Reliable product-level carbon footprint data is becoming increasingly important for pharmaceutical companies seeking to reduce their Scope 3 emissions. Yet comparing the environmental impact of products from different suppliers remains challenging, particularly when calculation methods and underlying assumptions differ.
SCHOTT Pharma has addressed this issue by aligning its Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) methodology with the Together for Sustainability (TfS) PCF Guideline. The methodology and associated calculation tool have now been independently validated by GUTcert, providing additional assurance regarding the consistency and reliability of the approach.
The validation was conducted in accordance with ISO 14067:2019, including Annex C, the GHG Protocol Product Standard and the TfS 3.0 framework. It covered the calculation methodology, data flows, system boundaries, data quality, assumptions and reporting approach.
Beyond reviewing the methodology itself, GUTcert also verified the carbon footprints of three representative products: a sterile 1 ml long syriQ® glass syringe, a sterile 1 ml long SCHOTT TOPPAC® polymer syringe and a 2 ml Core Vial in TopLine quality.
For each product, emissions were calculated in grams of CO₂ equivalent per unit produced, using a cradle-to-gate approach. This assessment covers the stages from raw material extraction and pre-production through upstream transportation, manufacturing and storage.
The validation provides SCHOTT Pharma with an independently assessed framework for generating product-level carbon footprint data across its portfolio. For pharmaceutical manufacturers, access to more consistent and comparable PCF information can help identify emission hotspots and assess where changes in packaging materials, product design or manufacturing processes could contribute most effectively to Scope 3 reduction targets.
As supply-chain emissions remain a major component of the pharmaceutical industry’s overall carbon footprint, the availability of robust product-level data is an increasingly important prerequisite for informed decarbonization decisions.