Pharmaceutical excipients: Emissions
Why starch is low carbon and synthetic polymers are not
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.Per kg of excipient, cradle-to-gate. Intensity: indicative.
Share of footprint by lifecycle phase
Feedstock 45% Production / process 45% Movement 10%Footprint by lifecycle phase
| Phase | Intensity | Share | Main sources of emissions | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feedstock | dairy, pulp, maize or petrochemicals | 45% | farm and forestry emissions; dairy allocation for lactose | indicative | indicative |
| Production / process | spray drying, milling | 45% | steam and gas for drying | indicative | indicative |
| Movement | container freight | 10% | distance | indicative | indicative |
| Use | not applicable | – | inert in medicines | ||
| End of life | small | – | biodegradable for most | synthetic polymers persist |
Other environmental impacts
Dust explosion and worker safety risks; methyl chloride use in HPMC.
Levers to cut emissions
- Electrified or heat-pump drying
- Renewable steam at corn refineries and dairies
- Lower-carbon pulp
- Co-processed grades that cut tablet mass
India
No published excipient emissions data for India.
Emission figures are indicative global averages from the life-cycle studies named; actual footprints vary widely by site, energy mix and method. For a climate investor The excipient footprint per tablet is small next to the API's, so decarbonisation here is mainly about drying energy and feedstock sourcing. The more practical angles are process safety (after Sigachi) and domestic supply of specialty grades India imports.