Healthy Planet: How The Pharmaceutical Industry Can Reduce Its Emissions

Sustainability is undeniably an increasingly important consideration for pharmaceutical businesses, but it’s clear the sector needs to do more to keep pace with shifting consumer expectations and regulatory requirements.

A potential net increase of 529,000 adult deaths worldwide per year by 2050 due to climate change has been predicted, and even though the global pharmaceutical industry is in the business of keeping people healthy, it is also responsible for approximately 52 megatons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions annually.

This equates to roughly 4.5 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions and already, we can see climate change impacting the health of people in many ways - leading to death and illness from increasingly frequent extreme weather events, disrupting food systems, and contributing to an increase in mental health issues.

Meeting rapidly shifting ESG targets

These factors mean that environmental, social and governance (ESG) targets have risen to the forefront in businesses around the world and the pharmaceutical sector is no outlier. There is increasing pressure to meet these targets, with the industry as a whole producing 55% more greenhouse gas emissions than the automotive sector.

From greenhouse gas emissions, to air, water, and land pollutants, construction and deforestation, and overuse of natural resources, the impacts that pharmaceutical processes have on the environment are numerous, so businesses must work to minimise these in order to meet their targets.

In April 2022, the UK introduced two mandatory ESG disclosure laws, which require companies to provide climate-related financial disclosures in their strategic reports. Introducing ESG reporting creates the opportunity for pharmaceutical businesses to monitor their impact on the environment and prepare for any changes in future regulation that might be put in place. 

This enables pharmaceutical companies to meet stakeholder expectations while driving innovation, operational efficiency and cost savings across their business. This will improve the company’s reputation across the market, while contributing to the fight to improve the planet’s health, demonstrating their commitment to the values which drive the wider industry.

Exploring practical solutions to the problem

It is not possible to improve the health of people on an individual scale without also thinking about the condition of the environment around the world, but in order to achieve this, businesses need to take practical steps towards improving their sustainability. Ultimately, these will help the wider pharmaceutical industry meet its ESG commitments going forward.

Renewable energy sources, such as solar thermal systems and wind turbines, are a great opportunity for a business to obtain their increasing demands for electricity and heat, while reducing energy costs and emissions, and use of fossil fuels. New products and innovations which help businesses to take practical steps to achieve this, such as the solar carports Solspan helps businesses to install, are rapidly emerging into the market as demand increases.

Not only can these products help a business to meet its ESG targets, but they could also allow it to become completely independent of centralised energy suppliers alongside other renewable energy sources. With global events increasing scrutiny and pressure on energy supplies, this process can secure the long-term supply of energy and heat, guaranteeing future sustainable generation without the reliance on external suppliers.

A blend of sustainability and functionality

When implementing practical solutions to meet sustainability goals, it’s important they also provide functional benefits, in order for a business to get the most out of them. Solar carports are growing in popularity due to their ability to utilise large outdoor spaces like car parks, while also providing protection for the vehicles which are parked underneath them.

If businesses wish to do so, they can even go the extra step in their journey towards their sustainable future, by installing EV charging points underneath the carports. This can create a further benefit for staff, who in turn, may be encouraged to make the switch to EVs, with the knowledge they can charge their vehicle easily in a safe and protected place - helping the business to embark on a further step towards its ESG targets.

From potential employees, to stakeholders or consumers, people value businesses which are environmentally conscious: going forward, particularly in light of the statistics which have emerged, businesses must make their commitment to improving the health of people and the planet visible. These practical solutions, which tick the boxes of both sustainability and functionality, will help them to meet their ESG goals - ensuring the health of individual people and the planet as a whole.

About Author: Clifford Huntley

Clifford Huntley is head of research and development at Solspan, part of Kensington Systems, a leading provider of commercial solar carports. He is an expert when it comes to solar PV and carport design and installation, renewable energy systems integration, and project management and delivery. Clifford is passionate about the potential for solar carports to help businesses reduce their carbon footprint, cut costs, and deliver on their net-zero goals. His ambition is to turn every car park and rooftop into a clean energy source that benefits both the environment and the economy.