Benchmarking Green Chemistry Adoption by “Big Pharma” and Generics Manufacturers [1

Abstract

This paper examines current adoption of green chemistry practices by the innovative and generic pharmaceutical companies as well as the drivers, barriers, and future opportunities. The study includes a benchmarking analysis of the top 10 “big pharma” and top 10 generic companies by sales, and is based on publicly available information such as annual reports, Corporate sustainability reports, and websites. The results confirm the original hypothesis that generic drug manufacturers have not embraced green chemistry at the level that innovative pharmaceutical companies have. The authors speculate that the top two barriers for them include a) the lack of pressure and incentives, and b) the burdensome regulatory process for making changes in the manufacturing process. The paper concludes with discussion of the current drivers, barriers, and opportunities for the pharmaceutical industry, especially generic drug manufacturers.