From ambition to action: accelerating environmental sustainability in biomanufacturing

BioPhorum Sustainability introduces a new tool to improve monitoring of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems for more sustainable manufacturing practices. 

Many pharmaceutical companies have established ambitious sustainability commitments, including science-based targets for emissions reduction, water stewardship and waste minimisation. Yet despite widespread commitment, translating those goals into consistent action across complex global value chains remains a significant challenge.

For many organisations, the question is no longer what they want to achieve, but how to get there.

Unlocking energy savings through HVAC optimisation

One area where organisations can make immediate and measurable progress is energy consumption within manufacturing facilities.

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems account for a significant proportion of Scope 1 and 2 emissions at pharmaceutical manufacturing sites, representing up to 60–80% of energy consumption in some cleanroom environments. Recognising this opportunity, BioPhorum Sustainability has developed the HVAC Optimisation Assessment Tool, a practical resource designed to help organisations identify low-effort, low-cost opportunities to reduce energy consumption and environmental impact. 
 
Developed through BioPhorum's HVAC Optimisation workstream, the tool draws on expertise from manufacturers, suppliers, contract manufacturers, technology providers, HVAC specialists and sustainability professionals across the industry.

Because no two HVAC systems are identical, the assessment focuses on the core components common to most cleanroom environments, including:
•    Heat recovery
•    Filtration
•    Heating and cooling
•    Air handling systems
•    Humidification and dehumidification

The tool provides a structured assessment framework that enables users to identify optimisation opportunities while offering practical implementation guidance. Recommendations include evaluating different heat recovery technologies, exploring electrification pathways aligned with ASHRAE 90.1-2022 principles and implementing variable-speed fan technologies to improve energy performance. 

Importantly, many of the opportunities identified through the tool require relatively modest investment, making them particularly attractive for organisations seeking to demonstrate early progress on their sustainability roadmaps.

Practical tools are only part of the solution

The HVAC Optimisation Assessment Tool represents just one of a growing number of practical resources being developed through BioPhorum Sustainability to help organisations translate environmental commitments into measurable outcomes.

While implementation tools can help companies identify and act on specific opportunities, lasting environmental progress also requires a structured understanding of where organisations currently stand and what capabilities they need to develop over time.

To support this, BioPhorum Sustainability developed the BioPhorum Environmental Maturity Model, a framework designed specifically for medicines manufacturing that helps organisations assess, benchmark and advance their environmental performance.

Creating a common language for sustainability

One of the barriers to environmental progress is that organisations often approach sustainability from different starting points. Sites, functions, suppliers and manufacturing partners may all be operating at different levels of maturity, making it difficult to align priorities and coordinate implementation efforts across the value chain.

The BioPhorum Environmental Maturity Model addresses this challenge by creating a common framework for assessing environmental maturity. Built through extensive collaboration across BioPhorum's membership, including biopharmaceutical companies, CDMOs and suppliers, the model enables organisations to evaluate their capabilities across key sustainability domains, benchmark themselves against industry peers and build practical implementation roadmaps.

The framework helps organisations identify gaps in tools, technologies and processes needed to:
•    Reduce Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions
•    Embed circular design principles
•    Improve transparency across the value chain
•    Source more sustainable raw materials

By providing a structured view of environmental performance, the maturity model helps bridge the gap between corporate sustainability commitments and operational implementation. It enables more informed conversations between manufacturers, suppliers and partners while identifying the areas where investment and action can have the greatest impact.

Linking strategy and execution

Frameworks such as the BioPhorum Environmental Maturity Model help organisations understand where they are today and where they need to go next. Practical implementation tools such as the HVAC Optimisation Assessment Tool help them take action.

Together, they represent two complementary elements of environmental transformation. The maturity model provides strategic direction, benchmarking and prioritisation, while practical tools enable organisations to translate those insights into measurable operational improvements.

As the biopharmaceutical industry continues its journey towards net-zero operations and more sustainable manufacturing, success will depend on both elements being in place. Organisations need a clear understanding of their current maturity, but they also need practical pathways to accelerate progress.

By combining industry benchmarking with actionable implementation guidance, BioPhorum is helping companies move beyond aspiration and drive meaningful environmental improvements across the value chain.

Download the HVAC Optimisation Tool here.