# Custom synthesis (CDMO): Emissions

Why pharma giants now ask their suppliers for green power

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/custom_synthesis/emissions/

What this tab covers The greenhouse-gas footprint per tonne, split by lifecycle phase (feedstock, production, movement, use, end of life), the global total, other environmental impacts, levers and low-carbon routes, India's position, and where the investment opportunity lies. Emission intensity 48.5 t CO2e per $ million revenue (pharma sector average, 2015) range varies widely by company and modality · sector-wide intensity for 15 large pharma companies, scopes 1 and 2 plus reported scope 3 where available; CDMO-specific average not published Global emissions per year 8.40 Mt CO2e per year 2025 · 48.55 t/$m x $173.7 billion CDMO revenue (derived, indicative; mixes years and scopes)

Per t CO2e per $ million revenue (service business); per kg API for products. Intensity: Belkhir and Elmeligi, J. Cleaner Production 214 (2019) (indicative for CDMOs). Global total: derived (indicative).

#### Share of footprint by lifecycle phase
 Feedstock 50% Production / process 45% Movement 5%

#### Footprint by lifecycle phase

| Phase | Intensity | Share | Main sources of emissions | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Feedstock** | purchased solvents, reagents, single-use plastics | 50% | scope 3 purchased goods | indicative | indicative |
| **Production / process** | steam, power, HVAC for cleanrooms, incineration | 45% | coal-heavy power in India and China | indicative | indicative |
| **Movement** | air freight of samples and APIs | 5% | air freight | indicative | indicative |
| **Use** | not applicable | – |  | attributed to drug products |  |
| **End of life** | solvent and hazardous waste incineration | – | waste treatment | often counted in process |  |

#### Other environmental impacts

Hazardous solvent waste, potent compound releases, single-use plastics in biologics.

#### Levers to cut emissions

- Renewable power purchase agreements (big pharma customers increasingly require supplier targets)
- Solvent recovery and green chemistry at route design
- Electrified steam and heat pumps
- Supplier engagement programmes such as the Energize initiative for pharma suppliers (indicative)

#### India

Indian CDMOs report emissions in BRSR filings; customers' scope 3 targets are pushing them toward renewable power (no aggregate figure found).
 Emission figures are indicative global averages from the life-cycle studies named; actual footprints vary widely by site, energy mix and method.

#### Low-carbon routes

| Route | Intensity | Cost premium | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Green chemistry route design at development stage** | PMI reductions of half or more in award cases (indicative) | often cost-saving | standard practice at leading CDMOs | ACS GCI Pharmaceutical Roundtable (indicative) |

 For a climate investor Big pharma customers have scope 3 targets that fall on their CDMOs, so Indian CDMOs need renewable power, green steam and solvent recovery to win and keep contracts. Utility-scale renewable PPAs and industrial heat solutions sold to API and CDMO clusters (Hyderabad, Vizag, Gujarat) are the practical entry point.

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/custom_synthesis/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/custom_synthesis/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/custom_synthesis/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/custom_synthesis/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/custom_synthesis/production/index.md)
- [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/custom_synthesis/feedstocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/custom_synthesis/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/custom_synthesis/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/custom_synthesis/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/custom_synthesis/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/custom_synthesis/characteristics/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/custom_synthesis/links/index.md)