An Exploration of More Sustainable Methods of Pharmaceutical Research & Production

• Main Author: Coates, Timothy
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: English
• Published: 2022
• Subjects: fi=Liiketalous; hallinto ja markkinointi|sv=Företagsekonomi; förvaltning och marknadsföring|en=Business Management; Administration and Marketing|; sustainable development; pharmaceutical industry; waste management; business; wastes; recycling; logistics; Degree Programme in International Business; Paras; Northern Finland
• Online Access: http://www.theseus.fi/handle/10024/748344

Paras Biopharmaceutical is a SME CDMO company operating in northern Finland. This report was commissioned in order to ascertain if their sustainability efforts reflect current industry standards, alongside identifying possible avenues to increase them. The research focuses on three sections: waste management, single-use items and logistics, as these were identified as key areas for the business to evaluate and possibly improve upon. The study first establishes Paras Biopharmaceuticals current approach before examining why and how a business should engage with sustainability and environmentalism. The pharmaceutical industries relationship with sustainability is then evaluated, before assess Finland’s national approach, and complimentary industries that the commissioner may partner with. Following this, the primary research of this work collects data from interviews and reports provided by a varied selection of pharmaceutical companies reflecting both large multinational organizations and Finnish start-ups. The data clearly demonstrating interest and focus on sustainability as an industry concern. Waste management was found to be focused on minimalizing recycling and reducing landfill, carbon emissions and water usage. For single-use items the results showed only one innervation for laboratory waste, while the broader trend revealed replacements for consumer products and product packaging. Evaluating logistics brought into focus the efforts all logistic providers make in accounting for their impact on the environment. In concluding, this work finds that Paras Biopharmaceuticals efforts are reflective of their peers: other pharmaceutical SME of equal size offer comparable sustainability effort. Should Paras Biopharmaceuticals wish to increase their sustainability efforts they are best pursued via reduction of landfill, carbon emissions and water usage.