The healthcare sector contributes to approximately 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with around half of that coming from supply chains. To make a meaningful impact, healthcare supply chains must become more circular and efficient. However, achieving this requires large-scale, collective action.
The pharmaceutical industry has aggressive goals to reduce emissions across the value chain
Companies track their emissions across three categories: Scope 1 includes direct emissions from activities the company controls, Scope 2 covers indirect emissions from purchased energy, and Scope 3 represents all other indirect emissions from the value chain before or after the company’s own operations.
Scope 3 emissions are often the largest contributor to a company's carbon footprint, yet they are also the most challenging to manage. About 75% of emissions across the pharmaceutical companies’ value chain are Scope 3 (McKinsey: Accelerating the transition to the net zero in life sciences, 2023).
Given that Scope 3 emissions often make up the largest portion of a company's carbon footprint and are the most difficult to manage, how can the pharmaceutical industry address these emissions in packaging design while balancing sustainability with regulatory compliance and patient safety?
Challenges and considerations in sustainable pharmaceutical packaging
While the pharmaceutical industry has set ambitious targets to reduce emissions, these efforts are complicated by the unique requirements of pharmaceutical packaging. Packaging must protect products from contamination and environmental factors, comply with strict regulations, and ensure safety, including the management of Extractables and Leachables in plastic packaging. Extractables and Leachables (E&L) refer to potential impurities that can migrate from packaging or manufacturing materials into drug products. E&L analysis is critical because these impurities may impact the potency, stability, safety, and overall effectiveness of drug products.
Additionally, packaging communicates vital information like dosage and ingredients and, in some cases, functions as a drug delivery system (e.g., injection pens, inhalers). Other features like child resistance, tamper evidence, and elderly-friendly design may also be required.
When selecting materials for packaging, factors like storage conditions, temperature extremes, and sterilization processes must be considered. The lengthy validation process requires careful change management to avoid any unintended alterations.