Sustainability is no longer a choice for the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries. Consumers are increasingly demanding more sustainable, ethical and transparent products. Meanwhile, the sector faces growing pressure from stakeholders and emerging regulations to curb its environmental impact. As both regulatory and market forces reshape the industry, companies are being called to act with transparency and urgency.
In response, we have established the Center of Applied Sustainability, a dedicated initiative designed to accelerate measurable sustainability progress across our operations and product portfolio. This will also help us work towards achieving our 2030 targets, as validated by the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), while striving to meet our ambition to be net zero by 2050.
The Center will serve as a strategic hub, driving innovation and collaboration to embed sustainability into every aspect of our business. In this effort, we are also building on significant milestones achieved by Lonza at the corporate level, such as the Silver rating from EcoVadis for our sustainable supply chain efforts and excellence in sustainable procurement through supplier engagement and decarbonization initiatives.
Why sustainability matters
The healthcare sector alone accounts for approximately 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with the majority originating from Scope 3 emissions embedded within the supply chain.1,2
The healthcare and nutraceutical sectors also face growing pressure from global regulators and stakeholders to address environmental impact. Recent European regulatory mechanisms, such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, impose costs on carbon-intensive imports, while the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive is enforcing stricter reporting requirements. The Green Claims Directive further enables companies to substantiate environmental claims with verifiable proof.
For pharmaceutical and nutraceutical companies, sustainability has become a key selection criterion for suppliers. Increasingly, brands are looking beyond compliance to actively integrate sustainability into their supply chains to meet both regulatory demands and consumer expectations.
What the Center does
The Center of Applied Sustainability is structured around three strategic pillars:
- Operational excellence: Focuses on reducing our environmental footprint through energy efficiency, waste reduction and resource optimization.
- Product innovation: Advances eco-design principles to achieve the lowest possible environmental impact across our portfolio.
- Customer collaboration: Centered on providing comprehensive support to customers in reducing emissions across their own value chains, from raw material sourcing to final product formulation.
A core service of the Center is its Product Carbon Footprint assessments, which provide customers with cradle-to-gate carbon footprint reports for key product families, including hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and gelatin capsules, and L-carnitine. These reports enable customers to quantify their own emissions and identify opportunities for further reductions.
In addition, the Center is working with independent industry experts to conduct life cycle assessments, allowing sustainability improvements to be both measurable and meaningful.
Tangible progress and proof points
Our Center of Applied Sustainability builds on significant company progress towards sustainability. Lonza CHI had already made considerable strides in transitioning to renewable energy across our production sites, reinforcing our commitment to reducing emissions at scale.
Lonza’s EcoVadis silver rating reflects the significance we attach to ethics and compliance, responsible sourcing, supplier engagement, and decarbonization initiatives. In addition, Lonza CHI’s gelatin capsules have one of the lowest product carbon footprints in the market, approximately 30% lower than the market average.* These results underscore how targeted sustainability efforts drive meaningful impact across the value chain.
Looking ahead
Our sustainability roadmap is structured around clear, science-backed milestones. By 2030, we aim to meet our SBTi-verified emissions reduction targets, setting a strong foundation for our ambition to reach net zero by 2050.
Beyond environmental impact, we are taking a holistic approach to sustainability across all environmental, social and governance pillars.
As sustainability expectations continue to evolve, we remain a proactive partner, working with key industry bodies and customers to drive transformative change across the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical supply chains.
The launch of the Center of Applied Sustainability marks a major step in our journey toward a more sustainable future.
By aligning our strategy with science-based targets and embedding sustainability into our core operations, we will allow our ambitions to translate into real, measurable action. With a clear path and proven results, we are committed to leading the industry in sustainable innovation.
To learn more about our Center of Applied Sustainability and how Lonza CHI can support your sustainability goals, visit
References
- Romanello M, et al. The 2023 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: the imperative for a health-centred response in a world facing irreversible harms. Lancet. 2023;402:2346–394.
- World Health Organization. Quantitative risk assessment of the effects of climate change on selected causes of death, 2030s and 2050s, 2014.
*Calculation based on product carbon footprint external study, performed in 2024 with 2023 reference data comparing Lonza CHI versus weighted average for the rest of market, excluding Lonza. At the time of study, it was assumed that average market was not decarbonized at company level.
