Impact of the 50 biggest pharma companies: a review of Environmental report aspiring to NetZero

Abstract

Abstract Background Pharmaceutical companies have a considerable environmental impact in terms of waste disposal, CO2 emissions, plastic usage, and air pollution, water and energy consumption (including those related to transportation and refrigeration of drugs). According to data from 2019, pharmacological firms’ CO2 emissions are 13% greater than those of the car industry. To follow a greener path, pharmaceutical companies should primarily invest in sustainable production and supply, standard criteria, rewards programs, and staff training. This review aims to examine how pharmaceutical businesses incorporate environmental sustainability concerns into their operations, regulations, and communications. Methods We selected the top 50 pharmaceutical companies by revenue using the drugdiscoverytrends.com database. We collected the 2021 ESG report for each company, examining the following aspects: the inclusion of a ‘sustainability’ section or a downloadable sustainability report; the disclosure of the company production and carbon footprint; the existence of concrete measures to limit CO2 emissions, save water and energy, and reduce the effect of transportation. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics to assess the sustainability of companies. Results Preliminary results indicate that each organization has a different level of importance for the topic of sustainability. Companies focused on CO2 production, few on other areas such as water needs or impact on biodiversity. Logistics correspond to the most impactful carbon footprint. Future forecasts and the path to NetZero emissions will also be emphasized, possibly comparing them with upcoming ESG 2022 reports. Conclusions The first results of our review show that the 50 biggest pharmaceutical companies have a different kind of interest towards environmental-friendly actions. Those with the highest revenues seem to be more careful towards the green issues, but the route to NetZero is still far to be achieved. Key messages • The environmental impact of pharmaceutical companies is greater than other industries. They must balance their business goals with environmental sustainability to reach NetZero as soon as possible. • The future goal of public health will be to monitor the environmental impact of drug production.