Climate change seen as growing supply-chain risk for pharma
According to a recent study by the British Standards Institution (BSI), nine out of ten drug manufacturers operating in the UK and other G7 nations anticipate that climate-driven interruptions to their supply chains will grow in the near future. The data indicate that achieving net-zero is being regarded less as a pure environmental goal and more as a factor of corporate resilience and market competitiveness. In BSI’s 2026 G7 “temperature check,” 87% of respondents projected a rise in climate-related supply-chain challenges, and 84% considered continued progress toward net-zero vital for their operations.
Nearly every participant, 96%, still pledges to meet net-zero objectives consistent with governmental goals, and 37% anticipate boosting spending on related projects within the upcoming twelve months. Additionally, the poll revealed that 88% of industry executives worry about the prospective expenses and durability issues that could arise from inadequate climate-change preparation. Over three-quarters, specifically 78%, indicated that their net-zero strategies are essential for future corporate resilience, and 82% judged that the financial hazards of not transitioning surpass the investments required to act.
Seventy-one percent of those surveyed indicated that their net-zero pledges would persist irrespective of political shifts, viewing them as intrinsically beneficial to commerce. Expectations from buyers also played a major role, mentioned by 83% of participants. With attention moving from promises to practical action, BSI highlights a demand for uniform approaches to evaluate the ecological footprint of drugs throughout their entire lifecycle. The PAS 2090 standard, released late in 2025, offers a framework for conducting life-cycle assessments of pharmaceutical items, tracking environmental effects from raw-material sourcing to final disposal.
The guideline aims to establish a uniform foundation for ecological reporting and strategic choices, assisting drug producers and health-care entities in spotting ways to lessen medication-related impacts. Courtney Soulsby, BSI’s Healthcare Development Director, noted that the sector is progressively interpreting sustainability in terms of corporate resilience. “Rather than treating sustainability as a standalone objective, many now see climate action as essential to protecting future business resilience,” she said. Soulsby further explained that PAS 2090 seeks to solve the problem of consistently quantifying environmental effects across pharmaceutical products and to aid initiatives aimed at mitigation.
