The global bio/pharmaceutical industry is reaching a developmental junction, with the challenges of sustainable and environmentally friendly business practices playing on the minds of industry leaders.

The issue is indeed a high priority for the sector, with companies formalising sustainability goals as well as adding a sustainability role at the corporate and site level, driven in part by legislation that outlines compliance requirements.

Only this week, the UK government set out new draft guidelines for businesses, essentially instructing them to make fewer drugs for the sake of the environment and to meet net zero goals.

Added to that, 2023’s proposed amendments to EU pharmaceutical legislation by the European Commission, it’s fair to say change is coming to the industry whether it is prepared or not.

Climate-neutral society

“The two most significant challenges facing Europe over the next decade are the transition towards a climate-neutral society and the retention of our industrial competitiveness,” said Sinead Keogh, Director of BioPharamChem Ireland (BPCI).

“…By far the main reason that companies are introducing sustainability measures is to reduce the impact on the environment, followed by customer expectations, and finally, to reduce costs.”

The impact and implications of the switch to more sustainable practices is the focus of the Drug, Chemical & Associated Technologies Association (DCAT) Sustainability Summit: The Global Bio/Pharmaceutical Sustainability Imperative.

Taking place between May 21-22, 2024, at the Lugano Convention Centre (Palazzo dei Congressi) in Switzerland, the summit will delve deeper into the opportunities, challenges, and solutions in meeting sustainability requirements in the bio/pharmaceutical customer–supplier relationship.

Agenda details

Key topics to be addressed include Sustainability & The Bottom Line, in which proposed and new climate-disclosure requirements in financial reporting in Europe and the US are coming into play. What does it mean for manufacturers and the supply chain?

Other issues of discussion will see invited speakers discuss the implication of The European Green Deal and what the impact will be of this policy initiative on companies doing business in the European Union and cross-border.

One key theme on the agenda will discuss the possible solutions available to the industry and its players, to meet the sustainability requirements demanded by legislators and clients alike.

The hope is that attendees will gain practical insight from industry leaders on how their companies are managing risks and financial impacts, tackling the challenge of common data collection and reporting, and applying best practices for sustainable sourcing.

The sessions’ key takeaways will equip delegates with the knowledge of how best to meet current and future industry standards, metrics, and approaches in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible.

Post event, DCAT will continue to ensure the opportunity for continued dialogue by providing creative platforms to share key resources among stakeholders and identified resources,

This ensures the topic remains a focal point and delivers value information to the DCAT Membership community.

Keynote speaker

The highlight of this year’s Summit is the keynote speaker, Nili Gilbert, CFA, CAIA, who is Vice Chairwoman of Carbon Direct, an organisation involved in scaling carbon management into a global industry through climate investment, technology, and client advisory.

“DCAT’s Summit at Lugano, Switzerland is the first of its kind and is a tremendous opportunity to access industry front runners and thought leadership on the topic of sustainability,” said  Christopher Conway, President, R&D, Curia, a US-based CDMO.

“Engaging with leaders who are already doing the work, seeing results, facing challenges and coming to share their best practices will be invaluable to organizations of all sizes who are just now beginning to face this topic head on.

“It’s our belief that the quality of future deals will be driven by a full appreciation of the complexity of the supply chain under the light of sustainable manufacturing for the long run.”

Luca Dalla Torre, Chief Legal Officer at the Swiss CDMO Siegfried, recently spoke about the importance of sustainability as a key part the Zofingen-based business.

Here, the projects that were launched in 2023, included the supply chain integrity program and site decarbonization roadmap.

In the same year, the company also established a full scope 3 value chain footprint, enabling Siegfried to extend efforts to include scope 3 emissions, and report this figure for the first time.

Cutting CO2 emissions

“With respect to the reduction of our CO2 footprint, the target remains unchanged: Siegfried aims to cut CO2 emissions (scope 1, 2 and 3) in half, adjusted for revenue by 2030,” said Dalla Torre.

“However, this requires continued efforts, both with respect to energy efficiency as well as energy sourcing, and collaboration with our suppliers and customers.”

Commenting on the importance of attending DCAT’s Sustainability Summit, Dalla Torre said: “Sustainability is much more than just a buzzword for pharmaceutical companies and CDMOs.

“For many companies in this industry, sustainability has become a major focus area, and the industry is already making great progress.

“We look forward to attending The Summit in Lugano to connect with the DCAT Member Community, share what Siegfried is doing and to learn from other industry thought leaders what they are doing about this important topic.”

Visit the event website for further details of the Summit’s agenda, pricing and registration, and hotel accommodation.