Pharmaceutical Engineering March / April 2020

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This issue of Pharmaceutical Engineering looks at an array of sustainability topics.

Sustainability & the Life Sciences Industry: A Global Introduction

Cover: This introductory article surveys topics that will likely have a significant global impact on the way we conduct our business over the coming decade. We trace some of the history of sustainability in the life sciences industry and identify future issues of concern, including a number of areas where industry advancement cannot be made without true commitment to a full set of sustainable objectives.

Two Real-World Experiences in Global Sustainability

Feature: The article appraises the real-world experiences of two pharmaceutical companies approaching the rollout of energy- and water-reduction programs to selected facilities around the world. It is the result of more than two years of collaboration between the company corporate teams, individual site teams, and an external specialist consultant.

Implementation of a Formal Energy-Efficient Design Process

Feature: Sustainability is a key principle for pharmaceutical companies in 2020. However, translating corporate goals into meaningful improvements can be a challenge, particularly when competing factors such as complex technical requirements or ambitious project schedules are involved. This article looks at a process in use in Ireland and addresses the benefits of integrating this type of study into the design process.

Special Report: 2019 ISPE Annual Meeting & Expo:

  • Global Regulatory Town Hall: Answers to Key Questions

  • ISPE Global Hackathon 2019: Report from the Winning Team

In This Issue

Sustainability & the Life Sciences Industry: A Global Introduction cover
Features
Sustainability & the Life Sciences Industry: A Global Introduction
In this issue of Pharmaceutical Engineering®, we address an array of sustainability topics. This article surveys topics that will likely have a significant global impact on the way we conduct our business over the coming decade. We trace some history of sustainability in the life sciences industry and identify future issues of concern, including a number of areas...
LeAnna Pearson Marcum is a Senior Project Manager at PharmEng Technology and the 2019–2020 ISPE International Young Professionals Chair
Insights
Young Professional Editorial: Know Your Worth
I recently had dinner with a friend and colleague who was looking at taking on a new job role. She asked me what I thought about her salary request as part of this new opportunity. I asked, “Is that what you think you are worth?” She looked very confused by my response, and I realized that many of us do not often step back and determine our business value.
Chlorine dioxide gas sample readings (mg/L) charted over time
Technical
Chlorine Dioxide Gas Decontamination vs. Liquid Disinfection
Manual decontamination procedures are laborious processes and can be costly, requiring significant time and resources to complete. Manual procedures also may need to be repeated if initial efforts do not fully kill pathogens. To reduce failures and potentially reduce cost, chlorine dioxide gas decontamination was investigated as an alternative solution.
Figure 1: Sources of pharmaceuticals in the environment. Adapted from reference
Features
Industry Perspective: Bioremediation of Pharmaceuticals
Medical treatments and pharmaceuticals are indispensable in improving quality of life. In recent years, however, pharmaceutical compounds have become a significant group of environmental pollutants, shown to pose risks to human health and have adverse environmental effects.
Figure 2: Energy Venn diagram (per I.S. 399) and filter dryer example.
Features
Implementation of a Formal Energy-Efficient Design Process
Sustainability is a key principle for pharmaceutical companies in 2020. However, translating corporate goals into meaningful improvements can be a challenge, particularly when competing factors such as complex technical requirements or ambitious project schedules are involved.
Figure 4: SDS-PAGE under nonreduced conditions of the fi nal purified SP Sepharose Fast Flow.
Technical
Effects of Tank-Agitated Fermentation on Therapeutic mAb Quality
Regulatory authorities have approved the use of recombinant monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to treat infectious diseasesSparrow, E., M. Friede, M. Sheikh, and S. Torvaldsen. “Therapeutic Antibodies for Infectious Diseases.” Bulletin of the World Health Organization 95, no. 3 (2017):235–237. doi:10.2471/BLT.16.178061 and chronic conditions such as cancer
Company A energy audit summary (annual carbon savings by utility category).
Features
Two Real-World Experiences in Global Sustainability
The article appraises the real-world experiences of two pharmaceutical companies approaching the rollout of energy- and water-reduction programs to selected facilities around the world. It is the result of more than two years of collaboration between the company corporate teams, individual site teams, and an external specialist consultant.
Sustainability: Toward Zero Carbon in the Pharmaceutical Industry
Online Exclusives
Sustainability: Toward Zero Carbon in the Pharmaceutical Industry
We have some clarity over the desired end point of zero carbon within the next 30 years (or sooner for some pharma companies), but our industry is uncertain how we will achieve this objective. As pharma engineers, we will all play a role in delivering this end point through the continuous improvement of existing facilities and by designing, equipping, and building new facilities that will be...
Architecture building ceiling
Online Exclusives
Sustainability: Where Is LEED Leading Us?
In 2000, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) introduced Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) to create a methodology to promote sustainability-focused practices in the building industry. This article reviews the earliest protype that we know of for a LEED manufacturing facility, presents a real-world case study of a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility achieving LEED Gold,...