Sustainability in life science research and the biopharmaceutical industry

Single-use (SU) technologies are increasingly employed in modern biopharmaceutical manufacturing as an alternative to traditional stainless steel solutions owing to their contributions towards reproducibility, flexibility, time efficiency, and safety. Moreover, the adoption of SU technologies  helps the industry reach environmental goals and strive against resource depletion, particularly:

• Reduced water use due to the elimination of steaming and cleaning procedures.
• Smaller facility footprint due to the size of the SU equipment used in the process reduces the requirement for HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), the most significant factor for energy usage in the facility.

With SU products come questions about how raw materials are sourced and what happens during a product’s lifecycle. Sartorius is addressing these aspects with consideration to our products’ environmental footprint and how we can foster circularity.

Process intensification describes a holistic framework for improving the overall efficiency of production. It offers greater volumetric productivity while reducing waste and energy consumption, contributing to improved sustainability. In the biopharmaceutical industry, intensified processing methodologies can be applied both up- and downstream.

Next-generation facilities will combine process intensification scenarios with single-use solutions to maximize efficiency and limit environmental impact.

As part of our role as an important partner in the industry, Sartorius is aiming to champion sustainability through setting a good example; we are implementing sustainable practices in our own processes, carefully choosing partners who share our sustainability values, and providing products and services to help our customers and partners prioritize sustainability. 

Our product portfolio supports intensified processing, from minor adjustments within unit operations to building entire intensified manufacturing facilities. Implementing these solutions shrinks facility footprint and, as a result, contributes to lowering the carbon footprint. Key products include perfusion-enabled Biostat STR^® and Biostat^® RM bioreactors, Resolute^® BioSC or Resolute^® BioSMB MCC platforms, and flow-through technologies like SU membrane chromatography which are suitable for different intensified processes and enable small, modular single-use facilities. 

Additionally, our Sartopore^® Platinum filter platform, best known for its excellent wettability due to its modified PES double-layer membrane, leads to a significant reduction in required flushing volumes - up to 95% less water needed than other filters.
Our analytics software also empowers drug manufacturers to make data-driven decisions toward improving environmental sustainability in their processes. The Umetrics^® Suite consists of tools offering process insights and control to maximize efficiency and sustainability. For instance, staff at Michigan State University used SIMCA^® to reveal operational changes that could save more than $1 million USD a year in fuel and capital expenses, reduce carbon emissions, and potentially extend equipment lifetime.

Sartorius follows multiple strategies to increase circularity of its lab instruments and consumables. Here are some examples:

1. Reduce: We are reducing the amount of packaging materials where possible. For example, the packaging size of the Sartolab^® RF|BT (anchor link to Vacuum Filtration Units | Lab Filtration Devices | Sartorius) 150-250 ml product variants was reduced between 11% (cardboard packaging) and 22% (plastic packaging film).
2. Durability, upgradability and repairability: Longevity and reliability of your lab instruments are pivotal to your success. As well, longer lifespans mean less waste. That’s why we are committed to providing repair, maintenance, and calibration services for all our instruments. Software upgrades unlock new features during their product lifetime.
3. End-of-Life and Recyclability: To enable high recycling rates, our instruments are typically easy to disassemble. For example, the Quintix^® Pro lab balance (anchor link to Quintix^® Pro | Sartorius) avoids using restrictive technologies, like adhesives, to simplify the recycling process. Our lab instruments are electronic devices. Therefore, their disposal should follow local guidelines.

Many of our lab consumables could be separated and introduced into recycling streams, if not contaminated during use. For example, we provide information on materials used in the products of our filtration portfolio to enable you to recycle your products correctly. For our sales unit packaging, most materials are marked with recycling codes, enabling the introduction into local recycling streams.

Eco-design goes beyond compliance - it’s about creating products that minimize environmental impact while maintaining quality, performance, and cost-effectiveness. We recognize that the largest share a product’s environmental footprint is already determined during the concept stage of its development. By integrating Ecodesign principles, we aim to strike a balance between innovation and sustainability. At Sartorius, Ecodesign is implemented already from the early stages of product development, guided by a multi-step process:

1. Early Integration, Lasting Impact: Eco-design isn’t an afterthought—it’s our compass. As we kick off development projects, we evaluate their potential contributions to our sustainability focus areas including Climate Action, Resources & Circularity, Water & Effluents.
2. The Blueprint for Sustainability: Within the concept stage, we define tangible sustainability requirements. These aren’t vague notions; they’re precise targets—both qualitative and quantitative—that steer our innovation.
3. Unveiling the Optimal Path: During development, we apply Screening Life Cycle Assessments. We seek the most sustainable option, balancing performance, efficiency, and environmental impact.
4. Documentation: We meticulously document all sustainability-relevant product data, making it available to our customers upon request. This enables our customers to fulfill their sustainability requirements in addition to standard product requirements (price, performance, availability).