On a Sustainable Path to Net Zero

Among the most polluting industries in the world, pharmaceutical operations are responsible for a significant portion of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. As reported by Lotfi Belkhir in?The Conversation ?in 2019, "The total global emissions of the pharma sector amounts to about 52 megatonnes of CO2e in 2015, more than the 46.4 megatonnes of CO2e generated by the automotive sector in the same year."

As pharma leaders realize they have to be a part of the solution, more and more companies in the pharmaceutical and biotech world are making the pledge to become Net Zero by 2050. This is in line with the goals set by the UN – and some are dedicated to achieving this carbon neutrality even earlier.

Novo Nordisk, for example, has committed to?reaching net zero by 2045 , with an interim target of zero CO2 emissions from operations and transport by 2030. To get there, they are focusing on their use of electricity, how they design their products and their suppliers, which are all major areas responsible for big pharma emissions.

Solutions like?Knovel ?and?ScienceDirect? are also valuable resources for learning about sustainable alternatives and keeping up with the latest research and vital data in this fast-moving area. Whether a pharmaceutical business is wondering what green manufacturing processes it should consider adopting, or which sustainable materials can be used in the building of a new facility, having reliable information at the ready is a must.

Together, we can work towards a healthier and greener future. In order to share some knowledge, we have started a "Becoming Net Zero" webinar series, where we invite renowned and experienced speakers to guide further on the topic, and encourage the audience to ask important questions to help move forward this discussion.

On June 28 is an upcoming presentation by Gary Coates , Technical Manager for the Nickel Institute on material needs for clean energy production. He will focus specially on nickel alloys and stainless steel, along with examining energy from?solar (PV & CSP), wind, geothermal and biofuels. This webinar is open for registration, and you can reserve your spot by clicking here .

He previously gave a talk on carbon capture and storage, focusing on the considerations for material selection, which is now available to view here .

The final presentation in the series will be held on July 20 by Michael Deighton , the Vice President of Operations at Kent, on ways for achieving performance excellence in the energy industry. He will discuss the key principles to keep in mind for the energy managers and engineers, along with learnings on utilizing cutting edge tools and techniques. You can register your spot on this informational webinar by clicking here .

Climate change poses a severe threat to the future of this planet, and it is vital that leaders across industries work together towards mitigating it. 2020 marked five years since the launch of the SDGs by UN, and the start of the “Decade of Action”. The same year, Elsevier released a report offering unique insights to map the state of research to acknowledge the pivotal it plays in advancing these goals by better understanding the research community’s global sustainable development efforts.

Elsevier is committed to the Net Zero goals and supports the global efforts to mitigate climate change by rapidly reducing direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions. In 2020, we achieved the target of being net zero for direct emissions and business travel, but will keep holding ourselves accountable to continuously work towards ensuring that this feat is extended to all emissions. Let's build a better future through cooperation and action.