September 2024
Starting from:
£99 + VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF
This conference focused on the way forward for decarbonisation and moving towards net zero in the UK life sciences sector.
It was also an opportunity for stakeholders and policymakers to discuss priorities for the new Government, including supporting growth in the sector alongside efforts and requirements to meet net zero targets, with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care pledging to make Britain a powerhouse for medical technology and life sciences.
Delegates discussed opportunities and challenges for implementation of the NHS net zero supplier roadmap and stakeholder carbon reduction plans, looking at net zero benchmarks for procuring goods, services and works for the NHS.
There was a focus on:
- reaching supplier benchmarks, with discussion on UK Scope 1 and 2 emissions following the extension to Carbon Reduction Plan requirements to cover all new procurement from April 2024
- practical strategies for tackling Scope 3 emissions and overcoming challenges in measurement and monitoring
With a policy focus on speeding up the shift to net zero procurement, sessions in the agenda examined next steps for collaboration between key stakeholders and what is needed to secure achievable and cost-effective solutions. Areas for discussion included improving the role of data and AI in measuring and monitoring emissions in the supply chain, opportunities for sustainable sourcing, operational changes in the life sciences sector, priorities for innovative product development, and the potential role of regulation moving forward.
Sessions in the agenda brought out latest thinking on how to address challenges and issues in areas such as increasing reusability, and refitting fleets and buildings. Delegates discussed issues for funding, procurement and the supply chain, including the impact of international developments in regulation.
Further sessions explored progress so far on net zero benchmarks, looking at best practice cases and carrying forward successes, such as upstream transportation and distribution, eliminating toxic and plastic waste, and sustainability within laboratories, as well as efficiently transitioning to renewable power and alignment on common supplier standards.
Delegates also discussed frameworks for deepening collaboration on decarbonising care pathways, including pharma’s role in strengthening coordination between smaller companies to progress net zero initiatives across the healthcare work stream. There was discussion on implementing a proposed end-to-end care pathway emissions calculation standard and tool for specific diseases.
The agenda also brought out latest thinking on priorities for moving towards greener clinical trials, potential models and funding requirements, employing data-driven sustainability, and next steps for fostering innovation in clinical research. Areas for discussion included developing a taskforce, with aims to leverage digital health solutions to decarbonise clinical trials, as well as incentivising research organisations and related suppliers to measure and reduce emissions.
We also expected discussion on the NHS Clinical Waste Strategy, looking at options for improving the recyclability of products, utilising more natural materials and considering product end-of-life as part of efforts to reduce emissions, as well as the role of the NHS Greener Plan, with proposals for green heat solutions by 2025 and targets for becoming the world’s first net zero national health service.
We are pleased to have been able to include keynote sessions with: Dr Susan Simon, Chief Environmental Sustainability Officer, Medical Research Council; Dr Fiona Adshead, Chair, Sustainable Healthcare Coalition; Claire Lund, Head, Environmental Sustainability, GSK; and Emily May, Life Sciences Research Manager, Centre for Health Solutions, Deloitte.
Overall, areas for discussion included:
- net zero benchmarks: the way forward for achieving NHS goods, services and works reduction targets - priorities for implementing the Greener NHS initiative and its contribution to overall net zero goals
- Carbon Reduction Plan: next steps for reaching supplier benchmarks, following the extension of requirements from April 2024 - accelerating the transition to net zero procurement
- addressing Scope 3 emissions: building a sustainable life sciences roadmap - priorities for governance, capability building and continuous support for sustaining change
- pharma: exploring transparency and fairness in net zero plans from life science companies - the role of the taskforce and opportunities for collaboration - priorities for pharmaceutical emissions reduction targets
- innovation: leveraging innovation, data and technology to drive cost-effective reduction of emissions - adoption of digital products and services
- waste: reducing waste and developing environmentally sustainable packaging, devices and tools - waste management - latest thinking on reducing use of plastic and sustainable alternative options
- NHS: integrating environmental sustainability into NHS procurement practices - balancing cost-effectiveness with maintaining patient safety and quality of care - reducing emissions in patient pathways
- clinical research: developing best practice and models of sustainable delivery and research - opportunities for decentralised clinical trials and virtual delivery
- safety: ensuring implementation of green NHS clinical practices is safe for the workforce and patients - expanding safe reuse of laboratory tools
- coordination: opportunities for collaboration across the sector to achieve emissions reduction targets - supporting smaller companies with compliance and transition strategies
The conference was an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues alongside key policy officials who attended from DHSC; OLS; Defra; DBT; Department for the Economy, NI; FCDO; The Scottish Government; and the Welsh Government.
All delegates were able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates.
