3 ways to improve sustainability in advanced therapies
The pharmaceutical industry must rapidly shift towards environmentally conscious practices if it is to maintain a sustainable future. How can members of the pharma community improve sustainability within and beyond the lab setting?
From novel drug discovery to streamlining manufacturing timelines, the advanced therapies and pharmaceuticals industry are under constant pressure to innovate. With the common goal of bringing life-saving treatments to patients, the industry often overlooks its profound impact on the environment. In fact, it has been revealed that the pharmaceutical industry emits more greenhouse gases than the automotive sector. On the doorstep of ecological breakdown, it’s time that the industry took responsibility for its environmental impact. From carbon-intensive manufacturing and delivery processes to plastic pollution in labs, creating a sustainable future will be a complex and collaborative journey for researchers and developers alike.
With environmental news often being doom and gloom, here’s an optimistic insight into the current innovations and collaborations of the pharmaceutical industry that strive for a sustainable tomorrow. These companies are mitigating the impact of manufacturing, slashing greenhouse gas emissions from drug transport and are forging collaborations across the industry to encourage climate-conscious business models. Though vigorous effort and industry-wide contribution is required to make tangible change, these are promising first steps in the right direction.
Here are three ways you can improve sustainability in advanced therapies within and beyond your lab setting:
#1 Use suppliers who are focused on sustainability
Cutting carbon emissions with sustainable pharma transport solutions
In a drive for sustainability, Envirotainer (Sollentuna, Sweden), a company specializing in air-transportation for temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals, has joined forces with Air France KLM Martinair Cargo (Schiphol, Netherlands), the leading airline in pharmaceutical logistics. The collaboration has seen Air France KLM Martinair Cargo approve the Envirotainer Releye® container, an advanced temperature-controlled air freight container that delivers up to 90% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to available passive solutions. To further their commitment to sustainable practice, Envirotainer will reduce the environmental impact of its containers by investing in sustainable aviation fuel produced from sustainable feedstock, such as cooking oil, animal waste or solid waste from homes and businesses. The investment reduces CO2 emissions by up to 85% compared to conventional jet fuel.
“We really appreciate our long-term partnership with Envirotainer. Sustainability and Pharmaceuticals are among our strategic focus areas. That is why this initiative is of such great importance to us,” commented Marcel Kuijn, Global Head of Pharmaceutical Logistics at Air France KLM Martinair Cargo.
#2 Switch to renewable energy sources
Schneider Electric launches the ‘Energize program’ to increase the pharmaceutical industry’s access to renewable energy
Schneider Electric (Rueil-Malmaison, France), an energy and automation company crowned the ‘world’s most sustainable corporation’ in 2021, has launched its ‘Energize’ program to increase access to renewable energy for pharmaceutical suppliers. The program is brought to life in collaboration with Carnstone (London, UK), an independent management consultancy specializing in corporate responsibility and sustainability. The overall goal of Energize is to encourage system-level change, with 10 global pharmaceutical companies collaborating in a drive to unite hundreds of suppliers in bold climate action and decarbonization of the pharmaceutical value chain.
The Energize program will aid companies in addressing their own operational Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions (indirect emissions from the generation of purchased electricity, steam, heat and cooling), which in turn reduces participating companies’ Scope 3 emissions (all indirect emissions that occur in the company’s value chain both upstream and downstream, such as waste, employees travel and investments). As these ten collaborating companies address their own energy usage, they will further encourage their suppliers to create renewable energy opportunities. Energize aims to teach pharmaceutical companies about sourcing renewable energy, equipping them with the tools they require to enter power purchase agreements.
The ten participants in the program include: AstraZeneca (London, England), Biogen (London, England), GlaxoSmithKline (London, England), Johnson & Johnson (NJ, USA), MSD (NJ, USA), Novartis (Basel, Switzerland), Novo Nordisk (Bagsvaerd, Denmark), Pfizer (NY, USA), Sanofi (Paris, FrancE) and Takeda (Tokyo, Japan). “Limiting global warming to safe levels will depend on moving the entire world to renewable energy. This is not something that companies can achieve on their own. We are strong believers in the power of collaboration and are honored to be bringing the pharmaceutical industry together to drive the adoption of renewable energy in its supply chains,” commented Glynn Roberts, Senior Partner at Carnstone.
#3 Invest in sustainable technologies
Upcycling food-waste could be the answer to a sustainable future in regenerative medicine
Researchers from the UPV/EHU – University of the Basque Country’s (Leioa, Spain) NanoBioCel and BIOMAT groups have forged a solution for upcycling and sustainability in the field of regenerative medicine. The group of scientists have developed a biomedical device comprising of chitin and soy protein – both by-products of the food industry. The device forms a porous, interconnected microarchitectural matrix, emulating those of certain body tissues. The approach shows promise in the matrix-based regenerative medicine industry, displaying suitable physio-chemical and mechanical properties and proven biocompatibility both in vitro and in an in vivo murine model. Further, it has the capacity to host a large number of viable stem cells, revealing its potential as an effective vehicle in cell therapy.
The research and development of this technology comes as an answer to the insurmountable environmental impact of the pharmaceutical industry. It provides evidence that investment in sustainable biotechnology can produce effectual results, setting a promising example for the future of environmentally conscious advancements in the pharmaceutical industry.
“It is important to point out that to date no one has exploited the potential in regenerative medicine displayed by soy protein and chitin blended in a microporous matrix,” stressed the researchers. “As the first milestone in this respect, this novel device incorporates two natural components obtained from the food industry, thus contributing towards the widely called-for social requirement to upgrade waste from production on an industrial level,” the researchers concluded.
Sarah Rehman
Sarah is the editor of RegMedNet and author of this article. She ensures that the site is up-to-date with the latest news and views in the field of regenerative medicine, from breakthrough therapies to industry collaborations. With a background in both Zoology and Ecology, she has a particular interest in the environmental impact of the industry and the innovations that could move us towards a sustainable future.