Single-Use Tech: Four Facts to Impress Your Colleagues

This post was authored by Mike Madarasz of the Institute for International Research.  You can follow him on Twitter at @MikeMadarasz

The verdict is on the environmental effects of single-use technology in comparison to stainless steel.  We now have a good grasp on this topic and all signs point to single-use systems impacting the surrounding environment to a much lesser extent than re-useable technologies.  BioProcess International recently took a close look at some of the sustainability issues associated with single-use processes.  Here are four facts you can use to impress your colleagues the next time this conversation comes up:

·       -  A single-use technology facility uses about 50% less energy than one based in stainless steel.  This is largely due to the amount of energy required to heat processed water in sterilizing reusable equipment. 

·      -  Some studies suggest that adopting a single-use system results in a reduction of about 85% of both water usage and waste generation from that of stainless steel.

·      -  One study shows that energy demand and global warming potential with single-use systems is 30-35% lower than stainless steel systems over the full manufacturing life of the facility.

·      -  As far the different types of environmental impacts associated with single-use, 22 different categories have been identified. 

How can single-use technology become improve on its environmental impact? One idea is to reduce the impact of disposable plastic containers used in these processes. The most common solution there appears to be finding ways to repurpose and recycle that plastic rather than letting it amount to waste.

Any other ideas on improving sustainability?

You can check out the full article from BPI here.

We’ve got much more on single-use systems. Check out Single-UseApplications for Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing. June 9-10, Boston MA

Register now and SAVE 20%. Use code XB14187BLOG

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A look at the Green Pharma Summit

The Green Pharma Sumit LinkedIn newsletter came out this week. Click here to read it. If you haven't joined our LinkedIn Green Pharma Summit Group, join today. You'll receive more updates and network with others who strive to make Pharma a more sustainable and eco-friendly industry.

If you were unable to attend the Green Pharma Summit, we have notes on the discussions during event’s roundtables, networking breaks and panels focusing on Pharma’s opportunities, challenges and actions going forwards. See what they discussed here:
http://bit.ly/GPPres

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The Pharma Industry and Energy Usage

Pharmaceutical companies implementing environmental sustainability initiatives stand to gain immediate cost savings. These savings will not take years to appreciate; tremendous cost savings can be seen within the first 12 months. Here’s a snapshot of just some of the cost savings pharmaceutical companies have experienced in their first year of initiating sustainability programs:

• A pharmaceutical company making a strong move towards green chemistry has the potential to see up to a 40% hazardous waste reduction in one year.
• AstraZeneca’s green chemistry efforts have lowered their material and energy costs, reducing the cost of API generation by 80%
• Baxter’s EHS programs have generated cost savings of $4.4 million
• A recent in-depth analysis of Novartis’s energy efficiency and waste reduction programs have shown that the $20 million dollar investment was recouped in 10 months
• Novartis’s energy efficient pilot project for Penicillin V production has delivered annual cost savings of $5.1 million

In such troubling economic times, the millions of dollars in cost savings through going green will have a tremendous impact on your company’s bottom line and with shareholders. The Green Pharma Summit gathers the pharma industry’s green leaders, who will share with you successful strategies to implement sustainability programs so that your company can start benefiting from cost savings and efficiency improvements right away.


The Green Pharma Summit is about how Pharma is going green. Pharmaceutical companies are discovering that going green is not just for altruistic reasons, but that going green actually has benefits to the bottom line. Going green saves and makes money. If you'd like to network with other professionals who are working in the Green Pharma field, join our Green Pharma LinkedIn Group!

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Sustainable Syntheses

Ann M. Thayer of Chemical and Engineering News reports that pharmaceutical and fine chemicals manufacturers will see benefits if they begin developing greener processes. According to her article, "Process chemistry and green chemistry have common goals: generating less waste and emissions, minimizing material and energy use, and operating more safely under more benign conditions. Greater attention to reagent, solvent, and reaction choices by these chemists is making process development even greener."

By sharing their knowledge of green practices with pharmaceutical industry, pharma may learn new processes that could save more than just a few dollars.

Sustainable Syntheses



The Green Pharma Summit is about how Pharma is going green. Pharmaceutical companies are discovering that going green is not just for altruistic reasons, but that going green actually has benefits to the bottom line. Going green saves and makes money. If you'd like to network with other professionals who are working in the Green Pharma field, join our Green Pharma LinkedIn Group!

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What are companies doing to make Pharma greener?

The pharmaceutical sector is working hard to adopt more sustainable and environmentally friendly practices that offer measurable improvements without sacrificing the bottom-line. As more and more environmental health and sustainability professionals turn their attention to green initiatives, the c-suite is looking to these programs to deliver measurable value with quantifiable impact.

At the Green Pharma Summit, learn how…
* Johnson & Johnson and GlaxoSmithKline adopted successful greening strategies to engage all departments
* Pfizer implemented a company-wide Green Chemistry Team to substantially reduce waste throughout their manufacturing and chemical development processes
* Allergan earned the US EPA Energy Star® Partner of the Year Award by implementing Green R&D and manufacturing practices for energy efficiencies and cost savings
* Schering-Plough influences smart solvent and reagent choices by implementing solvent selection guides to encourage Green decisions from the start

To network with other professionals in the Green Pharma field, we invite you to join our LinkedIn group here.

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Pharma's pressure to be socially responsible

Future Pharmaceutical recently wrote a article on the variety of ways that Pharma companies are choosing to both protect the environment and show their involvement in both humanitarian and environmental projects. Some of the companies in the article have started using green vehicles for distribution and transportation. Others have made efforts to make meetings greener and another option is to choose sustainable suppliers and sustainable distribution centers.

If you're interested in joining a community of Pharma professionals who are committed to make their Pharma projects that protect the enviornment and are sustainable, join us at the Green Pharma LinkedIn group.

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