In this article, Sabine Huber and Thuysi Dao explore how sustainability is being integrated into self-injection device development at Ypsomed, from ecodesign and material selection to circularity, manufacturing, and collaboration across the value chain.

A New Design Brief

For pharmaceutical companies developing self-injection devices, sustainability is increasingly becoming part of the platform selection process. The environmental impact of a device is influenced long before manufacturing begins, making early engineering decisions increasingly important alongside performance, usability, and regulatory considerations.

This thinking is reflected in Ypsomed’s holistic approach to product development that considers the entire product life cycle. Rather than treating sustainability as a separate initiative, environmental considerations are incorporated throughout product development, from material selection and manufacturing through transport, use, and end-of-life.

This approach is supported by ecodesign principles that guide the development of new platform devices. Design teams evaluate opportunities to reduce material consumption, improve recyclability, optimise packaging, and lower the product’s carbon footprint across its lifecycle while maintaining the quality, safety, and performance required for drug-device combination products.