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Sustainability

This has become a buzzword since the predictions around the planet Earth running out of resources in about 60 years surfaced. The ever increasing population and consumer behavior is the reason behind the depleting resources. 

But that's not the only cause as to why everyone is talking about sustainability. The extreme weather conditions and the hottest half-decade are increasing the concerns. Clearly, no industry remained unfazed by these recent developments. And the healthcare industry is pretty much one such sector that is in the process of creating new norms throughout the marketplace. 

 In fact, as per the survey, environmental sustainability was voted as the top area that the industry needs to address, with more than 40% of respondents suggesting the same, followed by pollution and biodiversity. 

But what's stopping them?

The aging population and improved availability of healthcare drive the industry to cater to the demands of the consumers. Thus, it is conflicting with sustainability objectives. Plus, the shift towards smaller batch runs and frequent changeovers further creates obstacles for pharma companies to reduce energy consumption. 

So, what's the solution?

This is why pharmaceutical companies must implement solutions that can minimize the impact of expanding product lines. They can even integrate sustainability solutions into developing new delivery systems.

Another way to achieve sustainability is moving towards low-carbon health systems. One way to do so is by opting for technology to improve day-to-day processes and eventually become more sustainable. For instance, the sector can use 3D designs to break down the knowledge silos, creating more sustainable solutions for the future. 

But how to get started? Keep reading, and you'll find out more.

Invest in Energy/Utility Saving Solutions

With the increase in the use of advanced technology, medications are becoming more customized and personalized. Thus, it's resulting in the million bottle runs for a dosage. In other words, micro runs are becoming common. So, the companies need to run lines without stopping for minor tweaks. This can help the companies to reduce the additional energy required for the changeover. So, the manufacturers can use this opportunity to re-evaluate their operations to achieve efficiencies, energy, and utility savings. 

Another example to reduce the energy consumption in manufacturing units is decreasing the amount of energy utilized to shrink a lid. Some are even thinking of using clean technologies like solar or power-generated biofuels. 

Achieving Sustainability Through Serialization

While serialization might have importance in the manufacturing world to track the product until it reaches the patient, sustainability enters this vertical. It allows them to create a better window in terms of the product's location and distribution. Since they have the data, they make the correct number of products, limiting the additional usage of materials and energy. 

Moreover, this serialization increases the supply chain visibility, thus helping to control the overall tracking progress. 

Many pharmaceutical companies are already doing their part in achieving their sustainability goals. Want to know which companies we are talking about? Keep scrolling through!

Pharmaceutical Companies That Are Taking Sustainability Seriously

• GlaxoSmithKline (GSK): Back in 2018, the company announced 13 new commitments to improve health while addressing the UN's sustainable development goals. They pledged to provide products at affordable rates while slashing their operational greenhouse gas emissions by introducing different strategies. They implemented a plan to reduce water use by 30% at high-risk sites by 2030.
• AstraZeneca: This British-Swedish firm included sustainability strategies around healthcare access, environmental protection, and transparency. They are pretty popular for their actions to reduce emissions, developing low-carbon processes, and more.  

 In fact, they were awarded by CDP for their global environmental impact initiatives. They also have announced their Ambition Zero Carbon Programme and are looking to invest around $1 billion to meet its targets. 

• Takeda: This is a Japanese pharmaceutical company that prioritizes its environmental efforts to reduce the impact of climate change on human health. They make sure to review their medium and long-term environmental targets every year. In addition to this, the company also announced its 2020 goals regarding becoming carbon neutral across its supply chain.  
• Novo Nordisk: Their philosophy is to make sure there is no negative impact of their operations on people, community, and environment. They are now moving away from the linear economy and focusing on the circular economy for the ZERO strategy. It implies that they will re-use, recycle, or re-purpose wherever possible. 
• Merck & Co: They believe that companies must use resources wisely. Their sustainability plan focuses primarily on three areas: operational efficiency, minimizing impact when designing new products, and reducing impact in the value chain. The firm also pledged to source 50% of its energy from renewable resources by 2025. 
• Sanofi: They will be contributing towards public health for underserved patients. They will create a sustainable ecosystem for communities and include environmental considerations as a part of their decision-making process. They pledged to be a carbon-neutral firm by 2050. They also plan to cut their landfill waste to around 1% within the next five years. 

 In The End- Focus on Improving Public Perception

Public perception is one of the barriers that usually hinders the growth of the healthcare industry. Using sustainability as a driver, the companies can significantly improve their stance in front of their end-users. 

Unsure of where to start? Or are you concerned about how to identify and analyze sustainability strategies? Well! Don't be! You need to consider your bottom line, i.e., environmental, social, and economical. 

So, this is what you must do!

• Evaluate your sustainability activities as per the industry-accepted methods and protocols. You can also include GRI and greenhouse gas protocol to understand better and manage greenhouse gas emissions.
• Report your ongoing performance for transparency with your key stakeholders and improve your performance by creating a list of key performance metrics. Thus, eventually, make informed decisions. 

Remember, you need to have a good reputation if you wish to quantify. Given the current opinions, CEOs must address public perception and integrate sustainability into their approach. 

Is your company employing sustainability means to make their contribution towards sustainability? If not, you need to start right away!