BURGDORF, Switzerland: Eight Swiss pharmaceutical supply chain companies have formed ‘Alliance to Zero’, a non-profit association to achieve the emissions net-zero goal of the Paris Climate Agreement.

The eight founders, Sharp, Harro Höfliger, Schreiner MediPharm, Körber Pharma Packaging Solutions, Shott Pharma System, HealthBeacon, Datwyler and the Ypsomed Group, say substantial change among supply chain partners and manufacturers is not happening fast enough to reduce the sector’s overall emissions footprint.

The companies represent key parts of the pharma supply chain including component and machine suppliers, assembly/manufacturing service providers, primary and secondary packaging, final device assembly and reverse logistics.

“The formation of this alliance is the first step in a challenging but urgent journey that our member organisations have committed themselves to,” commented Alliance president Sebastian Gerner.

“Enabling the launch of net-zero pharmaceutical products in regulated markets will require companies like ours to transform our operations, products, services, logistics, innovations and investments”, he added. “Our combined effort and our shared responsibility to ensure a real and lasting change is at the heart of the Alliance’s mission.”

The group has now begun developing a roadmap to describe a net-zero pharma supply chain and how to achieve it in consultation with suppliers, pharmaceutical companies, manufacturers, service providers, academia and non-profit organisations.