ERM and Ayming, have been awarded Innovate UK funding as part of the Sustainable Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Programme to establish a supply chain consortium dedicated to scaling green solvent solutions. The initiative will harness industry collaboration to address the challenge of decarbonizing pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Green solvents’ role in achieving Net Zero targets
Solvents are major contributors to GHG emissions in small-molecule pharmaceuticals and multiple other industries. In addition, many are associated with other environmental issues (e.g. toxicity).

Innovations such as water-based solvent flow chemistry and solvent recovery systems are making progress but will not achieve the necessary reductions to meet Net Zero targets. To address this challenge, the development of bio-based or recycled carbon solvents is essential, yet very limited volumes of sustainable solvents are currently available to the pharmaceutical industry.

Collaborating to secure Grand Challenge funding
The consortium established by ERM and Ayming aims to develop strategies for the integration of green solvents into sustainable medicine manufacturing. The primary objective is to create a proposal for Grand Challenge funding in the summer of 2025. The Grand Challenge phase of the Sustainable Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Programme provides collaborative research and development awards of up to £10 million. To be eligible, projects must involve recipients of the initial seed funding and include a minimum of three partners across the medicines manufacturing supply chain.

ERM and Ayming are actively building a Grand Challenge consortium and invite participation from:

  • Medicine manufactures producing medicines for the NHS;
  • Companies outside the medicines industry using significant volumes of solvents and investing in reducing Scope 3 emissions from purchased raw materials;
  • Specialists in green chemistry and chemical producers;
  • Technology developers and producers of renewable and recycled chemicals and solvent alternatives who are actively assessing/identifying market opportunities for sustainable solvent use;
  • Research and Technology Organizations (RTOs) and universities focused on advancing sustainable manufacturing and high-value supply chain innovations;
  • Producers of renewable feedstocks;
  • Leaders in supply chain innovation.

Commenting on the initiative, ERM’s Global Industry Lead for Pharmaceutical & Healthcare, Maria Dall, said: “ERM is committed to facilitating the decarbonization journey of pharmaceutical and healthcare companies. By fostering collaboration across industries and leveraging funding opportunities, ERM and Ayming seek to unlock new pathways for the adoption of green solvents that will help to drive progress toward a Net Zero future. We look forward to hearing from industry players who are interested in joining us in this collaboration to help shape the future of sustainable medicine manufacturing.”

About ERM

Sustainability is our business.

As the world’s largest specialist sustainability consultancy, ERM partners with clients to operationalize sustainability at pace and scale, utilizing a unique blend of strategic transformation and technical delivery capabilities. This approach enables clients to accelerate the integration of sustainability at every level of their business.
With over 50 years of experience, ERM’s diverse team of more than 8,000 experts across 40 countries and territories assists clients in creating innovative solutions to their sustainability challenges, unlocking commercial opportunities that address the needs of today while preserving options for future generations.

Learn more here.

About Ayming

As a professional services company, Ayming partners with businesses and institutions around the world to unlock lasting value, year after year. Translating complex policy into opportunities, while managing the transformation that comes with growth. Our team is over 1,300 experts in Innovation, HR, Taxes and ESG. We have specialised knowledge and decades of experience in international and local policy across 14 countries. Our premium services create new possibilities for investment. And our approach goes beyond consulting, collaborating in the field with clients of all sizes and sectors. So we can deliver tangible results driven by trust – now and for years to come.

Read more here.

About Innovate UK

Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), is the UK’s innovation agency. It works to create a better future by inspiring, involving and investing in businesses developing life-changing innovations. Its mission is to help companies to grow through their development and commercialisation of new products, processes and services, supported by an outstanding innovation ecosystem that is agile, inclusive and easy to navigate.