Our focus on innovation extends to how we design and deliver our products more sustainably. We are working towards a systematic approach to build environmental considerations into each phase of the product life cycle.
Innovative product design is foundational to Roche, and minimising the environmental impact of our products is part of this. By continuously improving our product portfolio with the environment in mind, we can ensure our pursuit of innovation simultaneously drives business success and promotes a healthier planet. Helping suppliers, retailers and consumers understand their responsibility for product stewardship extends our impact and drives progress beyond our value chain.
The way we design and deliver our products can have a huge impact on our ability to make a positive contribution to the health of climate, nature and people. We take a systematic approach to responsible product design – working to embed environmental sustainability considerations at every stage of the product life cycle, across our full portfolio. Our Pharmaceuticals and Diagnostics Divisions use life cycle assessments to understand the impact of our products – then explore ways to do things differently. By applying circular economy principles, we seek to reduce waste and energy consumption, improve product reusability and recyclability, and lower environmental impact.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach. Each product requires dedicated attention and specific expertise to assess where impacts occur and to find solutions. Our team of specialists have access to a continually expanding library of guidelines, directives and processes to provide support in important areas of environmental protection and determine the best way forward.
Here, we set out our approach to product stewardship, or read more in Roche’s
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Innovation in the pharmaceutical and diagnostic sectors is not simply about finding new treatments and therapeutic approaches – it is also about evolving the techniques and methods we use. The early phases of product development hold the greatest opportunities for innovation. Our development scientists constantly optimise our processes to reduce the amount of consumables we use or the greenhouse gas emissions associated with production – all while delivering comparable or improved results.
Customers increasingly expect products to have strong environmental credentials. This extends to how our products are packaged and shipped. Legislation, such as the revised EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), is pushing our industry to improve product packaging and design to reduce waste.
Our teams assess the impact of different packaging options based on the source of the materials, how they are produced – including energy and water use – and their recyclability. This evaluation enables us to select less environmentally demanding materials – for example, recyclable brown cardboard in place of bleached white cardboard. Using fewer raw materials also means lowering the weight, helping reduce transport emissions.
Storage is an important consideration for pharmaceutical and diagnostic products. Many are temperature-sensitive and lose efficacy if they are not kept under specific conditions. At Roche, we are trialling novel solutions to protect medicines during shipping.
Our responsibility extends to the end of a product’s life. We recognise the potential negative impacts associated with the disposal of pharmaceutical and diagnostic products.
We strive to reduce waste as much as possible. Where feasible, we explore options to recycle or take back items that would otherwise go to waste, such as plastic trays used in diagnostics testing. We also have clear policies on handling organic chemical and hazardous waste.
There is a need for significant infrastructure investment to ensure effective end-of-life management across healthcare. We work with stakeholders from all stages of the product life cycle – from manufacturers to waste management providers and policymakers to bring about change at the scale required.