Thermo Fisher Scientific Introduces Biobased Solutions to Help Reduce Climate Impact in Manufacturing of Therapies
June 28 2024 - 8:15AM
Business Wire
New solutions include a first-of-its-kind film
that can eliminate carbon emissions from plastic resin
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., the world leader in serving
science, is contributing to the sustainability of biologics therapy
manufacturing by leveraging plant-based materials, rather than
fossil fuel materials, to deliver lower-carbon, biobased films for
its single-use technology bioprocessing containers (BPCs). The
biobased films build on Thermo Fisher’s existing Aegis™ and CX film
offerings that are widely used and validated by customers. As a
result, customers can maintain consistency in their BPCs while also
realizing a reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. By
adopting biobased, sustainable films in their BPCs, Thermo Fisher
customers can eliminate carbon emissions related to the plastic
resin1.
The biobased films have earned an International Sustainability
and Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS certification, a globally
recognized certification for circular and biobased products.
Biopharma manufacturers can pre-purchase the biobased films now to
incorporate into their upstream or downstream system in early 2025.
In addition, Thermo Fisher will support customers as they track
their carbon reduction quantities and advance towards their
sustainability objectives.
"Biopharma manufacturers are focused on maximizing productivity,
accelerating time-to-market and generating efficiencies all while
improving the overall sustainability of their operations,” said Ray
Mercier, president of Thermo Fisher’s single-use technologies
business. “Our biobased films allow customers to reduce their
environmental impact without having to validate new BPCs, helping
them bring treatments to patients faster while also helping to
protect the planet.”
In addition to offering BPCs with biobased film, Thermo Fisher
connects customers with recyclers to enable recycling of BPCs after
use. This program helps biopharma manufacturers divert waste from
landfill or carbon-intensive incineration, advancing their
sustainability goals through a convenient recycling service that
turns BPCs into high-quality plastic lumber. Approximately 400,000
pounds of plastic waste has been diverted from landfills or
incineration since initiation of the program.
Further reflecting Thermo Fisher’s commitment to sustainable
practices and responsible manufacturing, the company also earned an
ISCC PLUS certification for the manufacturing of biobased resins in
its Nunc Cell Factory™ product line, which is used in producing
vaccines and biologics.
“At Thermo Fisher, we pride ourselves on enabling our customers
to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer,” said Daniella
Cramp, president of Thermo Fisher Scientific’s bioproduction
business. “We are reengineering the way we design, produce, package
and ship our products to reduce the environmental impacts of our
industry, without compromising the quality and performance our
customers expect from us. With our biobased solutions, we are
taking a step toward a cleaner bioproduction process with less
waste and, ultimately, helping enable our customers to achieve
their sustainability goals.”
These new innovations and initiatives are part of Thermo
Fisher’s commitment to helping customers drive sustainability as
they work towards solving the world’s most challenging medical
issues. Thermo Fisher is innovating greener products across five
key areas of environmental impact: minimizing the use of hazardous
materials, reducing waste and using fewer resources, increasing
energy efficiency, responsibly packaging and shipping, and
extending the useful life of products and materials. Thermo Fisher
scientists apply Design for Sustainability principles to product
design, creating more sustainable options as part of its Greener by
design™ portfolio of products to help advance sustainability and
improve lab safety.
To learn more about Thermo Fisher’s overall sustainability
efforts, including the Greener by Design initiative, please visit
www.thermofisher.com/sustain.
About Thermo Fisher Scientific
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving
science, with annual revenue over $40 billion. Our Mission is to
enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and
safer. Whether our customers are accelerating life sciences
research, solving complex analytical challenges, increasing
productivity in their laboratories, improving patient health
through diagnostics or the development and manufacture of
life-changing therapies, we are here to support them. Our global
team delivers an unrivaled combination of innovative technologies,
purchasing convenience and pharmaceutical services through our
industry-leading brands, including Thermo Scientific, Applied
Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific, Unity Lab Services,
Patheon and PPD. For more information, please visit
www.thermofisher.com.
1 Biobased resin has a cradle-to-gate footprint of -1.5 kg CO2e
/ kg of resin as provided by the manufacturer. Includes
fossil-based emissions, biogenic emissions and biogenic
removals.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240628034298/en/
Media: Kathy Bricaud Phone: 442-359-6848 Email:
kathy.bricaud@thermofisher.com