How sustainability can power pharma’s future

Key insights

• 86% of pharma leaders rate sustainability as a top strategic priority for the next five years. It is increasingly embedded into investment decisions, product design and overall corporate strategy—not treated as a standalone agenda.
• Companies are moving beyond reporting toward measurable impact—including cost efficiency, resilience and innovation. Investments in energy efficiency, supply chain resilience and renewables are becoming strategic assets in volatile environments.
• 71% of leaders prioritise CO₂ reduction among their top sustainability priorities. 
• Sustainability transformation focuses on:
  • data transparency and digital enablement,
  • circular design and eco-efficient manufacturing,
  • low-carbon logistics and supply chain optimisation.
• Companies are leveraging AI and advanced analytics to improve forecasting, reduce waste and optimise operations.
• Key barriers identified in executive interviews include: regulatory complexity and fragmented global standards, high upfront investments vs. limited willingness to pay a premium, data gaps across value chains, especially for suppliers, and internal resistance and competing business priorities.
• 93% of respondents highlight the need for shared standards and collaboration to scale sustainability efforts.