Ester Lovsin Barle is a global leader in product sustainability and stewardship, with over 28 years of work experience, including 16 years in the pharmaceutical industry. She holds a DVM, MSc, PhD, and MScTox degrees, and has extensive expertise in toxicology, occupational health, and environmental sustainability. She is currently the Global Head of Product Sustainability and Stewardship at Takeda, where she oversees the implementation of Takeda’s global environmental sustainability goals and product compliance and risk programs. She also represents Takeda in external forums and collaborations on product stewardship and environmental sustainability topics. Ester is the chair of ISPE Sustainability CoP.
Pharmaceuticals are not only regulated by traditional pharmaceutical legislation but are also increasingly influenced by related environmental and stewardship laws. Extended producer responsibility (EPR) is reshaping the pharmaceutical industry with regulatory burdens, challenges, and strategic opportunities.
Already in the 1980s and 1990s, environmental labelling programs emerged as a way to guide consumers toward greener choices. These third-party “seal-of-approval” systems—like the European Communities Eco-labelling Program (Regulation (EC) No 66/2010 – EUR-Lex), the Nordic Countries program, and the national programs of Canada, France, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Singapore, New Zealand, and...
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have emerged as a major concern in the pharmaceutical industry and beyond. Restricting their use is heavily debated. On the one hand, these “forever chemicals” can pose environmental and human health risks. On the other hand, their unique physical and chemical properties can make them important for pharma and ultimately for helping to enable access to...
The scientific community accepts that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions cause global warming and climate change.Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). “Sixth Assessment Report: Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis.” Finalized 9 August 2021.
While financial investment in novel therapies provides patients with new treatment options and improved quality of care, the pharmaceutical industry also recognizes its responsibility to transition toward more sustainable development, manufacturing, and stewardship of medicines throughout their life cycle.
As the pharmaceutical industry faces ever-changing global challenges and market forces, it must review and revise product design to ensure that quality products remain available in the marketplace while moving toward zero pollution for air, water, and soil. This article provides an introduction on how quality products can integrate sustainability by design.