# Pharma starting materials and intermediates: Emissions

Why choices in new Indian plants will fix emissions for decades

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ksm_intermediates/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.

Per kg of KSM or intermediate, cradle-to-gate. Intensity: indicative; see phenol tile (1.81 t CO2e/t, Plastics Europe).

#### 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** | aromatics, ammonia, solvents | 50% | fossil feedstock | indicative | indicative |
| **Production / process** | steam, electricity, hydrogen | 45% | coal-based utilities in China and India | indicative | indicative |
| **Movement** | container shipping China to India | 5% | distance | small | indicative |
| **Use** | not applicable (converted to API) | – |  | not applicable |  |
| **End of life** | waste solvent and residue incineration | – | effluent and residues | counted in process where incinerated on site |  |

#### Other environmental impacts

Nitroaromatic and chlorinated effluents, high-salt wastewater, and fermentation waste with antibiotic residues.

#### Levers to cut emissions

- Catalytic hydrogenation instead of iron reduction
- Solvent recovery
- Renewable power and green steam in bulk drug parks
- Common effluent treatment with zero liquid discharge

#### India

New PLI plants and bulk drug parks are being built now, so their utilities choices will fix emissions for decades; no published emissions plans were 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Enzymatic conversions (e.g. penicillin G to 6-APA by immobilised acylase)** | lower solvent use than chemical deacylation (indicative) | none; now standard | standard in modern plants | qualitative |

 For a climate investor Bulk drug parks need shared steam, power, solvent recovery and effluent treatment, a natural place for renewable utilities and industrial heat pumps. The case depends on PLI plants surviving Chinese price competition, which so far rests on MIPs and possible anti-dumping duties.

## Other sections

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