July 7, 2025
Source: drugdu
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The pharmaceutical industry took some time to put sustainable development on the management agenda. However, the industry is now going all out to catch up – with strong support from Zeta. This solution provider is helping the pharmaceutical industry with its low-carbon transformation through its net-zero roadmap and a new business line.
Since the EU announced the "European Green Deal", one thing has become clear: all industries must work together to achieve the goal of zero emissions. The pharmaceutical industry has been slow to progress. But now, pressure from investors and shareholders has prompted leaders in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries to pick up the pace.
Green energy, sustainable supply chains, and decarbonization of production and bases – many companies are now embarking on the path of green transformation. This can be seen from the sustainable development goals set by industry giants such as Novartis, GSK, or Roche, as well as from the growing number of pharmaceutical companies joining the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
Hans Eder, Deputy Director of Zeta's newly established "Sustainable Energy Solutions" business line, has observed this trend for several years. "The industry is investing heavily in research and development to make its production processes sustainable from the start. This also includes the supply chain. The overall trend is shifting towards selecting high-quality and sustainable partners," said Hans Eder. "When companies are preparing to invest in modernizing their equipment, it is wise to focus on energy efficiency issues."
To this end, Zeta, together with engineering and consulting firm Enertec and enterprise management consulting firm Denkstatt, has developed an overall solution. Based on three pillars of technology, organization, and strategy, the solution brings together the interdisciplinary expertise of the three companies to form a strong team. For this biopharmaceutical industry solution provider, this is not only a comprehensive upgrade of services but also a logical extension towards sustainable development and carbon emission reduction. The service content goes far beyond traditional consulting. "We provide more than just consulting; we act as solution partners and participate in the subsequent implementation and monitoring work throughout the process," emphasized Hans Eder.
One of the real challenges is how to align the expectations of external stakeholders (the "top-down" perspective) – such as the goals set by the Science Based Target Initiative – with internal (the "bottom-up" perspective) needs. This involves conducting detailed analyses to show the extent to which the carbon footprint can be reduced under given technical and economic conditions.
Part 1: Over 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry
Given the numerous laws, regulations, and regulatory requirements that highly regulated industries such as pharmaceuticals and biotechnology must comply with, the decarbonization task of this industry is actually a complex challenge that requires experts to solve. With 30 years of project experience, Zeta's experts are highly experienced and have gone through countless challenges in the pharmaceutical field. They have a profound understanding of how process equipment, medium supply, and infrastructure work together to form an organic whole. "For us, biopharmaceutical production processes are the core of the Net-Zero-Roadmap strategy," emphasized Hans Eder. "We will work with operators to formulate this strategy, providing comprehensive support on the path to decarbonization and in planning decarbonization projects for their new and existing facilities."
Part 2: Five steps to success
Behind the roadmap lies a structured five-step process, starting with a kick-off workshop. This is followed by a current state analysis phase, which can last several weeks depending on the workload. During this phase, experts evaluate existing production and energy data, collect additional data if necessary, and identify energy-saving potentials. The third phase focuses on assessing various future scenarios that may arise during the implementation of decarbonization measures. For example, operating costs may change due to rising electricity and gas prices, and production volumes may increase. Sensitivity analysis helps operators clarify what these changes mean for them. Hans Eder particularly pointed out that Zeta considers this dynamic approach to be a key advantage of its roadmap. Eventually, a roadmap for visualizing and evaluating measures will be formed, which will be put into practice at the production base.
Part 3: Stepping out of the comfort zone
Currently, the pharmaceutical industry is still in a comfort zone in terms of energy efficiency – it does not consider itself an energy-intensive industry. However, the challenges facing the industry in the future will increase significantly. "The pharmaceutical industry is still on a growth trajectory. We expect the output of some products to increase by 50% in the next few years. This will be accompanied by an increase in energy demand and pressure to improve energy efficiency in operations," explained Hans Eder.
Efficiency potential lies in many areas of production and surrounding infrastructure. Heating, cooling, hot water supply, ventilation, and lighting – these are all major drivers of energy costs and are usually designed to operate 24/7, even when the equipment is not in production. "The key is to configure the supply technology on demand and adjust it according to the process," precisely stated the sustainability expert.
Part 4: Process heat is a valuable energy source
A key point in the "Net-Zero-Roadmap" is the issue of energy optimization. In this context, heat recovery from refrigeration/ventilation or compressed air equipment plays a crucial role in decarbonization projects.
Therefore, heat pump technology is becoming increasingly important. Zeta is at the forefront of technological development and actively participates in promoting the progress of this technology. Hans Eder firmly believes that high-temperature heat pumps capable of generating heat up to 180°C will become a disruptive force (Gamechanger) in the next five to ten years. It is wise to closely monitor the development of such technologies. Especially in terms of new facilities, there are many opportunities: new technologies can be integrated, and conditions can be created for their application, which can be put into use when the technology matures. Hans Eder emphasized that the theme of sustainable development has taken root in the pharmaceutical industry and will continue to exist, and tailored climate strategies are the real opportunity to effectively reduce operating costs.
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