Earth Day 2025: Angelini Pharma’s commitment to sustainability
On Earth Day 2025, the theme "OUR POWER, OUR PLANET" emphasizes the urgent need to triple the production of renewable energy globally by 2030. Angelini Pharma is fully aligned with this mission, showcasing its dedication to a sustainable future through a series of impactful initiatives at its production plants. These efforts focus on reducing carbon emissions, adopting renewable energy, and advancing innovation in production processes. Notably, these include the use of photovoltaic systems at the plants and the LIFE-GREENAPI project, co-funded by the European Union, which aims to optimize the production of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) with greener manufacturing practices.
Angelini Pharma and the adoption of renewable energy
Angelini Pharma’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact is evident in its investment in renewable energy. In 2023, the company began installing a photovoltaic system at its production site in Ancona, which became operational in June 2024. This system will generate over 7% of the site’s energy needs, reducing CO2 emissions by approximately 453 tCO2eq annually, according to data from the company’s sustainability reports.
Moreover, the company is enhancing its energy efficiency with innovative technologies. Notably, the Smart Energy system has been implemented to monitor and optimize energy use across the Ancona plant. This initiative has helped reduce methane consumption by upgrading production systems, aligning with Angelini Pharma’s broader strategy to lower its carbon footprint and increase operational efficiency.
LIFE-GREENAPI Project: innovation in API production
Angelini Pharma is committed to sustainability across its production plants, implementing a wide range of initiatives to reduce carbon emissions, adopt renewable energy, and improve production processes. One such initiative is the LIFE-GREENAPI project, launched in 2023, which represents a groundbreaking step in the pharmaceutical sector’s transition to more sustainable practices. The project focuses on combining flow chemistry, while optimising traditional batch method, to create a continuous, more efficient API production process. This innovation reduces the use of key resources such as energy, solvents, and water, contributing to a substantial decrease in environmental impact.
The environmental benefits of the LIFE-GREENAPI project have already become evident. By adopting these new technologies, the project has successfully reduced CO2 emissions by up to 60% compared to the baseline situation, as reported by Angelini Pharma’s project team. In addition to lowering emissions, the new process enhances safety, reduces solvent usage, and optimizes water and energy consumption, making it a significant step forward in the pharmaceutical industry’s sustainability efforts.
Commitment for the future
Looking ahead, Angelini Pharma remains committed to advancing its sustainability efforts. The LIFE-GREENAPI project, alongside initiatives like the adoption of renewable energy and energy efficiency measures, is part of the company’s broader strategy to innovate in ways that protect the environment. As Angelini Pharma continues to develop and implement sustainable technologies, it strengthens its commitment to driving positive change in the pharmaceutical industry’s green transition.
LIFE-GREENAPI Development & demonstration of low environmental impact innovation and optimization practices in pharma production is co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.