Pharmaceutical manufacturing is energy-intensive, regulated, and global, which makes credible sustainability commitments both more difficult and more necessary than in most industries. NextPharma’s NextGreen programme sets out measurable targets, tracks progress against a 2021 baseline, and operates within the same quality and compliance framework that governs our manufacturing. This page covers our targets, the initiatives underway, and how we govern sustainability across the group. For a full overview of the NextPharma network, see our company overview.
WHERE WE STAND
We achieved CO₂ neutrality on Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions at the beginning of 2025. Scope 1 covers direct emissions from sources owned or controlled by NextPharma, including fuel combustion in stationary and mobile assets, process emissions, and fugitive emissions. Scope 2 covers indirect emissions from purchased energy, calculated using a market-based approach.
Tracking began in 2021. Since then, our combined Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions associated with energy consumption have decreased by 66%, driven by energy efficiency improvements and a progressive switch to renewable energy sources. This reduction was achieved alongside a 18% decrease in energy consumption. Remaining emissions stem from fossil fuels for which no alternatives are currently available and are addressed through verified offsetting.
We have also joined the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), extending our commitment to Scope 3 emissions across the full value chain. A complete greenhouse gas inventory has been completed and concrete reduction measures identified.
Initiatives
01
01
Electricity purchasing and natural gas are the principal drivers of Scope 1 and 2 emissions across the group. We are progressively switching to renewable energy contracts and on-site generation. More than 3,000 photovoltaic panels have been installed across our Waltrop and Bielefeld sites, covering approximately 15% of those sites’ electricity consumption and reducing dependence on grid electricity and fossil fuel price exposure.
02
02
Under a group-wide energy efficiency programme, we have improved heating and cooling systems, air conditioning, and compressed air supply across our sites. A company-wide energy data management (EDM) system has been introduced to track the impact of measures in real time and support maintenance planning. Smart process design, minimising reliance on external heat, steam, and electricity through interconnected, operationally controlled processes, is applied at site level.
03
03
Resource conservation is embedded in our operational practice. We are reducing single-use materials, promoting reusable approaches in packaging and logistics, and extending the lifecycle of materials where feasible. The objective is to lower natural resource consumption as a structural feature of operations, not as a project-by-project initiative. Across our sites, waste streams are actively monitored and categorised to identify further reduction potential. Where materials cannot be reused, we prioritise recycling pathways that meet both environmental and regulatory requirements.
04
04
Remaining emissions that cannot be eliminated through efficiency improvements or renewable energy transitions are addressed through offsetting via verified sustainable projects, as part of the path to maintaining full Scope 1+2 neutrality. All offset projects are selected according to recognised international standards, ensuring measurable and independently verified climate impact. This approach is treated as a transitional measure, complementing rather than replacing our ongoing efforts to reduce emissions at source.
Group-wide
Within cGMP
Sustainability initiatives at NextPharma are designed and implemented within the constraints of current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP). Operational changes, including energy system modifications, process redesigns, and infrastructure upgrades, are subject to the same change control, validation, and regulatory compliance requirements as any other manufacturing process change. Sustainability does not trade off against product quality or regulatory compliance.
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