The Practice and Delivery of Sustainability in the Pharma Industry

A huge topic in the pharmaceutical space right now is sustainability. Many big pharma companies have set ambitious green targets – and are also asking their suppliers to do the same. In 2022, for example, GSK announced that it would require its suppliers to “take action on sustainability commitments and make improvements on emissions, energy, heat, transport, waste, water and biodiversity.”

In the CDMO space, sustainability is now a business imperative. Some companies, such as Vetter and ten23 health, have already made significant investments to be sustainable, but more and more companies are also now taking action. China-based Asymchem, for example, has recently integrated biocatalysis into its processes to enable more efficient chemical reactions, reduce reliance on hazardous materials, improve solvents recycling, and minimize water consumption​. The ability to manufacture and use enzymes in situ has resulted in minimized loss of enzyme activity.

Elsewhere, other CDMOs are transitioning to more responsible sources to reduce their carbon footprints. France-based Fareva, for example, and its R&D teams support clients through the substitution of substances of concern for more environmentally friendly formulation processes, as well as through the proposition of designed-for-recycling packaging solutions, and a commitment to working with suppliers of local sustainable raw materials. 

There are also larger efforts at play. The Energize supplier consortium was established in 2021 by drug developers, alongside Schneider Electric and Carnstone Partners, to help suppliers, including CDMOs, reduce their carbon footprints through the adoption of cleaner energy supply. Member companies currently number 25, including AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, GSK, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Roche, Sandoz, Sanofi, and Takeda, to name a few.

Speaking about a recent energy procurement deal involving Energize, GSK’s Chief Procurement Officer Lisa Martin said, “We are thrilled the first Energize deal has been announced which marks an important milestone in the collaboration’s history. We co-founded Energize in 2021 and the programme is an important part of our plan to reduce our value chain emissions by 80 percent from 2020 to 2030. This new solar energy deal, including four of GSK’s suppliers in Europe, highlights our collective commitment to decarbonize and support the industry’s transition to renewable energy.”

The bigger (greener) picture
 

An holistic view of sustainability in the industry is being encouraged through the consideration of the entire life cycle of pharmaceutical products, known as life cycle assessments (LCAs). These include an evaluation of the environmental impact from raw material sourcing through to disposal, and CDMOs are aligning their practices with the sustainability targets set by their pharmaceutical partners, ensuring that sustainability metrics encompass the entire supply chain​.

But how can the scourge of “greenwashing” be averted? CDMOs are seeking recognition and certification to validate their sustainability efforts. For example, Samsung Biologics has achieved a platinum sustainability rating from EcoVadis, as well as the Honor Award from the Carbon Disclosure Project for two years running. Elsewhere, ten23 health became the first drug product CDMO to achieve B Corp certification. CEO Hanns-Christian Mahler said, “It is not enough simply to state ethical and environmental aspirations, but it is also critical to voluntarily achieve ambitious and recognized standards … I am proud and happy to see our Fairstainability agenda at ten23 health being validated by becoming a B Corp.”

Geographically, Europe leads in carbon reduction initiatives as a result of the European Commission-led carbon taxes and emissions trading systems. In the US, however, a lack of harmonized state-level policies is impacting the adoption of renewable energy. Despite this, action is still taking place. For example, the National Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Initiative was announced in 2022 and launched in 2023 to strengthen biomanufacturing infrastructure and improve sustainability practices across the pharmaceutical supply chain, through the emphasis of collaboration between CDMOs and biotech firms​. President Joe Biden himself became involved via an Executive Order to lower prices, improve access, create jobs, strengthen supply chains, improve health outcomes, and reduce carbon emissions in this sector.

In the latest CRB Horizons Life Sciences 2024 Report, chapter 7 focuses on the growing urgency for sustainability within the biopharmaceutical manufacturing sector. According to the authors Jochen Schmidt-Nawrot and Jeff Wegner, “the answer seems clear – the easy path is no longer viable. Sustainability is the future. Consumers and investors expect it. Regulators and legislators demand it. Our planet needs it. It may not be easy – but as the survey data shows, it’s necessary.”

A huge 93 percent of respondents to the survey say they have developed or are developing a formal sustainability roadmap, with 87 percent of biopharma manufactures currently utilizing renewable electricity or planning to do so by 2030.

The challenges involved in increased uptake of sustainability efforts stem from a lack of leadership, according to the report. With executive commitment being crucial to the achievement of sustainability goals, the energy and waste management challenges, regulation landscapes, and geographic disparity appear to be the most daunting and in need of clarity from C-Suite executives.

It would not be fair, however, to lay all the responsibility of sustainability on the shoulders of CEOs and board members. “Promoting sustainability begins at a grassroots level,” according to Bachem Scientific Marketing Manager Philipp Markolin. “By actively engaging the workforce in sustainable innovation, industry leaders can levy collective expertise and experience to drive technological advancements, and improve processes from the ground upwards. As a result, manufacturers can better deliver products and services, while navigating the evolving landscape of sustainable manufacturing as an organization.

“This culture of continuous improvement improves efficiency, by optimizing business processes, and identifying advanced manufacturing technologies in collaboration with those that use them.”

Consistency and continuity will help to embed sustainability into the very fabric of a pharmaceutical manufacturing company and, over time, it will become as common in the workplace as health and safety has. Markolin concludes: “As processes continue to improve with technological advancements, manufacturers should look to continuously evaluate and upscale their operation, with technology evolving at a rapid pace. It is their responsibility to ensure that environmental standards are met and exceeded, delivering their services at optimum efficiency, while not at the expense of the climate.”

Moving forward, the manufacturing arm of the entire pharmaceutical industry and CDMOs should look to develop and sustain a leading role in sustainability, and set examples for stakeholders elsewhere in the supply chain and beyond.