Roche Holding AG (China) – Zhi Geng – 2025

Summary

Zhi Geng developed digital tools for waste management and conducted energy analysis to advance sustainability goals at Roche Pharma Shanghai.

Goals

In response to Roche’s ambitious global sustainability goals, including achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, Zhi was enlisted by the Roche Pharma Shanghai site. The site faced challenges with energy data analysis. Inefficient, manual processes for waste management and environmental compliance also created operational bottlenecks. Zhi’s mission was to design and implement a suite of digital, data-driven solutions to streamline workflows, enhance analytical capabilities, and accelerate progress toward the site’s environmental targets.

Solutions

Zhi tackled this challenge with a three-pronged approach. First, she developed a comprehensive Waste Management E-Platform, which included a mobile app for on-site data entry and a real-time Tableau dashboard for visualization, streamlining a process that contains approximately 40,000 records for over 7 years. Moreover, she updated the site’s strategic Energy Roadmap by analyzing energy consumption and GHG emissions data to identify key reduction opportunities. Additionally, she established an Environmental AI Assistant, training it on nearly 400 historical reports to provide instant and accurate access to critical compliance information.

Potential Impact

The implementation of Zhi’s digital solutions is projected to save over 2,700 hours of labor annually. The waste platform alone will enable a fully paperless workflow, saving 7,200 pieces of paper per year. By leveraging data-driven insights from the platform to improve recycling rates, the site can reduce GHG emissions by over 6 tons annually. These tools provide Roche with the enhanced capabilities needed to more effectively manage its environmental footprint and drive meaningful progress on its sustainability journey.