Cutting-Edge Collaboration to Reduce Pharmaceutical Industry Emissions by 80%
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Swapnil R Mishra
In a significant step towards mitigating climate change, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL) in Pune, India, and the Centre for Process Innovations (CPI) in the United Kingdom have joined forces to establish a pioneering “Living Lab.” This cutting-edge initiative aims to revolutionize the chemical and pharmaceutical industries by adopting innovative manufacturing approaches, reducing emissions by a staggering 80%.
The “Living Lab” initiative, a collaborative effort between the UK’s Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) and India’s CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), is poised to revolutionize the pharmaceutical industry by reducing greenhouse gas emissions significantly. This innovative hub, part of the UK-India Net Zero Innovation Centre, will serve as a testing ground for companies to explore and refine advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing technologies, mitigating risks associated with adoption.
A cutting-edge ‘Living Lab’ facility has been established at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL) in Pune, India. This innovative hub is set to transform the pharmaceutical industry by showcasing sustainable manufacturing technologies
The Indian pharmaceutical industry is a global powerhouse, accounting for over 20% of the global pharma supply chain and meeting approximately 60% of worldwide vaccine demand. It’s also a key player in the US generic drug market, fulfilling 40% of the demand, and supplying 25% of all medicines in the UK.
Dr Ashish Lele, director, of CSIR-NCL, said, “The Indian pharmaceutical and fine and speciality chemicals sectors are spearheading a revolutionary transformation, harnessing the power of innovation to decarbonize and enhance productivity. At the forefront of this shift is the integration of continuous flow manufacturing (CFM) and digitalization.”
“The pioneering ‘Living Lab’ facility, established by CSIR-NCL, Pune, is poised to transform India’s chemical and pharmaceutical industries. This innovative hub enables companies to test and validate cutting-edge technologies, facilitating a seamless transition from traditional batch manufacturing to sustainable continuous manufacturing,” Lele said.
Dr Arun Harish, chief strategy officer, of CPI, said, “The pharmaceutical industry is a significant contributor to global emissions, accounting for 4.4% of net global greenhouse gas emissions, with India playing a crucial role in manufacturing treatments and vaccines. To achieve net zero, the industry must adopt sustainable practices and technologies.”
The groundbreaking ‘Living Lab’ project has the potential to significantly accelerate global industrial decarbonization efforts. This pioneering initiative facilitates collaboration, testing and development of business cases for innovative technologies, empowering industries to adopt sustainable practices at scale,” he said.
Officials said that the ‘ Living Lab’ initiative has taken a significant leap forward, welcoming its first set of pharmaceutical partners in India, including Aarti Industries, Glenmark Life Sciences, USV, Anthem Biosciences, Corning and GMM Pfaudler. These industry leaders will collaborate with the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) and CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory (NCL) to develop cutting-edge, sustainable manufacturing practices, integrating continuous flow synthesis and digitalization.
“With Sun Pharma and two additional large companies poised to join, this groundbreaking partnership will drive decarbonization innovation, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance resource efficiency. The Centre for Sustainable Continuous Manufacturing will serve as a hub for pre-competitive research, fostering knowledge sharing and innovation, and transforming India’s pharmaceutical industry while contributing to global net-zero targets., officials said.
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL) is set to unveil a groundbreaking “Industry Consortium on Continuous Manufacturing,” tailored for mid-size Indian fine and speciality chemicals, pharmaceutical intermediates and medicinal compound manufacturers.
