Challenges in transforming into a green industrial area

The life sciences industry has been making great strides in sustainability over the past few years, with many organizations focusing on reducing their environmental impact and creating more efficient processes. Our Global Life Sciences study: Forefront, surveyed 180 global industry leaders, interviewed 12 blue-chip pharma companies, and featured insights from our roundtable hosted by The International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) on topics unique to pharmaceutical engineering teams

We found that 25% of the companies surveyed plan to add a dedicated sustainability function to drive solutions across their organization. This is a sign of commitment to achieve sustainability goals and ensure that resources are used efficiently. However, only 56% of companies have a formalized set of sustainability goals, and the majority of those with goals have no strategic roadmap on how to achieve them. This suggests that while companies recognize the importance of sustainability, many are still at the beginning of implementing it effectively.
Efforts and goals

Sustainability efforts vary greatly among companies, with some relying on certifications such as LEED or ISO, while others use frameworks such as the GRI Framework or other sustainable frameworks to track and measure success. Over half of respondents use these types of frameworks, but 40% still rely on CAPEX approval processes which can make it difficult to justify investments in sustainability initiatives.
One popular approach to implementing sustainability goals is marking a baseline year and then committing to a certain per cent reduction in carbon emissions by a certain target date. This annual evaluation can be challenging for already energy-efficient sites and easier to achieve for inefficient sites, but it also involves increasing infrastructure, production, and headcount which adds complexity to the process. There is also an increased focus on single-use technologies due to their improved flexibility and efficiency; However, companies must evaluate them from a sustainability perspective before investing in them. Additionally, sourcing materials locally can help reduce transportation-related energy consumption.

Efforts and goals

One popular approach to implementing sustainability goals is marking a baseline year and then committing to a certain per cent reduction in carbon emissions by a certain target date. This annual evaluation can be challenging for already energy-efficient sites and easier to achieve for inefficient sites, but it also involves increasing infrastructure, production, and headcount which adds complexity to the process. There is also an increased focus on single-use technologies due to their improved flexibility and efficiency; However, companies must evaluate them from a sustainability perspective before investing in them. Additionally, sourcing materials locally can help reduce transportation-related energy consumption.