In 2026, sustainability is more than a ‘buzzword’. It is a core strategic expectation essential for longevity and a robust value chain. Looking beyond the carbon footprint of manufacturing, a holistic approach to sustainability considers the environmental and social impacts across every stage of the value chain. Embedding sustainable business practices across the industry is both challenging and essential to building long-term resilience in a rapidly evolving market. Leveraging its position as a trusted market leader in pressurised Metered Dose Inhaler (pMDI) products and components, Bespak® is committed to growing responsibly, decarbonising its operations, and supporting the transition to low carbon pMDIs, supporting a more sustainable future for patients, customers and the wider industry.
A ‘Greener Tomorrow’ Starts Today
pMDIs are life-saving pharmaceutical devices used in the treatment of asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and other chronic lung conditions. They are significant contributors to the healthcare-related carbon footprint, making up 3% of the UK’s National Health Service’s overall carbon emissions.1 Transitioning to low Global Warming Potential (GWP) propellants HFA-152a and HFO-1234ze(E), to reduce pMDI-associated emissions is an industry priority and Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisations (CDMOs) like Bespak have become increasingly essential in facilitating this shift.
As the specialist inhalation CDMO, Bespak is committed to ensuring it has the capabilities, business practices and dedicated infrastructure in place to streamline and accelerate low carbon pMDI development and commercialisation, without compromising quality or continuity of care for patients. Ten years on from the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which sets phasedown targets for greenhouses gases, Bespak has cemented its leadership of the green transition, with a recently-announced commitment to supply the world’s first approved HFA-152a pMDI, building on its existing role in the supply of the world’s first approved HFO-1234ze(E) pMDI – These milestones serve to demonstrate that the transition is both achievable and underway.
Building upon these momentous achieve-ments, the path forward has never been clearer. Industry-wide sustainability requires a multi-faceted approach and collective effort in making small actions that compound to bring about a positive difference. As the industry begins to look beyond the immediate transition to low GWP propellants, pharmaceutical developers must holistically assess their portfolios and operational practices to identify opportunities for meaningful change. Bespak is working to establish tools and services to help make this process easier and to support its customers in their mission to meet evolving patient needs.
