Tracking Innovation with SK pharmteco: CPHI Frankfurt Track Sponsor Interview

CPHI Frankfurt, to be held at Messe Frankfurt from October 28–⁠30, 2025, will once again bring the pharmaceutical industry together for 3 days of collaboration and innovation. Our Track Sponsor interview series sits down with some of our conference track sponsors to discuss key themes and trends impacting the industry.

What inspired SK pharmteco to sponsor the "Sustainable Futures" track, and what does this sponsorship mean for your organisation?

Sponsoring the "Sustainable Futures" track demonstrates SK pharmteco’s strong commitment to our NO HARM Sustainability mission – a better future for our people, communities, and the planet. We believe that creating a sustainable future requires leadership, collaboration, and ongoing learning. This sponsorship naturally extends our efforts to take responsibility for sustainability, drive positive change across the industry, and support innovation that minimises environmental impact.

The agenda emphasises the importance of tackling Scope 3 emissions and building sustainable supply chains. What steps is SK Pharmteco taking to address these challenges and align with decarbonisation goals?

We are actively laying the groundwork for long-term impact in Scope 3 emissions management. Through our SIX SUSTAINABILITY BASICS, we focus on supply chain transparency, ethical sourcing, and stakeholder engagement. Although early in our journey, we are already participating in industry collaborations with suppliers to share best practices and explore joint decarbonisation initiatives. These efforts support our broader goal to decarbonise operations and ensure our supply chain contributes to a healthier, more sustainable future.

Why is it so important that the pharmaceutical industry is leveraging innovation to reduce its environmental footprint?

Innovation is at the heart of our sustainability strategy. At SK pharmteco, we promote waste-free innovation and adopt Green Chemistry principles to reduce hazardous waste, boost efficiency, and lessen environmental impact. By investing in continuous flow processing, solvent recovery, and supporting license holders with circular design, we are enhancing our operational performance and leading by example in responsible manufacturing.

With discussions on regulatory frameworks like CSRD and CSDDD, how is SK Pharmteco navigating these evolving requirements while turning compliance into a competitive advantage?

We see evolving regulatory frameworks as a catalyst for transformation. SK pharmteco is embedding sustainability into our governance and operations through a strong ESG reporting mindset, aligned with our NO HARM Sustainability principles. By proactively collecting and reporting data across our SIX SUSTAINABILITY BASICS, we ensure transparency and accountability. This not only supports compliance but also builds trust with stakeholders and positions us as a responsible, forward-thinking partner.

How are companies now working with industry peers, suppliers, and technology partners to drive meaningful progress?

Collaboration is vital for achieving systemic change. SK pharmteco is working with suppliers, communities, and industry peers to share knowledge, co-create solutions, and promote sustainable practices. Our dedication to stakeholder engagement and cross-functional Green Chemistry initiatives shows that progress is amplified when we collaborate. These partnerships help us foster innovation, enhance transparency, and accelerate our move toward a more sustainable pharmaceutical industry.

Lifecycle Assessments (LCA) and data transparency are recurring themes. How are companies using tools and technologies to measure and communicate their sustainability impact effectively?

As a CDMO, SK pharmteco might not lead the development of Lifecycle Assessments for products, but we play a vital role in supporting them. We actively work with license holders to recommend process improvements that lower emissions and reduce environmental impact throughout the product lifecycle. Our expertise in Green Chemistry, continuous flow processing, and waste-free innovation allows us to provide science-based suggestions that boost sustainability.

Importantly, when we get involved early in the R&D process, we can help design products with sustainability in mind; optimising raw material use, energy efficiency, and waste management from the beginning. This proactive approach is further strengthened by our commitment to the My Green Lab certification journey, which reinforces our dedication to sustainable lab practices and data transparency. Through our NO HARM Sustainability framework, we ensure our contributions are measurable, credible, and aligned with global sustainability goals.

Looking at the broader themes of the "Sustainable Futures" track, what do you see as the most significant opportunities for the pharmaceutical industry to lead in sustainability?

The pharmaceutical industry has a unique chance to lead by adopting Green Chemistry, circular economy principles, and stakeholder involvement into its main operations. For SK pharmteco, sustainability means more than just environmental stewardship; it’s also about providing a steady and responsible supply of medicines to patients.

As a CDMO, we play a vital role in helping our partners deliver life-saving therapies efficiently and sustainably. By taking ownership (i.e., investing in sustainable technologies, promoting responsible practices across the value chain, and integrating sustainability into product design and manufacturing), we help future-proof supply chains and ensure access to essential medicines. This dual focus on environmental impact and patient outcomes positions the industry to lead with purpose and resilience.

Darryl Ratty is a senior ESG and Sustainability executive with over 18 years of experience leading environmental, health, safety, and governance initiatives across global pharmaceutical and environmental sectors. As Executive Director, Global ESG at SK pharmteco, Darryl drives the development and implementation of integrated ESG strategies that embed sustainability and responsible governance into core business operations across multiple regions.

His leadership has fostered a culture of accountability, inclusion, and continuous improvement, with a strong emphasis on regulatory compliance, stakeholder engagement, and transparent reporting. Darryl has successfully led the integration of internationally recognized management systems and built high-performing teams that deliver measurable impact.

With a robust academic background and active participation in industry working groups, Darryl brings a strategic and collaborative approach to ESG leadership. His work reflects a commitment to operational excellence, inclusive governance, and long-term value creation.