🌍 A study by Imperial College London suggests that digital tools can help companies understand their environmental impact.
💡 Process sustainability can be challenging to quantify, but model-based tools exist to tackle case studies.
💧 Water consumption in cell cultivation and the use of resins and solvents are major sustainability challenges.
⚙️ Continuous manufacturing and automation are seen as sustainable approaches that can lower costs and environmental impact.
📚 However, technical and regulatory challenges need to be addressed for widespread adoption of these practices.
Introduction:
The biopharmaceutical industry is focused on delivering high-quality drugs while also aiming for sustainable production. A new study conducted by researchers at Imperial College London reveals that embracing innovative bioprocessing technologies and adopting the principles of “Industry 5.0” can help achieve these goals.
- New digital tools are being developed to help biopharmaceutical companies assess and understand their environmental impact, despite the challenges of quantifying sustainability in this sector.
- Water usage and the use of resins and solvents are identified as significant challenges in terms of sustainability in the biopharmaceutical industry.
- The adoption of continuous manufacturing can contribute to sustainability efforts by reducing costs and environmental footprints.
- Technical and regulatory challenges still need to be addressed to effectively implement continuous manufacturing processes.
- Automation and artificial intelligence-driven technologies are likely to play a crucial role in improving process efficiency and supporting environmental goals in biopharmaceutical manufacturing.
Conclusion:
The study highlights the importance of incorporating technology and innovation into the biopharmaceutical industry to achieve sustainable operations. By leveraging digital tools, embracing continuous manufacturing, and adopting automation and artificial intelligence, biopharmaceutical companies can improve efficiency, reduce environmental impacts, and contribute to a more sustainable future.
