# Peptides and oligonucleotides: Emissions

Why a kilo of peptide can carry tonnes of carbon

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/peptides_oligos/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 peptide or oligonucleotide API, cradle-to-gate. Intensity: derived from Kekessie et al. 2024 and Pharma's Almanac (2025) PMI (indicative). Global total: derived.

#### 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** | solvents and building blocks | 50% | virgin DMF, acetonitrile, protected amino acids | indicative | indicative |
| **Production / process** | HVAC for cleanrooms, lyophilisation, solvent incineration | 45% | incineration of spent solvent and cleanroom energy | indicative | indicative |
| **Movement** | air freight | 5% | cold chain | indicative | indicative |
| **Use** | pens and packaging, not the API | – | single-use pens | device footprint can exceed API footprint per dose (not quantified) |  |
| **End of life** | pen and needle waste | – | medical waste incineration | not quantified |  |

#### Other environmental impacts

Reprotoxic solvent exposure (DMF, NMP), PFAS-adjacent TFA releases, large hazardous waste streams.

#### Levers to cut emissions

- Solvent recovery and recycling of DMF and acetonitrile
- Greener solvents (binary mixtures replacing DMF)
- LPPS, hybrid and continuous chromatography to cut PMI
- Recombinant or enzymatic ligation routes
- Renewable power for cleanrooms

#### India

Indian peptide capacity is new, so solvent recovery and green-solvent processes can be designed in; no published footprint 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Liquid-phase and hybrid peptide synthesis** | lower PMI than SPPS (not published) | lower cost at scale (indicative) | in use for tirzepatide and some generics | Liu et al. (2026) via Pharma's Almanac |

 For a climate investor Peptides are the most solvent-intensive products in pharma, and GLP-1 volumes are growing fast. Solvent recovery, green-solvent technologies and process intensification (LPPS, continuous chromatography) offer cost and emission gains together. Counterparties include Bachem, CordenPharma, PolyPeptide and Indian entrants Divi's and Laurus.

## Other sections

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