Operate Responsibly
Operate responsibly
Operate responsibly
We are committed to conducting ourselves with honesty, integrity, and respect for all
Our role as a genomics pioneer brings with it the responsibility to enable innovation for good, ensuring that the technology we create and the data we collect are used safely, ethically, and responsibly. Doing the right thing is core to who we are, what we do, and how we do it. We honor the trust placed in us by patients, customers, employees, shareholders, and communities.
Practice strong corporate governance and compliance
By exercising strong corporate governance, we aim to inspire confidence in the work we do and in our company’s future.
Board of directors
Our Board of Directors is a diverse group of leaders who champion scientific innovation. The Board’s aim is to ensure the company is equipped with the tools it needs to accelerate the power of genomics. The Board has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines which are founded on a commitment to building shareholder value, with an emphasis on responsible governance. These guidelines, together with the Code of Conduct and Board Committee Charters, provide the framework for corporate governance at Illumina.
Diverse and independent board
As stipulated in our Corporate Governance Guidelines, our company seeks to achieve a mix of Board members that represents a diversity of background and experience, including with respect to age, gender, international background, race, and specialized experience.
ESG governance
The full Board provides ESG oversight, and in 2022 we expanded the remit of the Nominating/ Corporate Governance Committee to assist the Board in overseeing the Company's material environmental, social, and governance matters (ESG), except as specifically delegated to another Board committee. The Compensation Committee continues to oversee and provide input to management on diversity and inclusion matters, and the Audit Committee continues to oversee cybersecurity.
Maintain a culture of compliance
At Illumina, our Code of Conduct and associated anti-bribery compliance policies and procedures are intended to promote honest and ethical conduct, compliance with applicable laws, and protection of our business interests. Our Anti-Bribery Compliance Program (“Compliance Program”) is built on the eight elements of an effective compliance program as recognized by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the US Department of Health and Human Services and the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) of the UK. The Program provides a comprehensive framework to detect and prevent violations of law and company policy.
Make responsible public policy decisions
Proactive engagement with public policy stakeholders enables the sharing of accurate and reliable information about genomics and advocacy for policies that ensure and promote broad access. Illumina participates in the political and public policy process with governments and organizations around the world to engage and educate policymakers and key stakeholders on issues that impact our mission and business.
Our interactions with policymakers must align with our core values, ethical responsibilities, and legal obligations. The Illumina Nominating/ Corporate Governance Committee of our Board of Directors oversees our political policies and contribution practices.
Advocating for public policies that ensure and enable broad access to genomic technologies is a priority. Our legislative priorities:
- Advancement of precision medicine
- Adoption and reimbursement for genetic testing
- Adoption and reimbursement for noninvasive prenatal testing
- Adoption and funding for genomic infectious disease surveillance
- Promoting STEM opportunities
Upholding human rights for all stakeholders
We are committed to respecting human rights and treating every stakeholder with dignity and respect. Recognizing that only governments have the authority to become a party to and to be bound by international agreements, Illumina respects the fundamental principles contained in the International Bill of Rights (that is, the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights), the International Labour Organization’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, and the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. As a member of the United Nations Global Compact, Illumina is committed to integrating these principles into our strategy, our culture, our operations, and our relationships with business partners.
Ethical use of genomic technologies
Illumina is steadfast in our commitment that genomic technologies should be used to benefit humanity. Our Human Rights Policy and customer agreements outline our expectations regarding ethical business conduct, the use of our technology, and the steps we can take in the event of a possible violation.
We have expanded and enhanced our oversight and accountability processes to monitor and enforce these commitments and seek to prevent sales that could result in misuse or human rights concerns before they happen. Illumina is committed to investigating potential reports of product misuse and will not hesitate to cease sales to business partners in the event of a confirmed ethics or human rights violation.
Uphold the highest standards for data security and privacy
As we expand access to genomics around the world, we must also respect and properly secure the resulting data.
Genomics data is powering positive progress around the world. We are committed to developing, upholding, and promoting high standards for genomic data privacy. We develop, implement, and review privacy-related policies, practices, and contractual language and ensure the integration of privacy as a priority throughout the company. Our Privacy Policy defines the way we use, maintain, protect, disclose, and transfer personal information.
Ethical artificial intelligence principles
Illumina is dedicated to improving human health by unlocking the power of the genome. Our mission drives everything we do, including the technology we develop. Illumina creates and uses artificial intelligence (AI) systems to power industry-leading sequencing quality, fuel data insights, improve understanding of genomic variation in relation to health and disease, and advance genomic science. We define AI systems to include machine learning, deep learning, and predictive modeling. Illumina is committed to developing and using AI according to applicable laws and the following guiding principles:
- Transparency
- Diversity, nondiscrimination, and fairness
- Values-driven design
- Accountability
Foster a responsible supply chain
Illumina’s global supply chain consists of suppliers, sub-contractors, channel partners, manufacturing sites, distribution centers, and customers. We consider it business-critical to work with suppliers who share our commitment to integrity and who support an ethical and compliant culture. We view our suppliers as partners in our effort to work toward a more equitable and sustainable future for all.
We hold our suppliers to the same standards of business conduct that we set for ourselves. We require them to comply with the standards of behavior outlined in our Supplier Code of Conduct and exhibit social responsibility and environmental stewardship.
Our supplier diversity efforts aim to cultivate a supplier base that reflects the diversity of our communities, customers, employees, and the local economies where we operate. We recognize that a diverse supplier base provides a competitive business advantage by harnessing suppliers’ unique experiences and creative solutions. Our program, overseen by a Supplier Diversity Governance Committee, promotes partnership opportunities for suppliers in the US that are at least 51% owned, managed, and controlled by a qualifying diverse group.
2030 Supply Chain Targets
20%
total spend allocated to diverse suppliers
100%
strategic suppliers commit to reducing environment footprint