Workshop roundtable tackles net zero targets

A workshop found there is a pressing need to identify sustainability metrics suitable for industry and academia to meet the net zero 2050 aims.

Organised in collaboration with the Department of Chemical Engineering and BioPRONET2, the workshop, 'Sustainability in Biopharma', identified and discussed key issues on how raw materials, manufacturing, and distribution all pose sustainability challenges, and what can be done to enable the biomanufacturing industry to achieve its stated aims of net zero emissions by 2050.

The workshop was delivered by Professor Cleo Kontoravdi, Dr Maria Papathanasiou, Dr Miriam Sarkis and Dr Andrea Bernardi, with attendance from industry, academia, stakeholders and UK national funding bodies, including, Croda International Plc, GSK, IntelligenceQ, Lonza, eXmoor, Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult, UCL, University of Edinburgh, CPI and the BBSRC.

The biopharmaceutical industry needs to adapt to changing demand patterns and integration of new modalities in the lifecycle, while responding to pressing and bold net zero targets. Dr Maria Papathanasiou Workshop host

As Dr Maria Papathanasiou, workshop host, states: "This workshop came at a pivotal moment, when the biopharmaceutical industry needs to adapt to changing demand patterns and integration of new modalities in the lifecycle, while responding to pressing and bold net zero targets. We hope that the momentum built by this workshop will establish a transparent dialogue between academia, industry, funders and stakeholders and give rise to a clear roadmap towards improving the sector’s environmental footprint."

The workshop combined presentations by experts, as well as roundtable discussions on the following topics: 

• Understanding and quantifying current emissions: manufacturing, process development and supply chains
• Data requirements for performing sustainability analysis
• Industry priorities and challenges for sustainability research 

Reflections from the workshop highlight that there is a pressing need to identify sustainability metrics that are suitable for the industry and map a clear pathway forward on how to achieve the net zero commitments by 2030-2050.

Quantifying and reducing the emissions of the supply of consumables and raw materials was deemed particularly challenging. At the same time, synergies between academia, industry and stakeholders were deemed invaluable in providing the necessary training required for all organisations to progress with the same speed towards a greener biomanufacturing industry.

There is a strong drive for effecting change through collaboration. Prof Cleo Kontoravdi Workshop host

Professor Cleo Kontoravdi, summarising the importance of the roundtable, said: "The workshop was a great way to start cross-cutting discussions on sustainability, involving suppliers, manufacturers and academics from engineering but also medicine. It was clear that there is a strong drive for effecting change through collaboration."

Looking to the future

Moving forward, there is a collective need to establish a working group within which learnings can be shared amongst large corporations and SMEs and facilitate a transparent dialogue to identify tangible and suitable industry targets. 

This workshop demonstrated the willingness of industry and academia to work together in defining practical sustainability strategies. Dr Andrea Bernardi Workshop host

As Dr Andrea Bernardi, workshop host, states: "Achieving net zero emissions in biopharma requires not just technological advancements, but also fundamental changes across the entire value chain. This workshop demonstrated the willingness of industry and academia to work together in defining practical sustainability strategies."

If you are interested in collaborating with the Department of Chemical Engineering, please reach out to Prof Cleo Kontoravdi and Dr Maria Papathanasiou.