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Environmental sustainability

Sustainability Research in Pharmaceutical Industry: New Insights on Energy Efficiency and Waste Reduction

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A new study by researchers from Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa has shed light on the pressing issue of sustainability in the pharmaceutical industry, highlighting the need for energy efficiency and waste reduction. The study, led by Nuno Soares Domingues, aimed to develop a hybrid risk evaluation tool that integrates environmental metrics into the Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) framework. This approach was successfully implemented at Hovione's Engineering and Maintenance Department, leading to significant reductions in unplanned downtime, solvent waste, and energy consumption.

Key Takeaways:

  • The global rise in population, increased life expectancy, and international mobility have led to increased disease prevalence and pharmaceutical demand, intensifying energy consumption and chemical waste production within the pharmaceutical industry.
  • Chromatography, a vital analytical technique for ensuring product quality and regulatory compliance, can contribute to material waste and energy inefficiencies if not properly maintained and optimized.
  • The study applied Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) to chromatographic equipment maintenance within Hovione's Engineering and Maintenance Department, aiming to identify and mitigate failure risks.
  • The hybrid risk evaluation tool developed by the researchers prioritized both equipment reliability and sustainability performance, demonstrating significant reductions in unplanned downtime, solvent waste, and energy consumption.
  • The study proposed a conceptual dashboard to support proactive, sustainability-driven asset management in pharmaceutical laboratories, offering a strategic model for optimizing resource use, minimizing chemical waste, and enhancing long-term operational resilience.

Statistics:

  • The study found that the integrated approach reduced unplanned downtime by 30%.
  • Solvent waste was reduced by 25%.
  • Energy efficiency was improved by 20%.
  • The study concluded that by bridging reliability engineering and environmental sustainability, this research offers a strategic model for optimizing resource use, minimizing chemical waste, and enhancing long-term operational resilience in regulated pharmaceutical environments.

Sources:

  • Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
  • Waste, 2025, 3(3): 28 (MDPI AG)
  • NewsRx. Research from Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa Provides New Data on Sustainability Research (Energy Efficiency and Waste Reduction Through Maintenance Optimization: A Case Study in the Pharmaceutical Industry). Pharma Business Week. October 13, 2025; p 153.

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