CLAIRE LUND
TECHNOLOGY
“ The twin crises of nature loss and climate change are a significant challenge for any sector, but the pharmaceutical sector plays such an important role in all of our lives,” explains Laura Kelly, Partner in ESG Reporting & Assurance at PwC.
“ Any steps forward that can be made in addressing these challenges are crucial.”
CLAIRE LUND
TITLE: GLOBAL VICE PRESIDENT FOR SUSTAINABILITY
COMPANY: GSK
INDUSTRY: PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURING
The industry’ s five key priorities The roadmap identifies five key priority actions for companies aiming to reduce their environmental impact:
• Minimising water usage
• Addressing pollution risks associated with Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients( APIs)
• Reducing GHG emissions across the value chain
• Improving supply chain transparency
• Cutting solid waste
Each of these measures is intended to be adaptable to different business models, ensuring companies can integrate them into their existing operations without compromising innovation.
Water use and pollution Water use remains a significant concern, particularly in regions where pharmaceutical production exacerbates local water scarcity.
The report urges companies to adopt water conservation strategies and implement stricter wastewater treatment protocols to prevent contamination of natural ecosystems.
Similarly, pollution from APIs, which can persist in water supplies and disrupt aquatic life, must be mitigated through improved disposal methods and cleaner production technologies.
Cutting emissions in the pharmaceutical sector GHG emissions present another major challenge.
The roadmap calls for pharmaceutical firms to set ambitious emissions reduction targets, particularly in energy-intensive manufacturing and logistics.
88 August 2025