its entire value chain.
In January 2023, BioNTech submitted a letter of intent to to the SBTi, formally committing the Company to adopt science-based emission reduction targets. In January 2024, these near-term targets were ­officiallyvalidated by SBTi in the following form:

BioNTech commits to reduce absolute Scope 1 and
2 GHG emissions 42 % by 2030 from a 2021 baseyear. BioNTech commits that 72 % of its suppliers byemissions covering purchased goods and services,
capital goods and upstream transportation and distribution, will have science-based targets by 2027.

The SBTi’s target validation team has classified BioNTech’s Scope 1 andScope 2 targets as in alignment with a 1.5°C trajectory.
In 2023, BioNTech’s Management Board approved a multi-year budget
to equip its central ESP Department with the necessary resources tocarry out the Company’s decarbonization measures. The budget isintended to finance measures to reduce the Company’s CO2 footprint at
existing sites over a five-year period and will be managed centrally by the
ESP Department. The decarbonization budget is available independentlyof other allocations to provide a solid foundation to achieve BioNTech’s
near-term CO2 reduction targets. The budget is earmarked for investments to support the capital requirements of the decarbonization­pathway towards BioNTech’s near-term 2030 target.
The ESP Department is also tasked with setting annual targets for theCompany and its sites. In 2023, the greatest levers to reduce the Company’s CO2 footprint were identified through in-depth analyses, resulting
in the planning of several measures, including the installation of photo­voltaic facilities, better heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems,
and the installation of energy-efficient heat pumps at BioNTech sites.
The department’s focus is on increasing energy efficiency and switching
to renewable energy sources at the BioNTech facilities generating themost CO2 emissions.

Reducing Flight-Related CO 2 Emissions
CO2 emissions due to business travel increased significantly in the2023 financial year compared to the previous year, from 2,509 tons to
9,902 tons of CO2. 91 % of these emissions are attributable to passenger

5.0 Environmental and Climate Protection | 5.5 Climate Change Mitigation and Management

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

54

55

BIONTECH’S SCIENCE-BASED TARGET VALIDATION JOURNEY
BioNTech aims to play an active role in climate change mitigation by reducing theemissions under its direct control (Scope 1 and Scope 2) and reducing indirect emissions in its supply chain (Scope 3). The Company’s emission reduction targets(see page 54) have been set and validated in a comprehensive process with the­Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)
is a global body enabling businesses to set ambitious emissions reductions ­targets
in line with the latest climate science.

Commitment

Target Setting

Submission

Validation

Communication

ReportingIn 2023, BioNTech submitted
a letter of intent to set
science-based targets
to the SBTi.

Based on its corporate carbon
footprint data, BioNTech set
emission ­reduction targets inline with the SBTi criteria.

BioNTech presented its ­emission reduction targets
to the SBTi for review and­official validation.

The SBTi reviewed BioNTech’s
targets and officially validated
them in January 2024.

To inform its stakeholders,
BioNTech communicated its­validated SBTi emission­reduction targets externally.

BioNTech reports annuallyon its emissions and progressagainst its SBTi targets.

5.0 Environmental and Climate Protection | BioNTech’s Science-based Target Validation Journey

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

Climate Change Mitigation in Operations
BioNTech aims to play an active role in climate change mitigation by
reducing the emissions under its direct control. The key challenge for theCompany is to simultaneously reduce its Scope 1 and 2 emissions to fulfill its SBTi commitment while managing increasing production andsteady growth. BioNTech’s central ESP Department, together with functions at respective sites, has been evaluating, planning and implementing
various mitigation levers to meet this challenge. The ESP Department
is responsible for monitoring progress towards BioNTech’s near-termtargets. Some of the measures are described below in the respective
sections.

The greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated by BioNTech’s operations are related to the amount and type of energy the Company consumes.

Direct GHG emissions (Scope 1)

4.0 %Heating oil

5.1 %Fleet emissions

SIERK POETTING, PH.D.,
Chief Operating Officer at BioNTech

BioNTech has been developing a series of measures over the past three
years aimed at reducing its energy consumption and facilitating theswitch to renewable alternatives. In 2023, the Company continued developing and implementing these measures, which are detailed below.

5.9 %Process-related

2.3 %Our efforts to mitigate and manage
the effects of climate change
are embedded in our vision to help
improve the health of people worldwide. We therefore seek to minimize the environmental impact ofour business activities in our own
operations and in our entire value
chain to positively impact patients,
employees, communities, and ultimately, the planet.

The Company uses energy primarily to heat and power its facilities.
A significant portion of the Company’s natural gas consumption is used
to generate steam for production facilities and research and development processes.

82.3 %

Fugitive emissions

Energy consumption
In MWh/thereof renewable energy consumption in %Natural gas

Total Scope 1 emissions in 2023: 100 % = 1,342 t CO2e
Difference to a 100 % due to rounding.

Indirect GHG emissions (Scope 2)

2023

32,235 (62 %)

51,9892022

17,537 (41 %)

42,7282021

14,466 (39 %)

36,9842020

1,042 (6 %)17,047

Total energy consumption

Renewable energy consumption

11.1 %
District heating

43.9 %
Electricity

45.0 %
Steam

Total Scope 2 emissions in 2023 (market-based): 100 % = 3,339 t CO2e

5.0 Environmental and Climate Protection | 5.5 Climate Change Mitigation and Management

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

56

Understanding BioNTech’s Energy Requirements
BioNTech has been analyzing its main sources of energy consumption
and the corresponding emissions at its locations since 2021. The analyses are conducted at the process and infrastructure levels to identify
suitable locations for implementing transformations to reduce GHG
emissions. Building on the knowledge and assessment from previous
years, BioNTech conducted an in-depth decarbonization assessment
for its largest emitting sites. The assessment established a coherent
baseline and supported the identification of site-specific measures forthe implementation of renewable energy and energy efficiency in Marburg, Mainz and Idar-Oberstein in Germany, Cambridge and Gaithersburg in the United States, and in Singapore.

Emissions by location

Energy Efficiency
Environmental management systems play a key role in increasing
the energy efficiency of BioNTech’s overall operations. BioNTech has
continued the implementation of a group-wide Integrated Management
System in accordance with the international standards for Environmental Management (ISO 14001), Energy Management (ISO 50001) andOccupational Health and Safety Management (ISO 45001), which is
described in Chapter 5.2 Group Environmental Management. The Integrated­Management System also covers energy-related aspects and will contri­bute to an improved collection of energy-related data, including detailed
analysis and evaluation of energy consumption. It will also support thedefinition of energy-related targets. Furthermore, BioNTech has implemented a sustainability guideline applicable to new buildings and majorrenovations. The guideline’s main objectives are energy efficiency and areduction in carbon emissions. A description of the guideline can befound on page 50 in Chapter 5.2 Group Environmental Management.

BioNTech has also taken measures to generate its own renewableenergy at some sites. A scheduled retrofitting at one major site in Mainz,
for example, included the planned installation of a photovoltaic (PV) system. BioNTech continues to work to assess the potential for expanding
the generation of renewable energy at further locations.
For sites that neither allow for green energy contracts nor efficient energy
generation from direct PV installations, other measures, such as pursuingPower Purchase Agreements (PPA), have been initiated. In addition, PV
contracting options are being evaluated and will be used where feasible.
The percentage of bought-in electricity produced by renewable energy
was 85 % in 2023, compared to 84 % in 2022. This increase resulted fromthe greater use of green energy contracts and a switch to renewableenergy sources at some sites.

Emissions (Scope 1 & 2) in % of total Scope 1 and 2 in CO2e

0.9 %Gaithersburg (USA)

5.2 %Idar-Oberstein

12.6 %
Mainz

26.9 %
Cambridge (USA)13.2 %
Berlin

1.8 %
1.4 %

Martinsried

Other

1.9 %

35.2 %

NeuriedMarburg

0.8 %Renewable Energy
Since 2021, BioNTech has been working to switch from conventionalenergy sources to renewable energy. In 2023, the Company built onthese efforts and centralized green energy purchasing for all Germansites. As an example, in the fourth quarter of 2023, BioNTech changed
from gas-powered to green district heating at a site in Mainz, Germany.
BioNTech also entered into contracts for green energy at some of its
international sites based on local availability. BioNTech received Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) for its energy supply at its Gaithersburg
location for 2023.

Percentage of renewable electricity
from bought-in electricity
2023

85 %

2022

84 %

2021

91 %

2020

10 %

2019

12 %

Halle
Total emissions Scope 1 and 2 in 2023: 100 % = 4,681 t CO2e;
Scope 2 market-based calculation

5.0 Environmental and Climate Protection | 5.5 Climate Change Mitigation and Management

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

57

Climate Protection in the Supply Chain
BioNTech has presented its Scope 3 GHG footprint since the base yearof 2021. These emissions are outside of BioNTech’s direct sphere of influence but account for more than 99 % of its total Scope 1-3 footprint. In
2023, BioNTech calculated all relevant sources in its upstream and downstream value chains to identify key emissions sources. The majority(67 %) of GHG emissions stemmed from Scope 3.1: Purchased goods
and services. The Scope 3 data was calculated using spend-based
methods.

In 2023, BioNTech continued its efforts to meet its SBTi supplier engagement target commitment. This included taking sustainability and climate-related criteria into consideration in its purchasing decisions. In
2023, BioNTech started discussions with decision-makers at key suppliers to lay the foundation for a memorandum of understanding to achieve
BioNTech’s near-term SBTi supplier target. In 2023, the relevant suppliers were contacted.
Furthermore, BioNTech conducted a comprehensive revision of its Supplier Code of Conduct in 2023, which included dedicated requirements
for climate protection and climate-related disclosures.

TCFD recommendations structured aroundfour building blocks

Governance
Strategy
Risk Management
Metric & Targets

Chemical and pharmaceutical products dominate
the
BioNTechsupply chain products dominate theChemicaland pharmaceutical

5.6 CLIMATE RISK MANAGEMENT

BioNTech supply chain
A total of 67 %¹ of CO2e emissions of purchased goods and services
are caused by suppliers to the chemical and basic pharmaceuticalproduct sectors.

25 %Chemical products

27 %Basic pharmaceuticalproducts

The remaining 48 % is distributed among the following sectors:
business services, human health and social work activities and other.

1

Share of sourcing category of total Tier 1-n CO2e emissions Scope 3.1
Purchased Goods and Services in 2023. Source: PwC ESCHER Analysis.

BioNTech also recognizes the impact the climate can have on its business from a risk and opportunity perspective. The Company has decided
to integrate an assessment of transition and physical climate risks andopportunities into a holistic climate strategy. In 2022, BioNTech followed
the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial
Disclosures (TCFD) and conducted a qualitative and quantitative­scenario analysis for both transition risks and physical risks and opportunities covering the entire value chain (see infobox TCFD Risks andOpportunities on
page 59). Based on the results, the Company has
begun examining its governance policies, informing its strategy andinvestment plans, integrating findings into the Enterprise Risk Management, and reviewing its metrics and targets.
Launched by the Financial Stability Board (FSB) in 2015, the TCFD initiative has developed recommendations for identifying risks and opportunities arising from climate change. The framework covers four areas thatare central to a company’s operation: governance, strategy, risk management, metrics and targets (see Figure TCFD on the right).

5.0 Environmental and Climate Protection | 5.5 Climate Change Mitigation and Management | 5.6 Climate Risk Management

Governance
BioNTech’s comprehensive climate protection activities are led from thetop. This reflects the critical importance of the climate crisis to creating
and securing value and managing risks. BioNTech’s climate efforts havethe explicit endorsement of the Management Board, particularly from its
Chief Operating Officer (COO), Sierk Poetting, Ph.D., and Chief Strategy­Officer (CSO), Ryan Richardson.
Strategy
In 2022, the Company conducted a qualitative and a quantitative transition risk scenario analysis based on data from the IEA Net Zero Emissions(NZE) report. The report looked at market, policy, legal and technology
risks and opportunities across the value chain. The analysis addresses
the risks and opportunities for BioNTech that could arise as the worldtransitions to a low-emission economy and society, including the changing regulatory environment and marketplace in which BioNTech operates. The transition risk scenario analysis conducted was based on the

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

58

TCFD Risks and Opportunities

Physical risks
If we do not contain climate change, more physical risks will­materialize.

Cyclones &hurricanes

FloodsDrought

Fire

Heatwaves

Rising sea
levelsTransition risks …
If we embark on a transition path, more transition risks will­materialize.

Policyand legal

Technology

MarketReputation… but also transition opportunities
At the same time, the transition can also open up ­opportunities.

Resource
efficiency

Energysources

Products &servicesl­ogistics,­­
transport, and suppliers. In 2023, BioNTech integrated climate
risk as a criterion in different decision-making processes concerning, forexample, potential investments or new corporate locations to addressrisks at an early stage. BioNTech plans to discuss the key findings of theclimate risk analyses with the respective sites and set up further adaptaThe key findings showed that BioNTech is mitigating a substantial­ tion measures at the sites if necessary. In this process, the results of the
portion of its risks. It is accomplishing this through its commitment to the climate risk analyses are to be validated with further experts at site level.
SBTi for its operations and supply chain and the corresponding ongoing In 2023, BioNTech assessed the climate-related risks of the acquired
decarbonization efforts the Company is taking to minimize transition InstaDeep sites. The results of the original analysis as of 2022, including
risks and fully exploit the possible opportunities as presented in the an update based on the climate risk assessment for InstaDeep, can befound in the TCFD table on
TCFD table on page 84.
page 84. The scenario analyses will be
repeated as necessary to identify risks based on new scientific findings
Going forward, BioNTech will monitor the global regulatory landscape and to reflect material changes at BioNTech.
and update its analysis based on significant changes in climate-related
legislation and any changes in the market or in its business organization, Risk Management
BioNTech integrated climate-related aspects (SBTi targets and TCFD)
as was done following its 2023 acquisition of InstaDeep.
as a general category into its Enterprise Risk Management in 2023.
The Company has also conducted a physical risk analysis under the BioNTech is also working to incorporate more specific climate-related
IPCC RCP 4.5 scenario, which projects a rise in temperatures between risk categories into its Enterprise Risk Management to better assess the
1.1°C and 2.6°C. BioNTech selected the medium- and long-term time potential material financial impacts caused by climate change.
frames of 2030, 2050, and 2100 for the analysis. It identified both chronic
and acute physical risks such as the increased likelihood of extreme Metrics and Targets
weather events. Understanding the effect of physical impacts on In 2021, BioNTech reported a full carbon footprint for the first time, includBioNTech’s own facilities, assets, production and workforce is critical to ing all relevant scopes in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.
ensuring the Company’s long-term financial stability. At the same time, The Company’s 2023 carbon footprint equals 534,182 t CO2e. A detailed
the Company recognizes the importance of thinking holistically and breakdown of emissions and details on BioNTech’s decarbonization
has extended the analysis to include the entire value chain, including efforts can be found on page 82.
1.5°C scenario and aligned with the Paris Agreement. It incorporated
time frames up to 2030 and 2050 to gain insight into medium- and longterm effects. The transition risk analysis focused on BioNTech’s primary­commercial product, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine.

Markets

Resilience

5.0 Environmental and Climate Protection | 5.6 Climate Risk Management

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

59

60
6.1 Impact on BioNTech’s Pioneers 
6.2 Human Resource Management 
6.3 Values and Culture 
6.4 Pioneer Pipeline 
6.5 Pioneer Development 
6.6 Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging 
6.7 Health and Safety 

6.0

Fostering theFull Potential of all
Employees~6,30080
from over

employees 1

nations36.0

of positions at vice president level
and above held by women

1,609

FOR OUR EMPLOYEES:We are creating an environment where
everybody feels respected and valued
and can grow to full potential.

61
61
63
65
69
71
74

3,077

51.6 %
women

2,884

48.4 %
men

new pioneers welcomed

6.23 %
total turnover rate in 2023

All data as of December 31, 2023. | 1 Including 328 InstaDeep employees; other employee data stated excluding InstaDeep unless indicated otherwise.

6.0 Attractive Employer

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

61

6.0 ATTRACTIVE EMPLOYER
6.1 IMPACT ON BIONTECH’S PIONEERS
BioNTech is a global next-generation immunotherapy company pioneering novel medicines against cancer, infectious diseases and other serious diseases. It stands for visionary thinking and a pioneering spirit. The
Company was founded by scientists and physicians to translate science
into survival by combining fundamental research and operational excellence. Scientific rigor, innovation, passion and a unique corporate culture
are BioNTech’s driving forces. BioNTech employees – known as “pioneers” – are key to the Company’s success in achieving its objectives.
Their knowledge, experience, innovative ideas and commitment to contribute have led to the innovation and commercial success of the
COVID-19 vaccine and a pipeline consisting of over 20 programs inoncology and seven programs in infectious disease being evaluated inover 40 clinical trials, including eight Phase 2 and two Phase 3 clinical trials in oncology.

6.2 HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Ensuring a welcoming and all-encompassing corporate culture and successfully managing an expanding global workforce of approximately
six thousand employees depend on well-functioning, integrated structures. To advance the Company’s globalization and digital transformation, BioNTech established a global HR operating model in 2022 tosupport cross-functional and cross-regional collaborations and seamless HR services. In 2023, BioNTech’s Human Resource Department
continued to evolve to provide scalable, state-of-the-art HR structuresand services to support a high-performing organization and highly
engaged employees. BioNTech’s key human resources functions aredescribed below.

BioNTech’s Key Global Human Resource Functions:• Human Resource Business Partners focus on enabling the businessthrough value-adding partnerships and service excellence to achieve
BioNTech’s business objectives. This enables BioNTech’s management to focus on sustainable growth. The function provides deep business expertise and an entrepreneurial spirit and partners with thebusiness to define and deliver solutions. It also works closely with thebusiness teams to shape and drive their department-specific people
agenda in alignment with BioNTech’s overarching people agenda.
• BioNTech’s Human Resource Centers of Excellence are accountable for all HR stages of the employee lifecycle as well as for optimi­
zation and governance processes, among other responsibilities. The
Centers of Excellence include Talent Acquisition, Total Rewards, Talent& Leadership Development, and Labor Law within the Legal function.
The centers operate globally, creating unique user experiences
for core processes, such as recruiting and talent development. They
support BioNTech’s continued growth and global expansion, including
a state-of-the-art onboarding process that provides a unique inte­
gration ­experience for new employees. The Total Rewards Team­develops and manages competitive, equitable compensation and benefits programs.
• People Services and Systems teams ensure the seamless deliveryof people services by optimizing transactions and operations basedon the Centers of Excellence’s guidelines. These activities are supported by standardization, process excellence, economies of scale,and ­ambitious yet realistic KPIs to drive delivery.

• The Agile Team function facilitates project management excellenceand provides change management expertise to help execute special
projects and implement major people initiatives.
To effectively support the HR function’s continuous evolution and enablement, BioNTech launched tHRrive, a global digitalization initiative, in
2022. This initiative introduced a new SAP-based IT landscape that­covers and maps all core HR processes worldwide. It includes a service
delivery platform, a digital time recording function, and an HR-internal
tool for personnel e-files. BioNTech has been working successfully withthis fully integrated, cloud-based IT solution since December 2022. This
continuous strong focus on digital HR solutions has been a cornerstone
for global organizational structures and scalable global processes within
BioNTech. GRI 3-3
FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION
Freedom of Association
BioNTech respects the rights of every individual and is committed tocomplying with the labor laws in the markets where it operates. Employees are free to join or not join any union of their choice for representationand to engage in collective bargaining. The Company also complies, at aminimum, with the provisions of the International Labour Organization(ILO) Core Labour Standards Nos. 87 and 98 on freedom of associationand the right to collective bargaining, without prejudice to more favorable
national regulation. These rights are explicitly expressed in BioNTech’s
Human Rights Statement. In 2023, over 85 % of BioNTech’s employees1
were also subject to the E.U.’s strict workplace regulations. GRI 407-1

1 Excluding InstaDeep.

6.0 Attractive Employer | 6.1 Impact on BioNTech’s Pioneers | 6.2 Human Resource Management

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

The Company underlines its commitment by being a signatory of the
UN Global Compact, in which these freedoms are explicitly named in
Principle 3. In Germany, the right of freedom of association has been­reinforced by the LkSG since January 1, 2023. Compliance with the
LkSG, as well as with all other applicable human rights laws and regulations, BioNTech’s Human Rights Policy, and the Company’s related commitments are monitored by the Human Rights Officer (see Chapter
4.3 Human Rights). In addition, suppliers are expected to comply with thefreedom of association and right to collective bargaining provisions­contained in BioNTech’s Supplier Code of Conduct.

Breakdown of employees 1 by region
0.3 %

0.5 %

AfricaAsia

10.9 %
North America

88.3 %
Europe1 Headcount, excluding the Management Board, trainees and interns, as of December 31, 2023.
page 86.
For detailed information, see

6.0 Attractive Employer | 6.2 Human Resource Management

Employees have the opportunity to voice their concerns to the Company
individually or collectively without fear of reprisal. This is ensured throughregular town hall meetings, meetings in an “Ask us anything” format, andother staff meetings (“Betriebsversammlungen”). Questions are typicallyanswered directly by the responsible Management Board member.
Comprehensive information on these employee rights is provided to
employees on the Company’s intranet. BioNTech’s compliance tool,
BxP Hub, is available to all employees for reporting potential violations of
the Code of Conduct, internal guidelines or applicable laws. Reports
can be submitted confidentially. The human rights grievance mechanism
is explained in Chapter 4.3 Human Rights.
Works Councils at BioNTech
BioNTech employees have the right to form and join employee orga­
nizations of their choice. As a company headquartered in Germany,
employees have the right to establish a works council (Betriebsrat) in
Germany. The works council is granted special rights by law and therefore enjoys special protection. Its aim is to represent the interests of theemployees vis-à-vis the employer. For example, the works council
ensures that the applicable laws, collective agreements, accident prevention regulations and company agreements are adhered to for the
benefit of the employees.
In 2023, works councils were active at BioNTech’s locations in Mainz,
Marburg, and Idar-Oberstein, as well as in Berlin for the employees of
JPT Peptide Technologies GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of the
BioNTech Group. A new works council was established at the end of2023, covering Martinsried and Neuried. There is also a Group works

council (Konzernbetriebsrat – KBR) that has been in place since 2021.
The works council at each site delegates two members to the KBR,
which meets once each quarter. In 2023, the KBR consisted of eight
members. The Group works council is an independent body in accordance with the works constitution (Betriebsverfassung). In principle, it
has the same rights and duties as a works council within the scope of its
original responsibilities. There is no superordination or subordination, butrather, delineated areas of responsibility. The establishment of a KBR
ensures that employees can exercise their co-determination rights intheir favor at all levels of Group companies based in Germany. At ­German
Group companies that do not have a works council, the KBR represents
the employees’ interests in its scope of responsibilities.
Fair Remuneration
As a fast-growing company, BioNTech is committed to establishing andmaintaining fair and transparent base salaries and job levels as wellas consistent employee remuneration systems that are competitive,­transparent and attractive. This is particularly important in light of theCompany’s acquisition of companies with different collective bargaining
agreements. With the production plant in Marburg (BioNTech Manu­
facturing Marburg GmbH), acquired in 2020, BioNTech is bound by anindustry-wide collective bargaining agreement (“Manteltarifvertrag der
Chemischen Industrie”). When the terms and conditions of employment
are not covered by collective bargaining agreements, BioNTech seeks toestablish terms and conditions of employment, including remuneration,in accordance with the market practices in the countries in which it­operates. GRI 2-20

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

62

6.3 VALUES AND CULTURE
BioNTech’s corporate culture is based on the following values: united,passionate and innovative. These values serve as the guide for the­Company’s actions and shape the corporate identity. All BioNTech pioneers are encouraged to engage closely with the corporate culture. The­Management and Supervisory Board both recognize the need to safeguard the Company’s founding corporate culture as a compass while
supporting the organization with mechanisms for sensing, shaping anddeveloping what needs to emerge to support our business strategy.
BioNTech continued to grow in 2023, welcoming approximately
1,600 employees. The Company believes that its unique corporate culture is a unifying force among its 5,964 employees from over 80 nations
and with a range of disciplinary, cultural and personal backgrounds.
BioNTech believes that its values and corporate culture have been key
factors in its success over the past decade and beyond and remain
essential to its innovation engine and execution to bring new medicines
to people. The Company’s founding corporate culture, exemplified by“Project Lightspeed”, contributed to the rapid and successful development of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine.
In 2020, the “Culture Campus” was established, emphasizing the importance of corporate culture at BioNTech. In 2022, the Culture Campus
was reorganized into a standalone department effective as of 2023. This
department has spent considerable effort on key components of theCompany’s culture through empirical social research, which has included
employee focus groups, research and structured feedback loops.
­Starting in 2022 and continuing through 2024, the “Culture Essentials”
process focused on joint reflection and organizational learning.

6.0 Attractive Employer | 6.3 Values and Culture

To maintain BioNTech’s unique corporate culture and reflect its importance during sustained growth, the head of the Culture Campus Department reports directly to the Company’s CEO Prof. Ugur Sahin M.D., and
CMO Prof. Özlem Türeci, M.D., who are also co-founders. In 2023, theCulture Campus team led and supported numerous culture initiatives toaccompany the Company’s continuous evolution, both with functional
departments and at site level. The supported initiatives included orga­
nizational design processes, employee experience and leadership.
The Culture Campus worked extensively with Culture Ambassadors,­pioneers who have other main roles but are dedicated ambassadors to
help maintain BioNTech’s unique corporate culture while it expands its
global presence.

In 2023, the Culture Campus focused on initiatives to foster a sense ofcommunity and increase cross-departmental connections. In company-­
wide dialogue sessions focused on specific aspects of BioNTech’s culture – called Culture Essential – under the theme “We stand united”,
BioNTech’s leadership team and Culture Ambassadors shared theirexperience and the importance of personal relationships for them at
BioNTech. Working groups continued to explore these aspects and­ideated, piloted and rolled out solutions for their organizations or teams.
Among others, these groups have led to the introduction of the “Collaboration Corner” and “Connect with Colleagues” initiatives at BioNTech.
The “Collaboration Corner” was established as an internal platform forcolleagues to share best practices for virtual, on-site and hybrid work
settings. Pioneers shared their experience and activities to cope with thechallenge to stay connected in virtual and remote work environments
and teams. In an internal information hub, BioNTech’s teams can share
their experience on how best to stay connected on a personal level. Over200 colleagues participated in the initial virtual idea-sharing sessions to
kick-start the sharing of best practices.
“Connect with Colleagues” evolved from a working group that focusedon informal connections among pioneers. Like-minded colleagues
gather outside of work for shared activities. These have included cooking, sports, boulder clubs, a BioNTech choir, and meet-ups to practicelanguages and learn about other cultures.

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

63

64

BIONTECH’S CULTURE ESSENTIALS: OUR PEOPLE ARE WHAT MAKE OUR CULTURE UNIQUE

We believe in ourselves!

As a team, we are highly
ambitious and think­outside of the box.
We are not afraid of­challenges but try to
overcome them.
ANDREA IMLE,
Scientist Immunomodulators & Culture Ambassador

We are agile!

Growth can only happen
if we function as a team.
That’s why it’s so important to me to keep thatfirst-day culture alive in
my team.
TANA OMOKOKO,
Senior Director TCR Discovery & Culture Ambassador

We stand united!

6.0 Attractive Employer | BioNTech’s Culture Essentials: Our people are what make our culture unique

Open-mindedness is
one of our strengths.
At BioNTech, theopinion of every­scientist ­matters.
PAUL PANORCHAN,
Vice President, Head of Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics &Culture Ambassador

In our scientific projects,
we do our work with a­radical sense of accountability. Everyone involved
takes ownership and is
responsible for thinking
up creative solutions,enabling the team to makefact-based decisions.
SANDRA HEESCH,
Senior Director Regenerative Therapies & Culture Ambassador

We areaccountable!
BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

6.4 PIONEER PIPELINEThe Culture Campus also collaborates with other departments to foster
corporate culture and anchor positive behavior. In 2023, for example, theawareness and dialogue formats of the Culture Campus also included
important aspects to foster a compliance culture. The collaboration
included joint outreach efforts with Culture Ambassadors to increaseawareness of the Speak Up program (see Chapter 4.2 Compliance & Business Ethics). Some Culture Ambassadors also helped both departments
identify relevant aspects to prevent negative or toxic behaviors in theworkplace.

The recruitment of talent and effective workforce planning are essential
for BioNTech’s continued success. The Company relies on highly skilledemployees to remain able to develop its innovative medicines and therapies. This is a recruitment challenge both in terms of quality and quantity.
With the oftentimes rare profiles needed, BioNTech faces intense­competition for a constrained talent pool, especially for research and­development.

The Culture Campus also collaborated with the Talent Acquisition Teamon BioNTech’s work culture, focusing, among others, on how to matchcandidates’ values and expectations with the Company’s corporate culture and values. In 2023, the Talent Acquisition and Culture Campus
teams rolled out a new training program for hiring managers providing
guidance on cultural aspects. Based on an initiative of BioNTech’s
LGBTQIA+ network, QueeRNA, the Talent Acquisition Team worked on
aspects of the hiring process for members of the LGBTQIA+ community(see Chapter 6.6 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion).

BioNTech’s Talent Acquisition Team is part of the Human Resource Centers of Excellence and plays a crucial role in driving the Company’s­visibility and employer brand awareness among target groups globally.
The team aims to drive the identification and selection of the right talents
for BioNTech. It also consults and cooperates closely with other HR functions, hiring managers and other departments, such as the Culture Campus and Corporate and Internal Communications, on talent availability
and successful hiring. In 2023, BioNTech further developed its talentacquisition approach and related measures.

As part of the onboarding process, all new pioneers in Germany are­gathered together for a joint Welcome Day with the Culture Ambassadors
and representatives from Human Resources and other departments.
BioNTech wants corporate culture to be a part of the work experience for
new joiners from the very start. Therefore, dedicated sessions on
BioNTech’s corporate values and culture are an essential part of thesemeetings. Similar activities are carried out at the international sites (seeChapter 6.4 Pioneer Pipeline).

Talent Acquisition Approach
BioNTech’s Talent Acquisition approach focuses on attracting and hiring
excellent candidates and driving high quality and equal opportunity standards globally in partnership with business and HR teams. The Company
has continued to shift from passive job posting to a proactive sourcing,including the selective use of external partners to find promising potential employees. As a result, the Company is relying less and less on­waiting for the right candidates to apply and, instead, is identifying andactively reaching out to candidates to interest them in BioNTech job
opportunities.

In close collaboration with the Talent and Leadership Development Team,
Culture Campus also focuses on cultural development initiatives, suchas the development of leadership principles (see Chapter 6.5 Pioneer
Development). Other culture initiatives are in place and continuously evolving.

6.0 Attractive Employer | 6.3 Values and Culture | 6.4 Pioneer Pipeline

Offering equal opportunities and fostering an understanding of the Company’s unique corporate culture continues to be at the core of recruiting
new pioneers.
BioNTech is determined to ensure a respectful, equal opportunity work
environment consistent with the Company’s internal policies, Code ofBusiness Conduct & Ethics, and applicable law (see also chapters
4.2 Compliance and Business Ethics and6.6 Diversity, Equity, Inclusion andBelonging). BioNTech is aware of the key role talent acquisition plays infostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To drive this agenda,
the Company offers training and education for recruiters and hiring managers and sets up processes to prevent potential discrimination.
BioNTech’s core values and corporate culture have been key factors in
its success and remain essential to achieving its mission (see Chapter
6.3 Values and Culture). They form a vital part of the Company’s employer
brand and identity. To find candidates whose values and expectations
match those of BioNTech in a targeted, successful recruitment process,the department offers support on culture work for hiring managers
across the organization. A cultural induction for the global Talent Acquisition Team and the development of hiring manager training with cultural
guidance were key focus areas in 2023.
Further Development of HR Talent Acquisition
In order to succeed in a competitive, international talent market, HR­Talent Acquisition was further developed in 2023:• The department united its local German and U.S. teams into one integrated global team, allowing for better alignment and collaboration.
This is particularly beneficial for cross-country hiring and sharing bestpractices across borders.

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

65• Tools and processes for digital international recruitment were further
refined. For example, a global applicant tracking system for the management of internal and external applications went live in December
2022 and was further optimized throughout 2023. The system helps todrive digitalization in HR and provides a global, integrated solution thatties in with the pre- and post-recruitment processes.
• The Talent Acquisition Team received training in specific areas ofrecruitment, such as interviewing, active sourcing, and labor law. The
team also received training in other areas, including customer service,foreign languages, industry know-how, and business acumen.
SASB HC-BP-330a.1

Hiring and Turnover
The visibility of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine had already generated a lot of interest in the Company as an employer in 2021 and 2022.
This interest continued strongly in 2023, with the number of applications
more than doubling: Out of more than 100,000 applicants in 2023 (2022:> 40,000), 1,609 (2022: 1,944) people were hired and integrated into theCompany.

Total number of new employees(as of December 31)

2023

Development of new hires1
By age group
2023

350

2022

535

2021

496
496 (15.82 %)2

2020

233

2022

1,944

399

1,010
784 (24.98 %)2
784
230

1,609

206

1,372

92

501

38

30 – 49 years old

50 years and older

Total 2

By gender
2023

841

2022

995

2021

740

2020

251
Women

2021

1,053

Up to 29 years old

page 88

1,609 1,944 1,372 501

66

761

1,609

7

1,944

949

1,372

632

501

250
Men

Non-binary

Total 2

By region
2023

1,303

2022

1,671

2021

1,207

2020

468

264

1,609

42

2020

Europe

270
162

Other

1,944
1,372
501

33
North America

3

3

Total 2

1		New hires, excluding the Management Board, trainees and interns, as of December 31.
2		Headcount, excluding the Management Board, trainees and interns, as of December 31.

6.0 Attractive Employer | 6.4 Pioneer Pipeline

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

BioNTech has been able to maintain a low turnover rate. In 2023,
BioNTech reduced its total turnover rate further from 8.8 % in 2022 to
6.2 %. The Company’s ambition is to maintain an employee turnover rate
below the industry average and continue to be an employer of choice in ahighly competitive labor market.
As in the two previous years, in 2023, there were no large-scale redundancies or significant job cuts at BioNTech or acquired companies.

Total turnover rate 1

Employee Benefits and Support Programs
As part of its efforts to strengthen employer attractiveness and reward
the efforts of its pioneers beyond compensation, BioNTech offers a
range of benefits at its global locations. The availability, eligibility anddesign of the benefits depend on the market conditions and the applicable laws within the respective countries. At the Company’s headquartersin Mainz, Germany, some of the benefits BioNTech offers include matching contributions to company pension plans, subsidized public transport,
company bikes, employee assistance programs (EAP), childcare­support, fitness and well-being offers, remote and hybrid work opportunities (FlexWork) and e-learning. In 2023, a “FlexAbroad” program
was introduced, which allows Germany-based employees to work up to
20 ­working days per year in another E.U. member state.

BioNTech aims to support the work-life integration of employees at its
German locations by providing certain options for regular childcare aswell as holiday and emergency care. In the event of a childcare emergency, where employees need immediate assistance and alternative
support is not available, backup childcare can be provided through a service provider (pme Familienservice). Depending on the age of the childand the situation, this service can include emergency childcare in theemployee’s home, in person at a backup facility, or via interactive virtual
services during vacation periods.

6.23 % 8.82 % 7.65 %² 11.58 %
2023

2022

2021

2020

Overview of benefits 3
By age group2023

5.39 %

2022

3.17 %

4.14 %

1.24 %

8.82 %

2021 ²2.97 % 3.97 %0.71 %

7.65 %

2020

5.11 %

5.76 %

5.23 %Up to 29 years old
12

8.84 %

1.23 %

30 – 49 years old

6.23 %

Remote working (supports“work from anywhere” in Germany)

Employer-subsidized
pension plan

Childcare services (standard,­vacation and emergency childcare)

Company bikes

Fitness classes

Life coaching(personal coaches and e-learning)

Company-sponsoredjob ticket

Vacation and paid leavesaving accounts

Special leave for
specific situations

Flex Abroad

11.58 %

50 years and older

Turnover rate = Number of leavers / Average number of employees throughout the reporting year *100.
For 2022 data and earlier, quarterly averages were not available per subgroup. Figures should therefore
page 89).
be interpreted accordingly. (see table on
The published data from 2021 was corrected from 6.6,0% (6.56 %) to 7.6 % due to an incorrectly applied­formula.

3

6.0 Attractive Employer | 6.4 Pioneer Pipeline

The availability, eligibility and structure of the listed benefits apply only to locations in Germany and may vary per location.
The explicit requirements for the individual use of benefits are based on the Company’s internal regulations.

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

67

Return to work rate in

Number of employees entitled to parental leave¹

98.8  % 100  % 97.0  % 94.2  %
2023

2022

By default, benefits provided to full-time employees are also available topart-time and temporary employees. Differences are made only whererequired or justified by applicable law. GRI 401-2

2021

Number of employees
who took parental leavein 2023
Data only covers German employees.

6.0 Attractive Employer | 6.4 Pioneer Pipeline

222

2022

112

402

180

185

73

Employee Participation Plans

2020

BioNTech’s return to work rate after parental leave was 98.8 % in 2023.
This indicates the adequacy of existing family support measures andencourages further investment in such measures in the future.

Number of employees
entitled to parental leavein 2023

2023

402
366

2021

118

2020

89

188

70

136

47

Number of employees who took parental leave²
2023

220

2022

112

73

185

2021

118

70

188

2020

89

146

1, 2 See table on

133

44

Women

page 90.

Men

366

Total

In February 2024, BioNTech’s Management Board and Supervisory Board adopted a new incentive program consisting of
the 2024 Non-North America Employee Participation Plan
and the 2024 North America Employee Participation Plan
(together, the “2024 Program”), both of which succeed the
BioNTech 2020 Employee Equity Plan (for employees in European countries) and the BioNTech 2020 Restricted Stock Unit
Plan (for employees in the United States), respectively, which
expired according to their terms at the end of 2023 (the “Prior
Plans” ). Awards were made under the Prior Plans in 2021, 2023
and 2023; employees are currently eligible to participate underthe 2024 Program. The Company’s 2024 Program, like theprior Plans, is long-term in character and intended to motivate
employees to commit to BioNTech for the long term. Under the
Program, employees can receive restricted stock units (RSUs)
awards and, after the relevant vesting periods have elapsed
and the other conditions applicable their awards are satisfied,the vested RSUs can be settled in BioNTech American Depositary Shares (ADSs), which are traded on the Nasdaq stock
exchange. BioNTech also retains the option to settle the RSUs
in cash instead of ADSs. Details of the 2024 Program and thePrior Plans can be found in the Company’s Registration Statements on Form S-8, including amendments thereof, filed with
the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which
can be found on the SEC and BioNTech websites.

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

68

6.5 PIONEER DEVELOPMENT
BioNTech invests in developing and training its existing workforce of pioneers. As part of the Company’s global Centers of Excellence, the Talent& Leadership Development (TLD) group supports the business by providing a unique learning environment. TLD shapes BioNTech’s learning
culture to empower its pioneers to learn and grow. It aims to provide
effective and sustainable learning and development experiences for all
employees and leaders. This enables them to develop their skills in a
focused way, reach their full potential, and make their best contribution to
BioNTech’s success. TLD is built on four pillars: Leadership Development, Performance & Talent Development, Digital Learning, and Early
Career.
Leadership Development
In 2023, 80 (2022: 94) employees in leadership positions worldwide took
part in BioNTech’s New Horizon Program (NHP) for new leaders, while 47(2022: 47) of the more experienced leaders joined the Leadership Culture Program (LCP). Both programs are offered yearly on a voluntarybasis and can be taken once by employees in leadership positions. A
total of 425 (2022: 487) training hours across 91 (2022: 193) leadershipdevelopment training sessions were offered centrally through TLD, with
332 (2022: 365) leaders participating, supplemented by external training
offerings for BioNTech people managers. In addition to routinely updating and expanding these established leadership programs, BioNTech
also makes a conscious effort to respond to leaders’ needs as they arise.
The Leadership Development function focused in 2023 on developing
Leadership Principles, which aim at establishing a common leadershipphilosophy and behaviors across the Company, working closely with
BioNTech’s Culture Campus department (see also Chapter 6.3 Values
and Culture). BioNTech plans to roll out ­Leadership Principles in 2024.

6.0 Attractive Employer | 6.5 Pioneer Development

Also, TLD started a pilot program in 2023 for new people leaders to
immerse them in key people management processes at BioNTech andto support their networking. These initiatives strengthen the foundation
for leadership development at BioNTech.
Learning & Development
The Learning & Development function offers in-house open enrollment
courses focusing on soft skills and languages. In 2023, 529 (2022: 409)
participants took part in 525 (2022: 545) training hours across 234 (2022:408) training sessions offered by the TLD. In addition to these opportunities, employees can also receive financial support to take part in external
professional development programs. BioNTech also makes an array ofdigital learning courses available for all leaders and employees.
Digital Learning
The Digital Learning function is paving the way to achieving BioNTech’s
learning and development goals by creating a digital learning infrastructure that makes learning accessible, scalable, and personalized. The
function works closely with relevant departments to consolidate, harmonize, and further evolve the BioNTech Learning Technology Ecosystem.
In 2023, an interface was established between the learning management
system and learning experience platform. This central entry point provides better access to learning content and facilitates the systematic
evaluation of training data to support data-driven improvements. In addition, two new learning content providers were integrated into BioNTech’s
Learning Technology Ecosystem in close collaboration with the business. By focusing on technology, software, data, and cloud skills,
BioNTech has laid the foundation for building future capabilities. As of
November 2023, the platform had 4,189 (2022: 3,247) active users;
23,308 (2022: 19,617) viewed learning modules; and 20,233 completed
learning elements.

Early Career
BioNTech offers apprenticeships in Germany to early career seekers
through the Early Career function. Apprenticeships cover 14 different
professions across all areas, from industrial manager to biology laboratory trainee. The Company works closely with an external education provider to offer training in the industrial production of pharmaceuticals andthe maintenance of the related technical installations. In 2023, BioNTech
employed a total of 67 (2022: 61) apprentices at its German locations in
Mainz, Martinsried, Idar-Oberstein and Marburg; 32 of these apprentices
were newly employed in 2023. In 2023, 14 (2022: 13) apprentices whocompleted their apprenticeships went on to join BioNTech as permanent
employees. In addition to providing apprenticeship opportunities,
BioNTech sponsored 15 (2022: 15) recipients of the Deutschland Stipendium scholarship to study at the University of Mainz in Company-related
fields such as medicine, chemistry, law or economics. BioNTech also
employed six students from dual study programs at its Marburg site andsponsored five (2022: five) biological technical assistant trainees fromthe Fresenius University of Applied Sciences. In addition to receiving amonthly grant, scholarship holders completed a four-week compulsory
internship at BioNTech.
Comprehensive professional development courses, such as degree programs, technician courses and master’s courses, all with a minimum
duration of one year, complement BioNTech’s professional development
offerings. In 2023, 25 employees (2022: 17) began their professional
development training as part of such programs. GRI 404-1, 404-2

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Feedback and Performance Appraisals
BioNTech’s locations currently have different performance evaluation
systems. In 2023, a new global position, “Performance & Talent Development”, was established to realize the Company’s intention of harmonizing the evaluation systems and reinforcing the focus on feedback anddevelopment.
The first step was to introduce an aligned performance management
approach in recently established international locations such as Rwanda
and Singapore. BioNTech also encourages employees to gather andshare formal and informal feedback regularly in order to harness theavailable skills-based and personal development opportunities. The
Company plans to further harmonize its performance management­systems in line with its feedback philosophy and establish a global­performance enablement approach. GRI 404-3
Building Capacities Locally
BioNTech seeks out the brightest talent to move closer to its vision of
improving the health of people worldwide through innovative medicines
and technologies. In 2023, BioNTech reached a milestone in the establishment of mRNA vaccine manufacturing capacities in Africa with theinauguration of the Company’s site in Kigali, Rwanda.
This, in addition to partnering with existing manufacturers of pharmaceutical products, place BioNTech in a position to contribute to building aresilient and sustainable vaccine ecosystem. Supporting the quest to
produce vaccines independently and invest in building local capacity in
Africa for Africa, BioNTech has committed to hiring employees locally.

6.0 Attractive Employer | 6.5 Pioneer Development

The Rwanda facility is expected to employ approximately 100 people by2025, with roles across a range of disciplines. In 2023, 20 pioneers were
onboarded on-site, with 19 of these pioneers originating from 7 different
countries in Africa. BioNTech works closely with partners at the local andinternational levels, along with experts from research and academia, tohelp foster a local vaccine ecosystem and build the skill set needed for
manufacturing mRNA-based vaccines. More information on this milestone and BioNTech’s contribution to a vaccine ecosystem in Africa is
described in the Chapter 2.3 BioNTainer – A Sustainable, Scalable Solution formRNA Manufacturing.

In 2023, the BioNTech Innovation Center team in Marburg collaborated
closely with Cognos International, a private, independent educationcompany creating partnerships between educational institutions andcompanies abroad, and its LUNEX University. Together, they kicked off apilot program for the new “Fundamental Knowledge in mRNA Vaccine
Production” training. The program was launched in September 2023,
with a total of 40 pioneers enrolled at various locations, 19 of whom wereenrolled in Kigali.

The four modules are all accredited by international institutes. BioNTech
employees who complete the training modules are awarded a professional university certificate from LUNEX University.
In the run-up to the launch of potential production at the Company’s­African and Asian sites, BioNTech plans to work with its staff in Germany
to accelerate the training of the local colleagues who will be responsible
for production and all associated laboratory and quality assurance tasks
on-site. During this phase, the Company expects to invest more than
EUR 10,000 per person in the training and qualification of its workforce inRwanda. GRI 3-3

BioNTech seeks out the brightest talent to movecloser to its vision of improving the health of­people worldwide through innovative medicines
and technologies.

The aim of the training program is to prepare new employees as best as
possible for GMP readiness for the production facilities currently being
set up in Rwanda and Singapore. The first three modules (40 training
hours each) are designed to provide the knowledge needed in thefields of chemistry, cellular biology and microbiology, before tackling thefourth and final module, GMP in mRNA V­ accine Production (80 training
hours), which is the heart of this program.

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6.6 DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND BELONGING
Diverse teams drive innovation, reach more robust decisions and further
the personal development of their members. BioNTech believes promoting diversity is both a moral obligation and instrumental to achieving theCompany’s business objectives. The Company aims for a culture ofinclusion and belonging where everyone can thrive based on merit,
regardless of gender or gender identity, political opinion, religion or belief,
nationality, ethnic or social origin, age, sexual orientation, marital status,
disability, physical appearance, or health status. The Company values all
dimensions of diversity and actively supports initiatives and dialogue
regarding these. BioNTech has been a signatory of the Charta der Vielfalt
since 2018, an initiative that promotes diversity in the working world inGermany.
Discrimination, favoritism, or harassment based on the abovementioned
or any other personal aspects are not tolerated. This is regulated byapplicable law as well as in the Company’s policies and Code of BusinessConduct & Ethics, which are binding for all employees. Anyone who discriminates against or harasses another person may face disciplinary
actions, up to and including the termination of their employment with
BioNTech.
BioNTech’s HR department is responsible for ensuring a respectful environment with equal opportunities in all areas, from recruitment and hiring
to professional development, workforce planning and compensation(see also Chapter 6.4 Pioneer Pipeline). As the Company continues togrow and enlarge its global presence, intercultural sensitivity and anunderstanding for diversity are becoming more important for effective
teamwork. The HR department is working on a more targeted approachto managing diversity and inclusion along this employee journey, with theaim of understanding and overcoming potential issues and biases:

6.0 Attractive Employer | 6.6 Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging• In 2023, the HR department worked on establishing a governancestructure for the Company’s Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) andwill continue to implement this in 2024. The governance structure aims
to provide guidance on establishing, managing and joining ERGs inorder to organize BioNTech’s employee engagement in a harmonized,
focused manner.
• The Diversity Council was founded in 2023, bringing together key
stakeholders across the Company who can shape the future of
BioNTech’s diversity, equity and inclusion processes and policies. The
Council is intended to monitor diversity, analyze challenges and definecorrective actions more efficiently. It plays a central role in decisions
about the future governance of ERGs.
The Company’s ERGs are voluntary, employee-led groups formed bymembers of historically underrepresented communities to advocate forshared concerns and interests and bring community members and allies
together globally. To motivate employees, promote an understanding ofdifferences and create more inclusive teams, ERGs such as QueeRNAand Women+ helped provide targeted resources and organize activities
in 2023. GRI 3-3
QueeRNA: Our LGBTQIA+ Employee Resource Group
After starting as a small employee initiative in 2022, BioNTech’s first ERG,
QueeRNA, has grown significantly and welcomes all employees who
identify as LGBTQIA+ and their allies. The group meets regularly andorganizes events and activities throughout the year. Examples include
events surrounding key dates of significance for the community, such as
Christopher Street Day in Germany and Pride Month worldwide. Initiating awareness-raising events and highlighting the importance of coming
out for the queer community, especially at work, are other examples.
QueeRNA also connects with external organizations and similar
ERGs from other companies to exchange ideas and bring LGBTQIA+
diversity forward.

Women+: Our Employee Resource Group for Gender Identity
and Equality
Women+ is BioNTech’s Employee Resource Group focusing on gender
identity and equality. Initially founded by U.S.-based colleagues, Women+
has been increasing its reach and bringing community members fromvarious BioNTech sites under its umbrella. Throughout 2023, the ERG
organized events, community engagement, programs and support,
entering into dialogue for gender identity and equality within the Company. Important areas of action for Women+ going forward will include
setting up and expanding a peer mentorship program. The ERG is also
working on increasing the dialogue and involvement of senior executive
employees as supporters for community needs.
EmBRACE: Our Employee Resource Group for intercultural­s ensitivity
BioNTech employs people from more than 80 countries and has a growing global presence. The Company celebrates this diversity, fosters cultural understanding and stands against any form of discrimination. Overthe last four years, an ERG that originated at BioNTech’s U.S. locations
has organized several key events, and cultural heritage celebrations,focusing on all dimensions of diversity under the name DEIB (Diversity,
Equity, Inclusion and Belonging). This ERG connects and empowers­colleagues from all genders, sexual orientation, ethnicities, nationalities
and cultures at BioNTech. At the end of 2023, the group rebranded under
the name EmBRACE (Empower BioNTech Representation of All Cultures and Ethnicities ) in an effort to grow at all BioNTech locations andfocus on celebrating and promoting colleagues of underrepresented
ethnicities and nationalities. Understanding the intersectionality of every
individual, EmBRACE aims to collaborate with QueeRNA and Women+
as a resource for all employees worldwide.

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72

SPOTLIGHTS FROM OUR EMPLOYEE RESOURCE GROUPS
Women+
Women’s History MonthIn March 2023, the ERG engaged in Women’s History Month. Using thehashtag “#EmbraceEquity”, the ERG organized various activities tochallenge gender stereotypes and raise awareness for gender-based
discrimination and the potential biases and challenges women face inthe workplace. The ERG also organized a hybrid event, “HERstory,”
to celebrate women’s contributions. HERstory included a panel discussion led by diverse women leaders across the organization, breakout
sessions, and a networking hour.

booklet with weekly focus topics to honor the achievements of Black
Americans, celebrate Black culture and raise awareness of existing
inequalities. The booklet also contains recommendations for movies,
books, podcasts, places to visit and local Black businesses near
BioNTech’s U.S. sites.
Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month
During Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month in 2023,
EmBRACE prepared a weekly information booklet to deepen theunderstanding of Asian American and Pacific Islander cultures. The
ERG hosted an internal discussion panel with employees of Asian heritage from both German and U.S. offices to discuss their experiences
at BioNTech. To highlight the intersectionality of the identities of
BioNTech employees, EmBRACE also hosted an event with journalist
and activist Helen Zia as a guest speaker, in which she shared her perspective as a queer woman and Asian American.
Diwali Celebration
Celebrating Diwali in 2023, the Employee Resource Group organized adinner with authentic cuisine and a Bollywood-inspired dance class led
by colleagues. The event saw the enthusiastic participation of many colleagues, who joined the dance and painted diyas to celebrate the Festival of Lights and showcased BioNTech’s commitment to an inclusive
work environment.

Peer Mentoring Circles
The ERG is especially proud of launching its peer mentoring circles in
2023. These circles comprise over 10 groups, where a total of approximately 45 women exchange and grow personally on topics ranging
from empowerment to work-life balance.
EmBRACE:Black History MonthTo engage U.S. colleagues on many levels and facilitate a shared learning experience, EmBRACE created a comprehensive information

6.0 Attractive Employer | Spotlights from our Employee Resource Groups

organizations. As Pride Month reached its end, Cambridge employees
tried their luck in a round of bingo hosted by a local drag queen.
At the Mainz site, the Company hoisted the Pride flag once again, andmembers of QueeRNA met over lunch with the Senior Vice President
Global Human Resources, as well as representatives of BioNTech’s Culture Campus, to exchange ideas, experiences, concerns, and suggestions to improve diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging at BioNTech.
QueeRNA
Queer Networking
The Queer Networking group engaged in various ongoing formats in
2023, including the bi-weekly Coffee Break Call as an informal gathering, giving employees a short break in a safe space. At the Company’s
Mainz location, a monthly working lunch gives employees a chance tospend time and enjoy a meal with QueeRNA members and allies. A
monthly after-work Pride get-together in Mainz promotes the networking of local and regional employers with a local nonprofit organization.
As a special event in 2023, QueeRNA hosted an exchange call for theInternational Coming Out Day in October 2023 to emphasize and celebrate this important uniting experience for the LGBTQIA+ community.

EmBRACE and QueeRNA:
Joint forces for celebrating Pride Month
Organized by EmBRACE throughout June, colleagues from BioNTech
US had multiple opportunities to enjoy Pride festivities, including a
crafts and coffee meetup to decorate Pride-themed bandanas in­Cambridge and a T-shirt tie-dye and rainbow candy bar event in­Gaithersburg. During the last week of June, employees across the
U.S. participated in themed virtual conversations about allyship, gender expression and pronouns, and how to support local LGBTQIA+

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

Fair Representation of Women
Gender equity is one among many aspects of diversity that BioNTech
strives to achieve for its employees. Our workforce is very close to gender parity, with a slightly higher number of women employees globally.
Building on this, we are also monitoring and working on the representation of women on the Management and Supervisory Boards, taking into
account both professional and personal qualifications.

Total number of employees1

5,964
2023

3,077

2,884

Women
51.6 %

Men
48.4 %

3
Non-binary
0.1 %1 Headcount, excluding the Management Board, trainees and interns, as of December 31, 2023.
page 86.
For detailed information, see

Women on the Management Board
BioNTech’s Management Board currently consists of seven members,
including Prof. Özlem Türeci, M.D., Chief Medical Officer. The current­proportion of women on the Management Board is 14.3 % (2022: 16.7 %;2021: 16.7 %). This slight decline in representation on the Management
Board resulted from the expansion of the Management Board from six toseven with the internal appointment of James Ryan as Chief Legal O­ fficer.
A candidate’s experience, profile and fit with the Company’s culture are
criteria for selection. BioNTech remains committed to increasing women’s
representation on the Management Board in line with its targets.

40 %; 2021: 52 %) of the positions were held by women. Historically, theCompany has measured this commitment by evaluating the level ofwomen’s representation at the first and second management levels
below the Management Board.

On March 8, 2023, and in accordance with Section 111 (5) of the German
Stock Corporation Act (AktG), the Supervisory Board set the target forthe proportion of women on the Management Board at 25 %. The deadline for achieving this target is December 31, 2025. With this target inmind, every appointment to the Board is considered carefully, and strategies are actively developed to achieve this goal with future appointments.

Although women’s representation is above the target based on the current monitoring structure, BioNTech believes that focusing on seniority
levels, regardless of reporting lines, will provide greater clarity. As theorganization evolves, this approach can also reduce distortions thatarise, such as those resulting from changes in reporting lines due to theCompany’s growth. Therefore, starting in 2023, BioNTech began monitoring women’s representation in management by measuring the number of women at the vice president level and above. According to thismonitoring structure, women’s representation at the vice president level
and above was 36 % in 2023, compared to 22 % in 2022. Reportingon the more granular seniority levels will allow BioNTech to take more
specific action on gender equity and set targets accordingly. GRI 405-1

Women on the Supervisory Board
On March 8, 2023, BioNTech set a target for women’s representation on
the Supervisory Board of 25 % to be achieved by December 31, 2025, in
accordance with Section 111 (5) AktG. In 2023, the Company elected
Baroness Nicola Blackwood to the Supervisory Board to succeed
Prof. Christoph Huber, M.D. As a result, two of the six members of theSuper­visory Board are women, placing the proportion of women on the
Board at 33.3 % (2022: 16.6 %). Diversity and women’s representation on
the Supervisory Board remain important to BioNTech. The Company willconsider its commitment to the fair representation of women in upcoming Supervisory Board elections.
Women’s Representation at Different Management Levels
BioNTech is committed to a high proportion of women at all management levels. BioNTech’s significant growth led to changes in reportinglines and the composition of teams below the Management Board in
2023. On March 8, 2023, the Management Board set the target at 30 %for the highest and second-highest management levels below the Management Board in accordance with Section 76 (4) AktG. The deadline forachieving this target at both management levels is December 31, 2025.
The representation of women at these levels is above BioNTech’s current
target. In 2023, 37 % (2022: 38 %, 2021: 43 %) of the members at the­highest management level below the Management Board were women.
At the second-highest management level below the Board, 46 % (2022:

Equal Remuneration
BioNTech compensates its employees equally for performing similar
work and fulfilling equivalent roles, regardless of gender, identity andemployment model. In 2023, an initial gender pay gap analysis showed apay difference of 2.3 % among its employees in Europe based on genderand adjusting for different seniority levels and employment models.
BioNTech is working to further harmonize its job levels to generate theglobal adjusted gender pay gap and to monitor its efforts regarding equal
remuneration. The global unadjusted gender pay gap was 6 % in 2023.2
In line with the German “General Equal Treatment Act” (Gesetz zur Allgemeinen Gleichbehandlung – AGG), the Company’s principle of equal
compensation applies to part-time as well as full-time employees (basedon a pro rata temporis calculation). BioNTech remains committed to pay
equity and will continue to conduct a gender pay gap analysis annuallyand take targeted actions as necessary. GRI 405-2, 401-2

2	Unadjusted gender pay gap = {[(Average gross hourly pay of male employees - average gross hourly pay level of female employees)/Average gross hourly pay level of male employees]*100}.

6.0 Attractive Employer | 6.6 Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

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6.7 HEALTH AND SAFETY
Ensuring the highest occupational health and safety standards for
BioNTech’s employees, business partners, and other stakeholders isessential. Workplace-related risk assessments, including those specificto risks associated with hazardous substances, are carried out at least
every two years.
The ultimate responsibility for health and safety rests with the Management Board. Operational implementation and responsibility lie withthe line managers and are supported by the SHE Department and its­management. The SHE Department operates globally to maintain a safe
working environment by proactively eliminating hazards and minimizing
risks through the following hierarchy of measures:• Elimination of hazards• 	Substitution with less hazardous work processes, operating­procedures, work materials and work equipment• 	Application of technical measures and changes in how work is­organized• Application of administrative measures, including training• Use of suitable personal protective equipment
GRI 403-2

BioNTech regularly consults with experts and regulatory authorities atdifferent stages of the processes outlined above. The SHE Department
is also responsible for emergency responses, evacuation procedures,
rescue plans and related training.

6.0 Attractive Employer | 6.7 Health and Safety

Health and Safety Management System, Training and­C ommunication
The Company is implementing an integrated management system
according to the international standards (ISO) 14001 (environmental
management) and ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety management systems). The system will be rolled out globally to all sites and cover
all employees. Information about BioNTech’s Integrated Management
System according to ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety­management), ISO 14001 (environmental management) and ISO 50001(energy management) is provided in Chapter 5.2 Group Environmental
Management.

GRI 403-1

General health and safety briefings are provided to all new employees
shortly after joining the Company and repeated on an annual basis. Briefings are available to employees online at all times and cover aspects
such as emergency preparedness (e.g., for accidents and spills), theappropriate handling of hazardous substances and biohazards, and general safe behavior practices. The SHE Department is working to shareexemplary measures for health and safety management throughout theCompany, using channels such as the intranet.
Safety briefings specifically designed for employees working in laboratories and other special workplaces are carried out regularly by the­relevant departments. Such workplaces are monitored in accordancewith regulatory requirements. GRI 403-7
All relevant health and safety information, including operating directives,
risk assessments, guidelines, and laws, is available to all employees. Dedicated digital information areas have been set up for the topics of occupational health and safety and genetic engineering. The information
provided includes applicable laws, ordinances, rules, operating instructions, forms and relevant background information. Mandatory training
and an annual general health and safety instruction program are a­ vailable
to all employees and ensured and monitored by the SHE Department.
In addition, all SHE training courses – both mandatory and voluntary –are available to all employees online.

Accidents and near-accidents are documented and reviewed daily by
SHE employees in an effort to eliminate hazards (see detailed figures on
page 83). For work-related accidents involving at least one workday ofabsence, a mandatory investigation report is prepared, which contains
an analysis of the accident and suitable mitigation or preventive measures. The documentation and processing of accidents are conducted
at a local level.
BioNTech involves its employees in health and safety management, whereappropriate, in collaboration with the works council as the employees’
representative. Consultation and participation activities are adapted to
local conditions and carried out on-site. GRI 403-4, 403-5
Occupational Medical Services and Health Promotion
BioNTech continues to expand its health promotion and education
beyond specific work-related risks. In addition to company-supported
sports activities and health-related courses, such as yoga, employees inGermany can take part in health days sponsored four times each year byGermany’s largest public health insurer. Other offers, including healthinformation and campaign days, are regularly communicated on theintranet.
At BioNTech sites outside of Germany, preventive medical check-ups
are offered by external service providers in accordance with the lawsof the respective country. In Germany, occupational medical services
are regularly available on-site, and examinations are carried out in­accordance with the German Ordinance on Preventive Occupational
Medicine (Verordnung zur arbeitsmedizinischen Vorsorge – ArbMedVV).
GRI 403-3, 403-6, 3-3

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75

7.0
7.1 ESG and Sustainability-Related Ratings 
7.2 Memberships 

7.0 ESG Ratings and Memberships

76
77

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7.0 ESG RATINGS AND MEMBERSHIPS
7.1 ESG AND SUSTAINABILITY-RELATED RATINGS
ESG and sustainability-related ratings provide valuable information thatcan be used in the ongoing development of BioNTech’s sustainability
activities and sustainability management. They also reflect the expectations and requirements of relevant stakeholders. The Company expects
the relevance of ESG ratings to continue to grow dynamically on the­capital market.
BioNTech publishes its ESG rating results as promptly as possible after
their publication and within the scope of legal and regulatory requirements. Openness, dialogue and cooperation are important principles
when engaging with ESG rating agencies.
Prime Rating from ISS ESG
BioNTech retained its “Prime” status from ISS ESG in 2023. ISS ESG is aprovider of ESG screening, ratings and analytics services and part of theInstitutional Shareholder Services Group (ISS). Since 2022, ISS ESG hasawarded BioNTech the “Prime” status, placing it in the top 10 % of all companies rated in the Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology sector. ISS ESG
gave the Company an overall Corporate Rating of B- and a Governance
Quality Score of 5 (as of December 2023) on a risk scale ranging from 1(low risk) to 10 (high risk).

S&P Corporate Sustainability Assessment (S&P CSA)
In 2023, BioNTech received an S&P Global CSA score of 45 (2022: 32)
out of 100 from the S&P Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA).
Since 2022, BioNTech has been actively engaging in the S&P CSA ratingprocess and has been listed as a participating company. The rating is
updated annually and in response to major developments.
Morningstar Sustainalytics
BioNTech received a Sustainalytics ESG risk rating score of 24.1 in 2023
(2022: 22.3), corresponding to a “medium risk” rating, which represents
the third of five risk levels (negligible, low, medium, high and severe).
The rating measures the degree to which a company’s economic value isat risk based on ESG factors. Sustainalytics uses absolute risk categories and quantitative scores ranging from 0 to 40+ to offer comparable­scoring across all rated companies and industries.

Copyright©2023 Sustainalytics. All rights reserved. This section contains
information developed by Sustainalytics ( www.sustainalytics.com).
Such information and data are proprietary of Sustainalytics and/or
its third party suppliers (Third Party Data) and are provided for
informational purposes only. They do not constitute an endorsement of any product or project, nor an investment advice and are
not warranted to be complete, timely, accurate or suitable for aparticular purpose. Their use is subject to conditions available atwww.sustainalytics.com/legal-disclaimers

7.0 ESG Ratings and Memberships | 7.1 ESG and Sustainability-Related Ratings

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

7.2 MEMBERSHIPS
BioNTech Supports the Vision of the UN Global Compact
BioNTech signed the UN Global Compact on March 9, 2020 and committed
to submitting an annual progress report. The Sustainability Report 2023
also serves as a Communication on Progress (CoP) in line with the
UN Global Compact. In 2023, the German UN Global Compact Network
was established as an independent organization in the legal form of amembership corporation (eingetragener Verein/e. V.). The UN Global­Compact Network Germany (UN Global Compact Netzwerk Deutschland e.V.) was established in May 2023 and BioNTech became a formal­member in August 2023.
The UN Global Compact is the world’s largest and most important initiative for responsible corporate governance. Based on ten universal principles and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it pursues thevision of an inclusive and sustainable global economy for the benefit of all
people, communities and markets. Building on the ten principles, signatories are called upon to promote the general goals of the United Nations,particularly the Sustainable Development Goals.
By signing the Global Compact, BioNTech shows that it shares this visionand intends to implement these corporate governance principles in its
work. The Sustainable Development Goal 3: “Good health and well-­being” is closely aligned with BioNTech’s core business. The SDGs willremain an important point of reference for BioNTech in the future.

77­ usiness, pb­ olitics, and civil society, econsense proactively addresses
sustainability challenges and advocates frameworks and policies
that facilitate business innovation and competitiveness. This makes­econsense a valued thought leader, advisor, and partner in matters ofsustainability.
Member of the German B.A.U.M. Network
B.A.U.M. e.V. is a network committed to a future worth living through sustainable management. Founded in 1984 and with over 700 members,
the association is a strong voice for sustainably operating companies
and a driving force for sustainable development in Europe.
B.A.U.M. supports its members in the establishment and further development of sustainability strategies and brings together actors from­business, politics, science, media and associations. The association’s
objective is the transformation to a social-ecological market economy
based on the guiding principles of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the Paris Agreement on climate protection.
Internationally, B.A.U.M. is a founding member of the International­Network for Environmental Management e.V. (INEM).
BioNTech as a Signatory of the Diversity Charter(“Charta der Vielfalt”)
The Diversity Charter (“Charta der Vielfalt”) is a German employer initiative to promote ­diversity within companies and institutions. The aim of
the initiative is to advance the recognition, appreciation and inclusion ofdiversity in the work world in Germany. Signatories strive to create a work
environment that is free of prejudice. All employees should be valued andfeel appreciated regardless of their gender, gender identity, nationality,
ethnic origin, religion, beliefs, disability, age, sexual orientation or identity.

BioNTech is a Member of the German econsense Network
econsense is a network of internationally operating companies with thecommon goal of actively shaping the transition to a more sustainableeconomy and society. econsense supports its members in anchoringsustainability in operations and strategy, as well as along the supply
chain. The network tracks and analyzes all of the relevant issues­ As asignatory to this initiative, BioNTech is committed to promoting
spanning from environmental protection to human rights and always ­diversity and creating an appreciative work environment at BioNTech
with a focus on the business case for sustainability. By exchanging with and in the working world.

7.0 ESG Ratings and Memberships | 7.2 Memberships

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List of Relevant Memberships GRI 2-28
This list contains BioNTech’s most relevant memberships.
Scientific• American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)• American Society for Mass Spectrometry (ASMS)• American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)• American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH)• Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Pharmazeutische Verfahrenstechnik e. V.
• Association of American Physicians (AAP)• CLSI – Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute• Cluster for Individualized Immune Intervention (Ci3) e. V.
• DECHEMA Gesellschaft für Chemische Technik und Biotechnologie e. V.
• European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO)• International Society For Advancement of Cytometry (CYTO/ISAC)• International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy (ISCT)• Mainzer Wissenschaftsallianz e. V.
• Massachusetts Biotechnology Council• Max Bergmann Kreis e. V.
• Research Quality Association Ltd.
• Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC)• The American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS)• Vienna BioCenter – Wissenschaftliche Standortgemeinschaft

7.0 ESG Ratings and Memberships | 7.2 Memberships

Business Associations• American Chamber of Commerce in Germany e.V.
• Biotechnologie-Industrie-Organisation Deutschland e. V. (BIO
Deutschland e. V.)• Bundesverband Materialwirtschaft, Einkauf und Logistik e. V. (BME)• Chambre de Commerce et D’Industrie France-Amerique• Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle für die Arzneimittelindustrie e. V.
• gesundheitswirtschaft rhein-main e. V.
• Hessenchemie – Arbeitgeberverband Chemie und verwandte­Industrien für das Land Hessen e. V.
• IHK – Industrie- und Handelskammer für Koblenz• IHK – Industrie- und Handelskammer für München und Oberbayern• IHK – Industrie- und Handelskammer für Rheinhessen• IHK – Industrie- und Handelskammer Halle-Dessau• IHK – Industrie- und Handelskammer zu Berlin• Singapore Business Federation• Verband der Chemischen Industrie e. V. (VCI)• Verband Forschender Arzneimittelhersteller e. V. (vfa)• Vereinigung für Sicherheit in der Wirtschaft e. V.

Sustainability/CSR• B.A.U.M. e. V. Netzwerk für nachhaltiges Wirtschaften• econsense – Forum Nachhaltige Entwicklung der Deutschen
Wirtschaft e. V.
• The National Association for EHS & S Management (NAEM)• UN Global Compact Netzwerk Deutschland e. V.
Other• DIRK – Deutscher Investor Relations Verband e. V.
• DSAG – Deutschsprachige SAP-Anwendergruppe e. V.
• Kita Bio Regio e. V.
• Verband Deutscher Treasurer e. V.
• Zentrale zur Bekämpfung unlauteren Wettbewerbs e. V.

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

79

8.0

8.0 Appendix and Data

8.1
8.2
8.3
8.4
8.5
8.6

About This Report 
Forward-Looking Statements and Disclaimer 
Verification 
Detailed Data 
GRI and SASB Content Indices Imprint 

80
80
80
81
93
102

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

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8.0 APPENDIX AND DATA
8.1 ABOUT THIS REPORT

8.2 FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND DISCLAIMER

The Sustainability Report 2023 is the fourth corporate responsibility andsustainability report of the BioNTech Group. It was published on March
20, 2024. The reporting period corresponds to the 2023 financial year.
As a general rule, the data included in this report is relative to the 2023
financial year and all operations controlled by BioNTech. Unless statedotherwise, employee data does not cover InstaDeep; employee numbers for InstaDeep are reported separately.

This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. In somecases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology suchas “will”, “may”, “should”, “expects”, “intends”, “plans”, “aims”, “anticipates”,“believes”, “estimates”, “predicts”, “potential”, “continue”, or the negativeof these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all­forward-looking statements contain these words. The forward-looking
statements in this report are neither promises nor guarantees, and you
The editorial deadline for this report was March 8, 2024 to be able to should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements­adequately present relevant developments. Topics with relevance beyond because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and otherthe 2023 financial year are therefore part of the report and indicated factors, many of which are beyond BioNTech’s control and which could
appropriately. The Sustainability Report complies with the requirements cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or impliedof Sections 289b et seq. and 315b et seq. of the German Commercial by these forward-looking statements. You should review the risks andCode (Handelsgesetzbuch – HGB) and includes what is referred to as uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” in BioNTech’s“non-financial aspects” of the Company’s activities (environmental, Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023 andemployee and social issues, human rights, anti-corruption and anti-­ in subsequent filings made by BioNTech with the SEC, which are availbribery) that are relevant for an understanding of its business perfor- able on the BioNTech website in the Investors section. Except as requiredmance and position.
by law, BioNTech disclaims any intention or responsibility for updatingor revising any forward-looking statements contained in this presentaThis report has been prepared in accordance with the Universal Stan- tion in the event of new information, future developments or otherwise.
dards 2021 of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) (see 8.5 GRI Content These forward-looking statements are based on BioNTech’s current
expectations and speak only as of the date hereof.
Index). GRI 2-3
Furthermore, certain statements contained in this report relate to or are
based on studies, publications, surveys and other data obtained fromthird-party sources and BioNTech’s own internal estimates and research.
While BioNTech believes these third-party sources to be reliable as ofthe date of this report, it has not independently verified, and makes no

8.0 Appendix and Data | 8.1 About This Report | 8.2 Forward-Looking Statements and Disclaimer | 8.3 Verification

representation as to the adequacy, fairness, accuracy or completenessof, any information obtained from third party sources. In addition, anymarket data included in this report involves assumptions and limitations,and there can be no guarantee as to the accuracy or reliability of suchassumptions. While BioNTech believes its own internal research is reliable, such research has not been verified by any independent source. In
addition, BioNTech is the owner of various trademarks, trade names andservice marks that may appear in this report. Certain other trademarks,
trade names and service marks appearing in this report are the propertyof third parties. Solely for convenience, the trademarks and trade namesin this presentation may be referred to without the ® and TM symbols, butsuch references should not be construed as any indicator that theirrespective owners will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicablelaw, their rights thereto.

8.3 VERIFICATIONThe Supervisory Board has examined the contents of the Sustainability
Report 2023 in accordance with Section 171 (1) AktG. The Supervisory
Board found that the content of the report complies with the requirements of Sections 289b et seq. and 315b et seq. HGB. It also stated thatthe report is coherent in relation to the adopted strategy and corporate
policy of the Management Board with regard to non-financial objectives
and the concepts developed for this purpose. The Sustainability Report
2023 was reviewed with regard to the statements in the group management report on the opportunities and risks of the future development of
the Company. Following the outcome of the Supervisory Board’s review,
there were no objections raised to the Sustainability Report 2023 for the2023 financial year. GRI 2-14

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

81

8.4 DETAILED DATA
Unless stated otherwise, environmental data is relative to the whole BioNTech Group, including InstaDeep.
Unless stated otherwise, employee data does not cover InstaDeep; employee numbers for InstaDeep arereported separately. As of 2023, employee figures exclude Management Board members, apprentices,trainees, and interns. BioNTech reports employee numbers in headcount.
Energy Consumption

1

GRI 2-4, 302-1, 302-4

In MWh% of total
in 20232023

2022 3

2021

2020

2019

0.2

91

26

26

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Natural gas

11.7

6,060

3,603

3,826

3,509

2,470

Heating oil

0.4

221

37

0

0

0

Fleet (petrol, diesel)

0.6

297

123

345

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

49.8

25,87020,847

15,934

10,466

7,812

			 Thereof renewable bought-in electricity

22,037

17,476

14,4401,042

943

			% of renewable bought-in electricity of
total electricity

85

84

91

10

12

Coal

Biofuels

GRI 2-4% of total
in 20232023

2022 3

2021

2020

2019

Renewable energy sources

62.0

32,235

17,537

14,466

1,042

943

Natural gas

11.7

6,060

3,603

3,862

3,509

2,470

Coal, nuclear, petroleum fuels and/or
similar energy sources

26.3

13,693

21,587

18,656

12,496

9,845

51,98942,72836,984

17,047

13,258In MWhTotal energy

Direct energy consumption
Renewable energy generated on site

Energy by Source

Indirect energy consumption
Bought-in electricity 2District heating

7.9

4,133

3,921

3,678

3,072

2,976

District cooling

15.1

7,862

6,629

5,814

0

0

Bought-in steam

14.1

7,356

7,432

7,219

0

0

Bought-in compressed air

0.2

99

110

107

0

0

Total energy consumption

51,98942,72836,984

17,047

13,258

			 Thereof renewable energy consumption

32,235

17,537

14,466

1,042

943

62

41

39

6

7

			 % of renewable energy

1 	Data partially consists of extrapolations. When available, consumption levels were taken from invoices. Otherwise, consumption is estimated based on energy intensity levels of
locations with similar use or extrapolated from consumption of previous years.
2	Does not include electricity used for charging of e-vehicles from BioNTech’s fleet outside of BioNTech’s own locations.
3	2022 energy consumption data was corrected due to a reporting error.		
		

8.0 Appendix and Data | 8.4 Detailed Data

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

82
Direct GHG Emissions (Scope 1) and Indirect GHG Emissions (Scope 2) 1CO2e Emissions Scope 1 and 2 by Location 1

GRI 2-4, 305-1, 305-2, 305-5% of total
in 20232023

2022 4

2021

2020

2019

29

1,342

866

886

704

607

0

0

0

0

0

Natural gas

1,105

728

809

660

565

Heating oil

54

65

0

0

Fleet emissions

69

33

42

Process-related emissions

79

40

Refrigerants

31

GRI 2-4% of total
in 2023

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

Mainz [DE]

12.6

589

474

393

2,122

2,243

Berlin [DE]

13.2

618

251

84

82

15

Idar-Oberstein [DE] 2

5.3

246

230

395

1,591

915

0

Martinsried [DE]

1.8

84

71

53

110

144

25

29

Neuried [DE]

1.9

91

16

31

46

38

35

19

14

Halle [DE]

0.8

38

16

9

11

–

0.03

0

0

0

Marburg [DE]

35.2

1,648

1,834

1,834

493

–

3,339

3,162

2,337

3,851

2,748

Cambridge [USA]

26.9

1,258

155

78

101

–

1,467

1,279

423

3,139

2,460

Gaithersburg [USA]

0.9

41

979

345

–

–

District heating

371

211

290

713

288

Other 3

1.4

67

3

–

–

–

District cooling

0

0

0

0

0

4,681

4,028

3,223

4,555

3,356

Not
collected

In t CO2e
Scope 1 emissions
Coal

Scope 2 emissions (market-based) 2
Electricity 3

71

Steam

1,501

1,672

1,624

Not
collected

Bought-in compressed air

0.03

0

0

0

0

Total Scope 1 & 2

4,681

4,028

3,223

4,555

3,356

–

0

0

0

0

CO2e emissions from biofuels

In t CO2e

Total BioNTech

1 BioNTech uses the market-based approach for its Scope 2 calculations. Data is partially based on estimations and assumptions.
2 2022 Scope 1 emissions for Idar-Oberstein were corrected due to a reporting error.
3 For 2023 onwards, BioNTech Group locations (incl. InstaDeep) that account for <0.5 % of total Scope 1 and 2 emissions are summarized under “other”.

1 BioNTech uses the operational control approach, meaning CO2e emissions are relative to all sites under BioNTech’s operational control. For Scope 1 and 2, this includes InstaDeep sites.
2	The market-based method was used for the calculation of Scope 2 carbon dioxide equivalent emissions from externally sourced energy (electricity, steam and district heating).
The market-based method uses emission factors from BioNTech’s renewable energy suppliers who fulfill internal quality criteria. For all other electricity, BioNTech uses residual mix
factors (if available) and grid mix factors of the International Energy Agency (IEA). They are updated annually. The location-based Scope 2 emissions are also based on IEA dataand equal 10,657 t CO2e.
3 CO2e emissions from purchased electricity using the location-based approach amount to 8,785 t CO2e.
4 2022 Scope 1 emissions for Idar-Oberstein were corrected due to a reporting error.

8.0 Appendix and Data | 8.4 Detailed Data

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

83
Energy / CO2 Intensity KPIs

Waste Generated 1

GRI 2-4, 302-3, 305-4

2023

2022 22021 32020

2019

Cost of sales (in EUR m)

599.8

2,995.02,911.50

59.30

17.40

Hazardous waste

Energy use / cost of sales (in MWh / EUR k) 1

0.09

0.01

0.01

0.30

0.80

Incineration(with energy recovery)

GHG emissions / cost of sales (in t / EUR m)

890.60374.14497.98 1

104.20334.101 Unit corrected due to error.
2 2022 GHG emissions / cost of sales corrected due to a reporting error.
3	2021 data recalculated due to corrections in purchasing data using a comprehensive environmental input-output model and corrected transports, including WTT(well-to-tank).

Other Indirect GHG Emissions (Scope 3)

GRI 2-4, 305-3, 305-5

GRI 306-3, 306-4, 306-5% of total
in 2023

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

20.6

327

277

247

274

214

327

277

247

274

214

Incineration(without energy recovery)

0

0

0

0

0

Landfill

0

0

0

0

0

Recycling

0

0

0

0

0

1,263

1,211

650

1,283

157

1,263

1,211

650

1,283

157

In t

Non-hazardous waste

79.4% of total
in 20232023 22022 32021 42020

2019

Incineration(with energy recovery)

Upstream activities 1

99.9

529,023

1,114,662

1,444,411 1

1,624

2,445

Incineration(without energy recovery)

0

0

0

0

0

Downstream activities

0.1

478

1,861

2,228.00

Not collected

Not collected

Landfill

0

0

0

0

0

529,501

1,116,523

1,446,639

1,624

2,445

Not collected

Not collected

Not collected

Not collected

Not collected

1,590

1,488

897

1,558

371

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

113

75

72

25

15

0.52

0

Not collected

Not collected

Not collected

102

75

72

25

15

In t CO2e

Total Scope 3

Recycling
Total waste 2
1 	Data was provided mainly by external service providers.

Total Scope 1 – 3(in t CO2e)534,182

1,120,551

1,449,862

6,179

5,801

1 Includes optional emissions from hotel stays as part of business travel emissions.
2 Data does not cover Scope 3 emissions for InstaDeep.
3 2022 Scope 1 emissions for Idar-Oberstein were corrected due to a reporting error.
4	2021 emission data recalculated due to corrections in purchasing data using a comprehensive environmental input-output model and corrected transports, including WTT(well-to-tank).

Water and Wastewater 1
In thousand cubic meters

GRI 303-3, 303-4% of total
in 2023

Total water withdrawal		Thereof from locations
with water stress 2
Total water discharge

0.46

1	Data was provided mainly by external service providers. Data is partially based on estimations and assumptions. All water withdrawal represents fresh water.
For data until 2022, locations with water stress were assessed using the water depletion ratio from WWF “Water Risk Filter.” For 2023 data, locations with water stress were asses2	
sed using the water scarcity risk category, which includes water depletion among other indicators, with a score equal/higher than 3 – according to CDP water questionnaire­guidance. Data for 2023 include both BioNTech and InstaDeep.

8.0 Appendix and Data | 8.4 Detailed Data

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

84
TCFD

GRI 201-2

Type of risk / opportunity

Description

Transition risks – 1.5°C scenario based on the IEA NZE report

Fossil fuel use, which may lead to high carbon costs, is limited along the supply chain in the future. Transportation is generating risks, especially for long-distance routes, as airtransport will be impacted by increasing carbon prices or alternative fuels.

Physical risks – Supply chain IPCC RCP 4.5 scenario

In the chosen scenario and for the assessed timeframe, BioNTech’s international suppliers, in particular, face a variety of potential high-impact risks (risks that could halt production for an extended period or even completely), from rising sea levels and floods to convective storms and tropical cyclones. European suppliers are particularly impacted byconvective storms; however, this typically results in minor property damage not affecting business continuity. Heatwaves pose a medium risk to all suppliers in 2030, with risk significantly increasing in 2050. The resulting higher energy costs and employee productivity losses will not likely be passed on to BioNTech in 2030 but may result in higher raw
material prices in 2050 and sourcing delays.

Physical risks – Own production sites IPCC RCP 4.5 scenario

Heatwaves across all sites are resulting in higher production costs to meet the increased cooling demand. International sites show the highest physical risks due to heatwaves,
floods, droughts, sea level rise and cyclones. This may lead to asset damage and/or business interruption. German sites are mainly impacted by convective storms, which typically lead to only minor property damage. However, Berlin, Mainz and Halle are also close to flood areas.

Physical risks – Logistic and distribution IPCC RCP 4.5 scenario

Under this scenario, BioNTech’s largest distribution centers in Germany would be highly affected by heatwaves in 2030. Thus, BioNTech could face increased energy costs forcooling and be affected should the cooling system fail. Regarding transport, heatwaves impact refrigerated trucking by disturbing the cold chain and endangering the stability ofthe vaccines. Generally, the highest impact due to heatwaves can be seen in regions south of the equator or in the Mediterranean and tropical climate zones, where temperatures
will already reach significantly higher levels in 2030 compared to today.

Opportunities

Along the supply chain, opportunities can be derived as raw material prices are decreasing. This is linked to decreasing energy prices, fostered by the transition to renewableenergies, as well as efficiency gains. There may be a link between rising temperatures as a result of climate change and an increased incidence of infectious diseases, especiallyaffecting populations that are exposed to these infectious diseases in particularly vulnerable parts of the world. BioNTech aims to develop and provide medicines to help affected
people while further reducing the Company’s impact on the environment. BioNTech could play an important role in minimizing the toll such infectious diseases could take on vulnerable populations.

Please note: The potential scenarios described above are characterized in accordance with the TCFD assessment. The statements above are limited to the scope and parameters of such assessment and do not express BioNTech’s view of the likelihood or preferability of certain outcomes.

8.0 Appendix and Data | 8.4 Detailed Data

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

85
Quality Data

GRI 416-2

SASB HC-BP-210a.2, HC-BP- 250a.3, HC-BP- 250a.5

2023

Indicator

2022

2021

2023

2022

2021

Number of GCP inspections resulting in Voluntary Action Indicated (VAI)­status (FDA-related indicator)

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Indicator
Good Clinical Practices1

Internal and third-party audits
Total number of internal audits

18

22

23

4

9

12

		 thereof Pharmacovigilance (PV)

3

0

0

Number of GCP inspections resulting in Official Action Indicated (OAI)status (FDA-related indicator)

		 thereof Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)

11

13

11

Number of GCP inspections resulting in obligatory actions from health­authorities other than the FDA

Total number of third-party audits

53

20

22

Pharmacovigilance		 thereof Good Clinical Practices2,3

47

12

13

		thereof Pharmacovigilance 3

4

6

7

Number of PV inspections resulting in Voluntary Action Indicated (VAI)
status (FDA-related indicator)

0

0

0

		 thereof Good Manufacturing Practices

2

2

2

Number of PV inspections resulting in Official Action Indicated (OAI)status (FDA-related indicator)

0

0

0

Total number of FDA inspections

3

14

4

Number of PV inspections resulting in obligatory actions from health­authorities other than the FDA

0

0

3

		 thereof Good Clinical Practices

3

14

4

		thereof Pharmacovigilance

0

0

0

Recalls4

		 thereof Good Manufacturing Practices

0

0

0

Class I000

FDA inspections that resulted in enforcement actions

0

0

0

Class II000

Total number of inspections from all other health ­authorities (non-FDA)

6

7

15

Class III000		 thereof Good Clinical Practices1

5

6

15

		thereof Pharmacovigilance

0

0

0

		 thereof Good Manufacturing Practices

1

1

0

Number of GMP inspections resulting in Voluntary Action Indicated (VAI)­status (FDA-related indicator)

0

0

0

Number of GMP inspections resulting in Official Action Indicated (OAI)status (FDA-related indicator)

0

0

0

Number of GMP inspections resulting in obligatory actions from health­authorities other than the FDA

1

1

0

		 thereof Good Clinical Practices (GCP)

2

1

General note: The data provided in the table above cover all BioNTech-sponsored programs for the reporting year of 2023.
1 	Data cover all GCP inspections for BioNTech-sponsored trials, even if inspections were coordinated by a partner organization.
2 	Does not include non-clinical audits (e.g., on Good Laboratory Practices [GLP]) or in-study audits (e.g., on Good Clinical Laboratory Practices [GCLP]).
3	Data includes partner audits.
FDA website.
4 	For an explanation of recall classifications, please visit the

Actions indicatedGood Manufacturing Practices

8.0 Appendix and Data | 8.4 Detailed Data

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

86
Number of Employees (Excluding InstaDeep)GRI 2-7, 405-1

Headcount of employees 1

2023

2022 2

2021

2020

2019

Headcount of employees 1

Total

5,964

4,692

3,138

2,047

1,323

By type of employment

		 Thereof employed by BioNTech SE

3,166

2,304

1,378

623

Not collected

Not collected

Not collected

Not collected

Not collected

By age group

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

Permanent employees

5,098

3,452

Not collected

Not collected

Not collected		Women

2,597

1,805

2,498

1,647

3

0
Not collected

Not collected

Not collected

Not collected

Not collected

Not collected

Not collected

Not collected

Not collected

Not collected

Not collected

Not collected		 Up to 29 years old

1,140

		Men

		 30 – 49 years old

4,134		Non-binary		 50 years or older

690

Temporary employees

866

1,083

		Women

480

471

386

612

0

0

By gender		Women

3,077

2,352

1,605

1,098

741

		Men

		Men

2,884

2,340

1,533

949

582

		Non-binary

30

Not collected

Not collected

Not collected

Non-guaranteed hours employees 3

167

157

Not collected

Not collected		Women

86

76

		Men

81

81

		Non-binary00		Non-binary
By region
		Europe

5,267

4,253

2,902

		North America

650

435

233

		Africa

20

00

By working time model		Asia27

4

3

Full-time employees

5,420

4,141

		Women

2,634

1,955

		Men

2,783

2,186

3

0

Part-time employees

544

551

		Women

443

397

		Men

101

154

		Non-binary001	For years 2022 and prior, employee data generally include working students. For 2023 onwards, working students are reported under “non-guaranteed hours employees”
but not included in the total number of employees or any breakdown (such as employees by region, by gender etc.).
2	The 2022 breakdown of employees by region was corrected due to a reporting error.
3	Non-guaranteed hours employees at BioNTech are working students.

8.0 Appendix and Data | 8.4 Detailed Data

		Non-binary

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

87
Number of Employees – InstaDeep Only
Headcount of employees
Total

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

328

Not
applicableNot
applicableNot
applicableNot
applicableNot applicableNot applicableNot applicableNot applicable

By age group
		 Up to 29 years old177		 30 – 49 years old

147

		 50 years or older

4

By gender

Not applicable		Women

74

		Men

254

		Non-binary

		North America

Not applicableNot applicableNot applicableNot applicable
190
11

		Africa

126		Asia1

Headcount, excluding Management Board,
trainees and interns

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

Total

5,640

4,104

2,694

1,624

1,195

Clinical Research & Development

434

243

137

113

81

Scientific Research & Development

1,871

1,302

875

586

414

Operations

1,469

1,240

863

490

376

Quality

470

383

322

184

129

Support Functions

1,217

828

431

218

126

Commercial & Business Development

179

108

66

33

69

Employees by Function at the End of the Reporting Period

Not collected

By region
		Europe

Yearly Average of Employees by Function

GRI 2-7, 405-1

Not applicableNot applicableNot applicable
Headcount, excluding Management Board,
trainees and interns

Dec 31,2023

Dec 31,2022

Dec 31,2021

Dec 31,2020

Dec 31,
2019

Total

5,964

4,692

3,138

2,047

1,323

Clinical Research & Development

592

274

153

128

90

Scientific Research & Development

1,972

1,512

1,026

661

459

Operations

1,448

1,365

1,036

699

416

Quality

474

413

301

234

142

Support Functions

1,284

983

539

276

139

194

145

83

49

77

Commercial & Business Development

8.0 Appendix and Data | 8.4 Detailed Data

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

88
New Employees

GRI 401-1

Total number of new employee hires

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

1,609

1,944

1,372

501

538

Rate of new employee hires (in %) 1

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

30.29

41.43

43.72

24.47

40.67

By age group

By age group
		 Up to 29 years old

350

535

496

233

239

		 Up to 29 years old

38.50

40.59

60.86

49.79

58.72

		 30 – 49 years old

1,053

1,010

784

230

269

		 30 – 49 years old

30.30

36.75

39.44

17.33

34.53

		 50 years or older

206

399

92

38

30

		 50 years or older

21.21

63.74

27.46

15.08

21.90

By gender

By gender		Women

841

995

740

251

274

		Women

30.83

42.30

46

22.86

36.98

		Men

761

949

632

250

264

		Men

29.47

40.56

41

26.34

45.36

7

0

Not collected

Not collected

Not collected

Not collected

Not collected

Not collected

Not collected

Not collected		 Europe (incl. U.K.)

27.46

39.29

42

23.96

40.68

		Non-binary

		Non-binary
By region

By region
		Europe

1,303

1,671

1,207

468

537

		North America

264

270

162

33

1

		U.S.

48.80

62.07

70

35.11

33.3

		Others

42

3

3

0

0

		Others

161.54

75.00

100

–

–

#

8.0 Appendix and Data | 8.4 Detailed Data

1 	The formula for calculating the rate of employee new hires was changed from the last reporting year. Rate of employee new hires for 2022 and previous reporting cycles = Number of
new employee hires / Number of employees at the end of the financial year *100. Rate of employee new hires for 2023 and onwards: Number of new employee hires / Average numberof employees throughout the reporting year *100.

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

89
Employee TurnoverGRI 2-4; GRI 401-1; HC-BP-330a.2

Total turnover rate (in %) 1

2023

2022 22021 3

2020

2019

6.23

8.82

7.65

11.58

12.80

Total number of leavers

2023

2022 1

2021

2020

2019

331

362

206

188

153

By age group

By age group
		 Up to 29 years old

5.39

3.17

2.97

5.11

5.19

		 Up to 29 years old

49

130

80

83

62

		 30 – 49 years old

5.76

4.41

3.97

5.23

6.53

		 30 – 49 years old

200

181

107

85

78

		 50 years or older

8.84

1.24

0.71

1.23

1.09

		 50 years or older

82

51

19

20

13

By gender

By gender		Women

5.57

4.43

4.75

6.03

7.36

		Women

152

178

128

98

88

		Men

6.89

4.48

2.90

5.54

5.44

		Men

178

184

78

90

65

Not collected

Not collected

Not collected

Not collected

Not collected

10

Not collected

Not collected

Not collected		Europe

283

296

182

182

153

47

65

24

6

0

1

1

0

0

0

		
Executives / senior managers
voluntary and involuntary turnover rate

33

32

5

5

6

		
Mid-level managers
voluntary and involuntary turnover rate

125

24

14

17

13

		
Professionals
voluntary and involuntary turnover rate

127

95

33

45

40

		
All others
voluntary and involuntary turnover rate

46

211

154

121

94

		Non-binary

		Non-binary
By region

By region
		Europe

5.96

7.21

6.76

11.21

12.80

		North America

8.69

1.58

0.89

0.37

0

		North America

		Others

6.25

0.02

0

0

0

		Others

Voluntary turnover rate 4

3.10

4.66

Not collected

Not collected

Not collected1 	Turnover rate = Number of leavers / Average number of employees throughout the reporting year *100. For 2022 data and earlier, quarterly averages were not available per subgroup.
Figures should therefore be interpreted accordingly.
2 2022 turnover for women was corrected due to a reporting error. The correct turnover rate is 4.34 % instead of 4.43 %.
3 2021 figures were corrected due to a reporting error.
4 Proportion of employees who chose to leave BioNTech in the reporting period expressed as a percentage of total employees.

By type according to SASB HC-BP-330a.2

1 2022 breakdown of total number of leavers by age group was corrected due to a reporting error.

8.0 Appendix and Data | 8.4 Detailed Data

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

90
Parental Leave in Germany 1

Occupational Health and Safety 1

GRI 401-3

As of December 31

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

Employees entitled to parental leave

402

185

188

136

101

		Women

222

112

118

89

61

		Men

180

73

70

47

40

0

0

Not collected

Not collected

Not collected

Employees who took parental leavein the reporting year

366

185

188

133

95

		Women

220

112

118

89

60

		Men

146

73

70

44

35

0

0

Not collected

Not collected

Not collected		Non-binary

		Non-binary
Employees who returned to work in thereporting year after parental leave ended

240

74

100

65

53

		Women

114

16

58

31

21

		Men

126

58

42

34

32

0

0

Not collected

Not collected

Not collected

Return to work rate 1 (in %)

98.77

100.0

97.0

94.2

93.0

		Women

97.44

100.0

96.6

93.9

91.3

		Men

100.00

100.0

97.6

94.4

94.1

–

–

Not collected

Not collected

Not collected		Non-binary

		Non-binary

GRI 403-9

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

Number of fatalities as a resultof work-related injuries 2

0

0

0

0

0

Rate of fatalities as a resultof work-related injuries in % 3

0

0

0

0

0

Number of high-consequence-work-related
injuries (excluding fatalities) 4

0

0

0

0

0

Rate of high-consequence-work-related
injuries (excluding fatalities) in % 5

0

0

0

0

0

Number of work-related injuries resulting in≥ 1 day(s) of absence from work

9

17

2

4

2

0.32

0.902

0.13280.2756

0.169

Lost time accident rate (LTAR) 6

1	All OHS data is relative to the BioNTech sites in Mainz only.
2	Work-related injuries are those that arise from exposure to hazards at work.
3 Number of fatalities as a result of work-related injury divided by number of hours worked and multiplied by 200,000.
4	A high-consequence, work-related injury is a work-related injury that results in a fatality or in an injury from which the worker cannot, does not, or is not expected to recover fully to preinjury health status within six months.
5 High-consequence work-related injuries (excluding fatalities) divided by number of hours worked and multiplied by 200,000.
6 Number of work-related injuries resulting in ≥ 1 day(s) of absence from work divided by number of hours worked and multiplied by 200,000.

1 All parental leave data is relative to Germany only.
2 	Return to work rate = Total number of employees who returned to work after parental leave / Total number of employees due to return to work after taking parental leave * 100.

8.0 Appendix and Data | 8.4 Detailed Data

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

91

DonationsThis list contains BioNTech’s monetary and in-kind donations; the list contains donations according to BioNTech’s Corporate Citizenship concept for financial year 2023.
Donation recipient / vendor

Purpose 1

Monetary / In-kind donations

ACIR Fritsch Foundation, Inc.

Health-Related Cause

Monetary donation

23,120.32

Aktionsbündnis Katastrophenhilfe GbR

Exceptional Cause

Monetary donation

500,000.00

Aktionsbündnis Katastrophenhilfe GbR

Exceptional Cause

Monetary donation

100,000.00

American Cancer Society, Inc.

Regional Cause

Monetary donation

7,000.00

AWO Kreisverband München-Land e.V.

Regional Cause

Monetary donation

1,000.00

Breast Cancer Initiative East Africa (BCIEA), Inc.

Health-Related Cause

Monetary donation

10,000.00

Bund der Pfadfinderinnen und Pfadfinder e.V.

Regional Cause

Monetary donation

500.00Cambridge School Volunteers, Inc.

Regional Cause

Monetary donation

2,000.00

Caritasverband Mainz e.V.

Regional Cause

Monetary donation

740.95

Caritasverband Mainz e.V.

Regional Cause

Monetary donation

10,000.00

Caritasverband Mainz e.V.

Regional Cause

Monetary donation

3,208.00

Citypastoral Marburg

Regional Cause

Monetary donation

5,000.00

DKMS Donor Center gGmbH

Regional Cause

Monetary donation

600.00DKMS Donor Center gGmbH

Regional Cause

Monetary donation

1,120.00

Elterninitiative für leukämie- und tumorkranke Kinder

Regional Cause

Monetary donation

6,000.00

Förderverein der Berufsfeuerwehr Mainz 2000 e.V.

Regional Cause

Monetary donation

2,000.00

Förderverein für Tumor- und Leukämiekranke Kinder

Regional Cause

Monetary donation

2,000.00

Freiwillige Feuerwehr Idar-Oberstein

Regional Cause

Monetary donation

500.00FSV Blau-Weiß Idar-Oberstein

Regional Cause

Monetary donation

400.00Hirntumor-Selbsthilfegruppe Mittelhessen

Regional Cause

Monetary donation

2,000.00

Hochschulen Fresenius gemeinnützige Trägergesellschaft

Health-Related Cause

In-kind donation

Hope Connections for Cancer Support

Regional Cause

Monetary donation

1 Donations to health-related causes are listed using the former strategic Corporate Citizenship pillars and logic: Microfunding ranging from a minimum of EUR 500 to a maximum of EUR 10,000 with reference to health causes (for more information, see Chapter
2 For any donation made in USD, the average exchange rate for the calendar and reporting year of 2023, as reported by Deutsche Bundesbank, was used to calculate the financial volume in euros. For 2023, the average exchange rate was EUR 1 = USD 1.0813.

8.0 Appendix and Data | 8.4 Detailed Data

Donation amount (in EUR 2)

No financial value
5,000.00
3.0 Corporate Citizenship).

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

92

Donation recipient / vendor

Purpose 1

Monetary / In-kind donations

Interessengemeinschaft Layenhof e.V.

Regional Cause

Monetary donation

300.00Kinderträume e.V.

Regional Cause

Monetary donation

5,000.00

Kleine Riesen Nordhessen gGmbH

Regional Cause

Monetary donation

5,000.00

Krebsgesellschaft Rheinland-Pfalz e.V.

Health-Related Cause

Monetary donation

2,000.00

Krebsgesellschaft Rheinland-Pfalz e.V.

Health-Related Cause

Monetary donation

10,000.00

KulturRaum München e.V.

Regional Cause

Monetary donation

5,000.00

Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität HannoverHealth-Related Cause

In-kind donation

Make-a-Wish Deutschland gGmbH

Regional Cause

Monetary donation

10,000.00

Our Past Initiative

Regional Cause

Monetary donation

6,117.00

Stiftung Ambulantes Kinderhospiz München

Regional Cause

Monetary donation

2,500.00

Stiftung Juvente Mainz

Regional Cause

In-kind donation

2,375.00

Stiftung Kinder. Gesundheit. Mainz – Stiftung für das Zentrum für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin

Health-Related Cause

Monetary donation

2,000.00

Stiftung LebensBlicke

Health-Related Cause

Monetary donation

1,000.00

Tentaja Soziale gGmbH

Regional Cause

Monetary donation

4,000.00

TuS Mackenrodt 1910/21 e. V.

Regional Cause

Monetary donation

2,000.00

TV 1848 Oberstein

Regional Cause

Monetary donation

2,000.00

UNO-Flüchtlingshilfe e.V.

Exceptional Cause

Monetary donation

500,000.00

unplugged – Das Beratungscafé, gpe gGmbH

Regional Cause

Monetary donation

1,500.00

Von Bülow Studienstiftung Pharmazie

Regional Cause

Monetary donation

3,600.00

Wohnsitzlos in Mainz e.V.

Regional Cause

Monetary donation

5,000.00

1 Donations in purpose of health-related causes are listed using the former strategic Corporate Citizenship pillars and logic: Microfunding ranging from minimum EUR 500 to maximum EUR 10, 000 with reference to health causes (for more information see Chapter
2 	For any donation made in USD, the average exchange rate for the calendar resp. reporting year of 2023 as reported by Deutsche Bundesbank was used to calculate the financial volume in euros. For 2023, the average exchange rate was EUR 1 = USD 1.0813.

8.0 Appendix and Data | 8.4 Detailed Data

Donation amount (in EUR 2)

No financial value

3.0 Corporate Citizenship).

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

93

8.5 G RI AND SASB CONTENT INDICES, INCLUDING UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS) AND PRINCIPLES OF THE UN GLOBAL COMPACT
GRI
BioNTech’s sustainability reporting is guided by the standards of the
Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). This report was prepared in accordancewith the current version of the guidelines, the GRI Universal Standards
2021. In the GRI Content Index, readers will find an overview of all reported
indicators, including references to the corresponding text passages.
SASB
Since the publication of the Sustainability Report 2020, BioNTech applies
the sustainability accounting standard for Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals (Version 2023-06) of the Sustainability Accounting Standards

Board (SASB) to identify, manage and communicate financially material
sustainability information to shareholders. In the SASB Content Index,
readers will find an overview of all reported SASB indicators, includingreferences to the corresponding text passages.
UNGC and SDGs
By signing the 10 principles underlying the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), BioNTech has explicitly committed to respecting humanrights and labor standards and promoting environmental protection in its
business operations and preventing corruption.

BioNTech supports the UNGC with the objective of contributing to theglobal implementation of its 10 principles and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). BioNTech has integrated the UNGC principles into
its business processes and is carrying out concrete actions to enforce
them. The GRI content index references the 10 principles and corresponding text passages. The overall Sustainability Report 2023 therefore also serves as the Company’s Communication on Progress Reportfor the UN Global Compact. The UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) have also been cross-referenced in this report’s content index
whenever applicable.

GRI Content Index
Statement of use: BioNTech has reported the information cited in this GRI content index for the 2023 reporting year in accordance with the GRI Standards.
Code

Indicator

SDG

UNGC
Principle

Page
NumberComments/
Omissions

GRI 1 used: GRI 1: Foundation 2021

GRI 2: General Disclosures 2021 (BioNTech Material Topic: Governance)
2-1

Organizational details

10

2-2

Entities included in the organization’s sustainability reporting

10

2-3

Reporting period, frequency and contact point

80, 102

2-4

Restatements of information

81, 82, 83, 89

2-5

External assurance

2-6

Activities, value chain and other business relationships

2-7

Employees

8, 10

6

2-8

Workers who are not employees

8, 10

6

BioNTech corrected minor reporting errors in 2022 data and states this wherever­applicable.
BioNTech did not seek independent external assurance for this report.

9

8.0 Appendix and Data | 8.5 GRI and SASB Content Indices, including UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Principles of the UN Global Compact

86, 87

In 2023, 78 agency workers (“Leiharbeitende”) who were not directly employed by
BioNTech worked for the Company (2022: 137).

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

94

Code

Indicator

SDG

2-9

Governance structure and composition

5, 16

https://investors.biontech.de/corporate-governance/

2-10

Nomination and selection of the highest governance body

5, 16

h
 ttps://investors.biontech.de/static-files/bea07085-78a5-4b1a-bc1c-f2284579f132

2-11

Chair of the highest governance body16

https://www.biontech.com/int/en/home/about/our-board-members.html

2-12

Role of the highest governance body in overseeing the management of impacts

16

2-13

Delegation of responsibility for managing impacts

11

2-14

Role of the highest governance body in sustainability reporting

80

2-15

Conflicts of interest

2-16

Communication of critical concerns

2-17Collective knowledge of the highest governance body

2-18

Evaluation of the performance of the highest governance body

2-19

Remuneration policies

2-20

Process to determine remuneration

2-21

Annual total compensation ratio

2-22

Statement on sustainable development strategy

2-23

Policy commitments

2-24

Embedding policy commitments

32, 362-25

Processes to remediate negative impacts

32, 362-26

Mechanisms for seeking advice and raising concerns

16

2-27

Compliance with laws and regulations

16

2-28

Membership associations

78

2-29

Approach to stakeholder engagement

13

2-30

Collective bargaining agreements

UNGC
Principle

Page
NumberComments/
Omissions(see § 2, “Rules of Procedure for the Supervisory Board”)

10

16

34
33

BioNTech’s COO Sierk Poetting and the Company’s Disclosure Committee have­reviewed and approved the information in this report, including BioNTech’s material
topics from a CSR and sustainability perspective.
See also: https://investors.biontech.de/static-files/bea07085-78a5-4b1a-bc1cf2284579f132 (§ 2(3), 5(6), 12(2), “Rules of Procedure for the Supervisory Board”)
Critical concerns are directly reported to BioNTech’s COO through the Company’s
compliance team. For confidentiality reasons, the total number and nature of concerns
are not reported.
https://www.biontech.com/int/en/home/about/our-board-members.html

16

630, 62

Information on (self-) assessments of BioNTech’s Supervisory Board may be found in
the Company’s annual report on form 20-F.
Details on BioNTech’s remuneration policies can be found in the Company’s­remuneration reports.
Details on BioNTech’s processes to determine remuneration for its governance bodies
can be found in the Company’s remuneration reports.
Information unavailable.

16

8

1–10

5

1–6, 7, 10

34, 35

1–6, 7, 10

33, 36

If there were material instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations and public
disclosure criteria are met, details would be included in BioNTech’s annual report on
Form 20-F.

3

8.0 Appendix and Data | 8.5 GRI and SASB Content Indices, including UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Principles of the UN Global Compact

Information incomplete. BioNTech applies the federal collective bargaining agreementof the chemical industry at its Marburg site and maintains several company agreements(“Betriebsvereinbarungen”).

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

Code

Indicator

SDG

UNGC
Principle

Page
Number95

Comments/
Omissions

GRI 3: Material Topics 2021
3-1

Process to determine material topics

13

3-2

List of material topics

13

GRI 201: Economic Performance 2016
3-3

Management of material topics

201-1

Direct economic value generated and distributed

8, 9

201-2

Financial implications and other risks and opportunities due to climate change

13

201-4

Financial assistance received from government

38
10

7, 8, 9Details on BioNTech’s cost of sales, operating costs, tax payments and profits can befound in the Company’s annual report on Form 20-F.

84
46

GRI 203: Indirect Economic Impacts 2016
3-3

Management of material topics

203-2

Significant indirect economic impacts

11

1, 3, 816, 20, 25, 26

GRI 205: Anti Corruption 2016
3-3

Management of material topics

205-1

Operations assessed for risks related to corruption

16

10

34

205-2

Communication and training about anti-corruption policies and procedures

16

10

34

205-3

Confirmed incidents of corruption and actions taken

16

10

32

Not reported due to confidentiality constraints.

GRI 207: Tax 2019
3-3

Management of material topics

207-1

Approach to tax

1, 10, 17

46

207-2

Tax governance, control, and risk management

1, 10, 17

46

46

GRI 302: Energy 2016
3-3

Management of material topics

302-1

Energy consumption within the organization

7, 8, 12, 13

7, 8, 981

302-3

Energy intensity

7, 8, 12, 13

7, 8

83

302-4

Reduction of energy consumption

7, 8, 12, 13

8, 9

81

53

8.0 Appendix and Data | 8.5 GRI and SASB Content Indices, including UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Principles of the UN Global Compact

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

Code

Indicator

SDG

UNGC
Principle

Page
Number96

Comments/
Omissions

GRI 303: Water and Effluents 2018
3-3

Management of material topics

303-1

Interactions with water as a shared resource

6, 12

7

51

303-2

Management of water discharge-related impacts

6

7

52

303-3

Water withdrawal

6

7, 8

83

303-4

Water discharge

6

51

84

GRI 305: Emissions 2016
3-3

Management of material topics

305-1

Direct (Scope 1) GHG emissions

3, 12, 13, 14, 15

7, 8

82

305-2

Energy indirect (Scope 2) GHG emissions

3, 12, 13, 14, 15

7, 8

82

305-3

Other indirect (Scope 3) GHG emissions

3, 12, 13, 14, 15

7, 8

83

305-4

GHG emissions intensity

13, 14, 15

8

83

305-5

Reduction of GHG emissions

13, 14, 15

8, 9

82, 83

53

GRI 306: Waste 2020
3-3

Management of material topics

306-1

Waste generation and significant waste-related impacts

3, 6, 12, 14

50

306-2

Management of significant waste-related impacts

3, 6, 12

50

306-3

Waste generated

3, 6, 12, 14, 15

83

306-4

Waste diverted from disposal

3, 12

83

306-5

Waste directed to disposal

6, 14, 15

83

50

GRI 308: Supplier Environmental Assessment 2016
3-3

Management of material topics

308-1

New suppliers that were screened using environmental criteria

8

308-2

Negative environmental impacts in the supply chain and actions taken

836

8.0 Appendix and Data | 8.5 GRI and SASB Content Indices, including UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Principles of the UN Global Compact

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

Code

Indicator

SDG

UNGC
Principle

Page
Number97

Comments/
Omissions

GRI 401: Employment 2016
3-3

Management of material topics

401-1

New employee hires and employee turnover

5, 8, 106

88, 89401-2

Benefits provided to full-time employees that are not provided to temporary or
part-time employees

3, 5, 86

68, 73

401-3

Parental leave

5, 8

6

90

61

GRI 402: Labor/Management Relations 2016
3-3

Management of material topics

402-1

Minimum notice periods regarding operational changes

61

8

Information unavailable.

GRI 403: Occupational Health and Safety 2018
3-3

Management of material topics

403-1

Occupational health and safety management system

3, 8, 16

74

403-2

Hazard identification, risk assessment, and incident investigation

8

74

403-3

Occupational health services

8

74

403-4

Worker participation, consultation, and communication on occupational healthand safety

8, 16

74

403-5

Worker training on occupational health and safety

8

74

403-6

Promotion of worker health

3

74

403-7

Prevention and mitigation of occupational health and safety impacts directly linked
by business relationships

8

74

403-8

Workers covered by an occupational health and safety management system

8

49

403-9

Work-related injuries

3, 8, 16

90

74

GRI 404: Training and Education 2016
3-3

Management of material topics

404-1

Average hours of training per year per employee

4, 5, 8, 10

404-2

Programs for upgrading employee skills and transition assistance programs

8

404-3

Percentage of employees receiving regular performance and career development reviews

5, 8, 10

70

6

69

Information incomplete. Data collection processes under review.

69

6

8.0 Appendix and Data | 8.5 GRI and SASB Content Indices, including UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Principles of the UN Global Compact

70

Information incomplete. Data collection processes under review.

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

Code

Indicator

SDG

UNGC
Principle

Page
Number98

Comments/
Omissions

GRI 405: Diversity and Equal Opportunity 2016
3-3

Management of material topics

405-1

Diversity of governance bodies and employees

5, 8

6

405-2

Ratio of basic salary and remuneration of women to men

5, 8, 106

71
73, 86, 87

GRI 406: Non-discrimination 2016
3-3

Management of material topics

406-1

Incidents of discrimination and corrective actions taken

71

5, 8

6

Not reported due to confidentiality constraints.

GRI 407: Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining 2016
3-3

Management of material topics

407-1

Operations and suppliers in which the right to freedom of association and collective­bargaining may be at risk

36, 618

2, 3

35, 61

GRI 408: Child Labor 2016
3-3

Management of material topics

408-1

Operations and suppliers at significant risk for incidents of child labor

36

8

2, 5

GRI 409: Forced or Compulsory Labor 2016
3-3

Management of material topics

409-1

Operations and suppliers at significant risk for incidents of forced or compulsory labor36

GRI 414: Supplier Social Assessment 2016
3-3

Management of material topics

1–6

414-1

New suppliers that were screened using social criteria

5, 8, 16

414-2

Negative social impacts in the supply chain and actions taken

5, 8, 16

36

1–6

GRI 415: Public Policy 2016
3-3

Management of material topics

415-1

Political contributions

46

16

46

GRI 416: Customer Health and Safety 2016
3-3

Management of material topics

41

416-1

Assessment of the health and safety impacts of product and service categories

44

416-2

Incidents of non-compliance concerning the health and safety impacts of products
and services

16

8.0 Appendix and Data | 8.5 GRI and SASB Content Indices, including UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Principles of the UN Global Compact

85

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

Code

Indicator

SDG

UNGC
Principle

Page
Number99

Comments/
Omissions

GRI 417: Marketing and Labeling 2016
3-3

Management of material topics

417-1

Requirements for product and service information and labeling

41

12

7

45

GRI 418: Customer Privacy 2016
3-3

Management of material topics

418-1

Substantiated complaints concerning breaches of customer privacy and lossesof ­customer data

40

16

40

BioNTech Material Topic: Animal Welfare (without reporting standard)
3-3Management of material topics

8.0 Appendix and Data | 8.5 GRI and SASB Content Indices, including UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Principles of the UN Global Compact

45

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SASB Content Index
Code

Accounting Metric

Page Number

Comments

Safety of Clinical Trial Participants
HC-BP-210a.1

Discussion, by world region, of management process for ensuring quality and patient safety during clinical trials

43

HC-BP-210a.2

Number of FDA Sponsor Inspections related to clinical trial management and pharmacovigilance that resulted in:(1) Voluntary Action Indicated (VAI) and (2) Official Action Indicated (OAI)85

HC-BP-210a.3

Total amount of monetary losses as a result of legal proceedings associated with clinical trials in developing countries

43

HC-BP-240a.1

Description of actions and initiatives to promote access to health care products for priority diseases and in priority countries as defined by
the Access to Medicine Index

18

HC-BP-240a.2

List of products on the WHO List of Prequalified Medicinal Products as part of its Prequalification of Medicines Programme (PQP)

Not reported.

HC-BP-240b.1

Number of settlements of Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) litigation that involved payments and/or provisions to delay bringing an
authorized generic product to market for a defined time period

Not reported.

HC-BP-240b.2

Percentage change in: (1) average list price and (2) average net price across U.S. product portfolio compared to previous year

Not reported.

HC-BP-240b.3

Percentage change in: (1) list price and (2) net price of product with largest increase compared to previous year

Not reported.

HC-BP-250a.1

List of products listed in the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Safety Alerts for Human Medical Products database

No products listed in FDA MedWatch database.

HC-BP-250a.2

Number of fatalities associated with products as reported in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System

https://fis.fda.gov/sense/app/95239e26-e0be-42d9-a960-9a5f7f1c25ee/
sheet/7a47a261-d58b-4203-a8aa-6d3021737452/state/analysis

HC-BP-250a.3

Number of recalls issued, total units recalled

HC-BP-250a.4

Total amount of product accepted for take back, reuse, or disposal

HC-BP-250a.5

Number of FDA enforcement actions taken in response to violations of current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), by type85

Description of methods and technologies used to maintain traceability of products throughout the supply chain andprevent counterfeiting

44

HC-BP-270a.1

Total amount of monetary losses as a result of legal proceedings associated with false marketing claims

45

HC-BP-270a.2

Description of code of ethics governing promotion of off-label use of products

If there were material legal proceedings associated with clinical trials in­developing countries and public disclosure criteria are met, details would be
included in BioNTech’s annual report on Form 20-F.

Drug Safety85

Not reported.

Counterfeit Drugs
HC-BP-260a.1
Ethical Marketing

8.0 Appendix and Data | 8.5 GRI and SASB Content Indices, including UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Principles of the UN Global Compact

If there were material legal proceedings associated with false marketingclaims and public disclosure criteria are met, details would be included in­BioNTech’s 2023 annual report on Form 20-F.
Not reported.

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

CodeAccounting Metric

Page Number

101

Comments

Employee Recruitment, Development & Retention
HC-BP-330a.1

Discussion of talent recruitment and retention efforts for scientists and research and development personnel

66

HC-BP-330a.2(1) Voluntary and (2) involuntary turnover rate for:(a) executives/senior managers, (b) midlevel managers, (c) professionals, and (d) all others

89

Supply Chain Management
Percentage of (1) entity’s facilities and (2) Tier I suppliers’ facilities participating in the Rx-360 International Pharmaceutical Supply Chain
Consortium audit program or equivalent third-party audit programs for integrity of supply chain and ingredients

Not reported.

HC-BP-510a.1

Total amount of monetary losses as a result of legal proceedings associated with corruption and bribery

If there were material legal proceedings associated with corruption and­bribery and public disclosure criteria are met, details would be included in
BioNTech’s annual report on Form 20-F.

HC-BP-510a.2

Description of code of ethics governing interactions with health care professionals

HC-BP-430a.1
Business Ethics

34

Activity Metrics
HC-BP-000.A

HC-BP-000.B

Number of patients treated

Clinical trials: 2,220 patients in 2023. In 2023, BioNTech and Pfizer distributed
over 460 million total COMIRNATY doses, of which over 190 million doses
were BioNTech’s Omicron XBB.1.5-adapted monovalent COVID-19 vaccine.

Number of drugs (1) in portfolio and (2) in research and development (Phases 1–3)

1 commercialized drug (BNT162b2);
over 20 programs in oncology and seven programs in infectious disease
being evaluated in over 40 clinical trials, including eight Phase 2 and two
Phase 3 clinical trials in oncology.

8.0 Appendix and Data | 8.5 GRI and SASB Content Indices, including UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Principles of the UN Global Compact

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102

8.6 IMPRINT
Published on March 20, 2024 by
BioNTech SE
Internal Communications &Corporate Social Responsibility
An der Goldgrube 1255131 Mainz
Germany

Concept & Editorial
CSR Team BioNTech
supported by:response, Inh. Arved Lüth

Phone: +49 6131 9084-0
Fax: +49 6131 9084-390

Design & Realization of PDF
HGB Hamburger Geschäftsberichte GmbH & Co. KG
Rentzelstraße 10a
D-20146 Hamburgwww.hgb.de

Email: sustainability@biontech.deWebsite: www.biontech.deDistrict Court of Mainz
HRB 48720
VAT ID No. DE 263 382 495
EORI No. DE 1070347
Management Board
Prof. Ugur Sahin, M.D.
Sean Marett
Sierk Poetting, Ph.D.
Ryan Richardson
Prof. Özlem Türeci, M.D.
Jens Holstein
James Ryan, Ph.D.

8.0 Appendix and Data | 8.6 Imprint

Editorial Deadline
March 8, 2024

Picture Credits• Page 2 Wolfgang Wilde• Page 21 BioNTech SE•	Pages 27, 28 Christina Mayer, Allix Sanders, Melissa Arsenie, BioNTech• Page 64 Stefan Daub/www.stefandaub.de• Page 72 Karyn Hoffman, Ludwig Heesen, BioNTech SE
Contact Point GRI 2-3
Daniel Schubert
Associate Director Sustainable Performance & Reporting
daniel.schubert@biontech.de

BioNTech Sustainability Report 2023

BioNTech SE
Internal Communications &Corporate Social Responsibility
An der Goldgrube 1255131 Mainz
Germany