The life sciences sector needs to commit to taking ‘bold steps’ to decarbonise its operations, a new report from global manufacturing consultancy NIRAS has found.
The report, Decarbonisation in the Process Industries: What Can Manufacturers Do Now?, noted the life science sector’s significant contribution to greenhouse gas emissions — accounting for 4.4% of the global total, with 71% stemming from its supply chain.
According to NIRAS, decarbonisation in this sector should be viewed as a strategic business imperative, and its analysis shines a spotlight on the crucial challenges that businesses are currently facing, including integrating green technologies, assessing their value, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
‘Fraught with challenges’
“The path to decarbonisation is fraught with challenges, but it also offers opportunities for innovation and growth,” commented Lis Thodberg, sustainability director at NIRAS. “By embracing new technologies, improving energy efficiency, and adopting cleaner production methods, industries can reduce their carbon footprint while enhancing their competitiveness.
“This report lays out a strategic framework for decarbonisation, providing insights and guidance for industries ready to make the big decisions that future demands necessitate.”
Future state planning
A key recommendation from NIRAS is the importance of ‘future state planning’ – an approach that involves setting clear goals, creating a framework to track progress, and ensuring accountability throughout the decarbonisation process.
According to Thodberg, industries must envision a future state that aligns with their sustainability objectives, “They must consider not just timelines and resources, but the external environment which can have an impact, including the market landscape, technology and regulatory changes.”
The report also addresses the barriers industries face, such as high costs and resistance to change, but argues that comprehensive planning can lay the foundation for overcoming these challenges.
“Our report highlights an ideal approach to creating a detailed decarbonisation plan,” Thodberg added, “Firstly, a business must ask itself, what does a decarbonisation plan look like? How does it function? What are the tangible and intangible benefits?” Read more here.
