Building sustainability into our DNA - A roundtable discussion

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations are increasingly important in the Life Sciences sector’s construction projects, with companies setting themselves ambitious targets.

On the sustainability or environmental piece, the sector is notorious for high energy consumption and emissions profiles. New construction projects are now being designed to reduce environmental footprints through sustainable practices such as energy-efficient facilities, reduced waste, and resource conservation. But can they go further?

Construction projects in the pharmaceutical industry must contend with the sector's distinct complexities, including rigorous contamination prevention measures and the upkeep of specialised facilities required for research, development, and production processes. The implementation of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategies in these projects is primarily focused on adhering to regulatory standards, safeguarding the quality of products, protecting the workforce's well-being, and reducing the ecological effects of the construction and operational activities of these new structures.

Linesight convened a panel of experts to discuss these complexities in late 2023.

Some key takeaways from the discussion include:

• Sustainability is rising rapidly up the life sciences agenda, due to combined demand from shareholders, customers and employees.
• Phasing out fossil fuels and buying certified renewable electricity are key strategies for reducing scope 1 and 2 emissions.
• Organisations have reduced control over scope 3 emissions, which will remain a much bigger challenge.
• Regulators and insurers need to be brought on board, to enable the sector to adopt more sustainable materials and solutions.