AstraZeneca’s Commitment to Product Sustainability in Healthcare

AstraZeneca works to reduce the footprint of its medicines. It cares for a safe and effective healthcare future. The firm links each step of its product life cycle: research, development, manufacturing, supply, and patient delivery remain tied together.

Key Sustainability Goals

• Resource Efficiency: By 2025, the company sets a target. Ninety percent of its products will meet efficiency goals at launch.
• Sustainable Packaging: Each year, 95% of paper packaging comes from sustainable sources.
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions: AstraZeneca cuts Scope 3 emissions by using sustainable and science-based ideas in product work.

Life Cycle Approach to Environmental Impact

The company uses one life cycle view. Each part of a medicine is studied closely:

• The firm tests active ingredients and all product parts. These parts include formulation, packaging, and devices.
• It uses Life Cycle Assessment programs that stick to ISO 14040/14044 rules. These tests cover the medicines that earn 90% of sales.
• AstraZeneca runs its own Product Sustainability Index to watch and boost environmental data.
• The firm applies green chemistry and engineering to shape medicine work.
• It invests in new science and technology to smooth out API creation and boost process work.
• Packaging gets redesigned to support circular economy ideas.
• The firm uses Process Mass Intensity (PMI) to rate resource use.
• It leads the sector by joining groups like the American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute Pharmaceutical Roundtable.

Practical Outcomes: Innovations in Respiratory Care

AstraZeneca changes its inhalers. The company shifts respiratory pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs) to a new propellant: HFO-1234ze(E). This choice brings near-zero Global Warming Potential (GWP) and cuts emissions by 99.9% compared to older propellants.

• In May 2025, the UK granted approval for an inhaled respiratory medicine that uses the new propellant. The firm submits similar papers in the EU and China.
• This work supports AstraZeneca’s Ambition Zero Carbon plan. The company aims to change all its products by 2030. ## Measuring and Collaborating for Continuous Improvement
• By the end of 2024, 71% of products by sales revenue had a Product Sustainability Index check. This measure guides better environmental choices.
• AstraZeneca meets with groups like the Sustainable Markets Initiative Health Systems Task Force, the Pharmaceutical Environment Group, NHS England, and the British Standards Institution. This work builds a shared life cycle standard for medicines.
• This common view will make data clearer and help cut the environmental impact across healthcare.

References:

• Bell, J et al. (2021). Greenhouse gas emissions associated with COPD care in the UK. European Respiratory Journal, 58(suppl 65): PA3551.
• World Health Organization. (2023). Model List of Essential Medicines – 23rd List.

AstraZeneca’s work on product sustainability shows that clear ideas, science, and teamwork help lower environmental harm. This work keeps medicines safe, effective, and smart for our world.

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