Challenges in transitioning to a green industrial park demo

The life sciences industry has made significant strides in sustainability over the past few years, with many organizations focusing on reducing environmental impact and creating more efficient processes. Our global life sciences study, *Forefront*, surveyed 180 industry leaders, interviewed 12 leading pharmaceutical companies, and incorporated insights from a roundtable hosted by the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) regarding topics specific to pharmaceutical engineering teams.

We found that 25% of the surveyed companies plan to establish a dedicated sustainability function to drive solutions across the organization. This signals a commitment to achieving sustainability goals and ensuring efficient resource use. However, only 56% of companies have formal sustainability targets, and the majority lack a strategic roadmap to achieve them. This indicates that while companies recognize the importance of sustainability, many are still in the early stages of effective implementation.

Efforts and goals

Sustainability efforts vary widely among companies; some rely on certifications such as LEED or ISO, while others utilize frameworks like the GRI Standards or other sustainability models to track and measure success. Although more than half of survey respondents employ these frameworks, 40% still rely on CAPEX approval processes, which can make it difficult to justify investments in sustainability initiatives.

A common approach to achieving sustainability goals is to establish a baseline year and commit to reducing carbon emissions by a specific percentage by a target date. While this annual assessment can be challenging for facilities that have already achieved energy savings—and easier for less efficient ones—it also involves upgrades to infrastructure, production, and personnel, adding complexity to the process. Additionally, there is a growing focus on single-use technologies due to their flexibility and improved efficiency; however, companies must evaluate them from a sustainability perspective before investing. Furthermore, sourcing materials locally can help reduce energy consumption associated with transportation.

Efforts and goals

A common approach to achieving sustainability goals is to establish a baseline year and then commit to reducing carbon emissions by a specific percentage by a target date. While this annual assessment can be challenging for facilities that have already achieved energy savings—and relatively easier for less efficient ones—it also involves scaling up infrastructure, production, and personnel, which adds complexity to the process. Furthermore, there is a growing focus on single-use technologies due to their flexibility and improved efficiency; however, companies must evaluate them from a sustainability perspective before investing. Additionally, sourcing materials locally can help reduce energy consumption associated with transportation.