ICON Cares: A force for good
ICON Cares conveys our passion for helping others and our pledge to achieve more together, including:
- Improving patients’ lives and patient outcomes by increasing access to clinical trials across all populations
- Achieving delivery excellence for our customers
- Leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging tools to accelerate progress
- Helping to combat climate change by conducting business sustainably
- Supporting our employees’ development in a workplace where everyone feels like they belong and can contribute to our mission
- Strengthening the communities in which we live and work
Download the ICON Cares 2025 report
DownloadICON Cares 2025 Report - A message from Barry Balfe, our CEO
During 2025, we continued modernising our services and ways of working, we leveraged innovations in technology and adopted new processes that improved our capabilities and strengthened our culture. In a rapidly evolving clinical development landscape, this commitment enabled us to continue to accelerate delivery for our customers and identify life-enhancing solutions for patients.
This report highlights several developments from a productive year. Among them, we completed our first Double Materiality Assessment (DMA) in alignment with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). This process identified six priority topics for ICON and our stakeholders. We leveraged these findings to update the structure and focus of the 2025 ICON Cares report.
We also renewed our focus on employee engagement. We conducted an employee survey, through which team members identified what they liked best about working for ICON. They frequently cited an appreciation for our company’s flexible working practices, career development opportunities and colleague relationships. Feedback from this process, including identified areas for improvement, will inform future initiatives.
During the year, ICON received a range of external recognitions, including being named among TIME World’s Most Sustainable Companies and receiving Platinum Medal status from EcoVadis. EcoVadis assesses companies on their environmental, social, ethical and sustainable procurement practices and our score, 87 out of 100, placed us in the top 1% of companies assessed. While such recognition is encouraging, we remain focused on continuing to strengthen our approach in these areas.
We remain steadfast in our goal to become an even better company to work with and work for – one that brings better options to patients faster with a customer experience that sets us apart.
Barry Balfe
CEO
Our ICON Cares goals
ICON is a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) and a regular participant in EcoVadis and CDP assessments. ICON reports in alignment with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) S2, the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As part of ICON’s preparation for eventual reporting requirements under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), we have, for the first time, considered the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) in preparing the 2025 ICON Cares report. ICON also completed its DMA in 2024 in alignment with CSRD requirements. In 2024, the SBTi validated ICON’s near-term, long-term and net-zero science-based targets, reinforcing the credibility of our climate commitments. Our progress against these targets is outlined on the environmental page and in the 2025 ICON Cares report.
Our ICON Cares priorities
ICON Cares strives to drive meaningful change for our global workforce, the communities where we operate, the environment and the wider society.
ICON completed its DMA in 2024 in alignment with CSRD requirements for the first time. The process identified these six ESRS standards as material to ICON and its stakeholders. These are consistent with the ESG topics previously identified as material to ICON’s business.
These material topics will further inform our ICON Cares strategy, and we will report on these topics, alongside other ESG matters deemed material to our business. Reporting on these topics is included in the 2025 ICON Cares report. ICON will progressively align its disclosures with the ESRS in preparation for the release of its first formal CSRD sustainability statement in 2028.
ESG awards
TIME World's Most Impactful Companies 2026
ICON is one of only select few Irish organisations to receive this award which highlights organisations delivering a net positive impact across society, health, environment and knowledge.
This recognition reflects the continued progress of ICON Cares, where we focus on improving patient outcomes, advancing innovation and contributing responsibly to the communities we serve.
TIME World's Best Companies in Sustainable Growth 2026
For the second year in a row, ICON has been named to this prestigious ESG list.
Based on a global independent study by Statista, the list identifies companies leading their industries (ICON are the only global CRO on the ranking) by demonstrating both outstanding environmental performance.
Forbes World's Top Companies for Women 2025
ICON have been included in Forbes' select list of only 400 global companies.
Based on a survey of approximately 120,000 women in more than 36 countries, positions on the list were awarded to companies that have been identified as top performers in promoting gender equality and supporting women in the workplace.
TIME/ Statista World's Best Companies Award 2025
ICON has been named as one of the World’s Best Companies by TIME/ Statista for the 3rd year in a row.
The recipients are ranked based on their performance on three key metrics - employee satisfaction, revenue growth and sustainability transparency. This year ICON also ranked in the Top 10 Irish-based organisations.
ICON named one of TIME World's Most Sustainable Companies 2025
This list ranks the world’s 500 most sustainable companies based on their public commitment to and progress toward sustainability targets.
ICON was one of nine Irish-based companies to make this global list, recognising the impact our ICON Cares programme is making.
ICON partners with global healthcare leaders to procure renewable power in China
Aligned with ICON's sustainability strategy, this collaboration of 12 companies will unlock approximately 225 GWh of renewable electricity annually for the research, development and manufacture of medicines.
TIME World's Best Companies in Sustainable Growth 2025
In recognition of ICON's ESG efforts and commitment, Time has named us one of the World's top companies in sustainable growth.
ICON placed 57th in the list, the second highest ranked company headquartered in Ireland and the highest ranked CRO.
2024 PwC Business Post Sustainable Business Awards
ICON has been named Social & Equality Business of the Year at the 2024 PwC Business Post Sustainable Business Awards. These awards recognise leadership, innovation, investment and ingenuity in the areas of Environment, Social and Governance.
TIME Best Companies Award
ICON has been named as one of the World’s Best Companies by TIME magazine in both 2024 and 2023.
Out of the 1000 companies, ICON ranked in 107th place, making ICON once more, the top ranked CRO on the list.
The awards evaluate companies using standardised KPIs on employee satisfaction, revenue growth and sustainability.
Frost & Sullivan Enlightened Growth Leadership Award
The Frost & Sullivan Institute presented ICON with an Enlightened Growth Leadership Award in both 2024 and 2023.
The awards identify companies that have embraced emerging technologies, generated opportunities for all, while demonstrating best practices for sustainable growth.
AmCham Global Impact Award
ICON received the 2023 Global Impact Award at the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland’s US-Ireland Business Awards.
Those shortlisted for the Global Impact Award were required to have had a positive, global or international impact on markets or society, and to demonstrate a commitment to inclusion and diversity.
