TECHNOLOGY
he pharmaceutical industry’ s role in global healthcare is monumental, but so is its environmental impact.
In recent years, addressing the sector’ s carbon footprint has become an increasingly urgent issue.
A recently-published report, Roadmap to Nature Positive: Foundations for the Pharmaceutical Sector, by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development( WBCSD), sets out a structured approach for companies to assess and mitigate their environmental footprint.
Developed in collaboration with GSK, PwC and other industry stakeholders, the roadmap outlines priority actions to drive sustainable transformation.
“ This is a must-read for anyone working to address the environmental impact of healthcare and pharmaceuticals,” says Claire Lund, Global Vice President for Sustainability at GSK.
The pharmaceutical industry’ s environmental footprint The pharmaceutical sector is responsible for approximately 5 % of global greenhouse gas emissions.
This contributes significantly to climate change and biodiversity loss. While medical advances have extended global life expectancy from 46.5 years in 1950 to 71.2 years in 2023, the industry’ s reliance on energyintensive manufacturing processes, resource-heavy supply chains and pharmaceutical waste disposal has left a lasting environmental footprint.
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