How Sharp is Driving Sustainability in Pharmaceutical Packaging and Clinical Services

“Sustainability is no longer just a buzzword in the pharmaceutical industry. It’s a critical business imperative,” says Hywel Woolf, Global Sustainability Manager at Sharp Services. “

“We’re seeing it become a golden thread in who organizations are and what they intend to deliver, driven by both compliance requirements and client demand.”

Hywel Woolf brings extensive experience in environmental management to his role as Global Sustainability Manager at Sharp Services, a leader in commercial packaging, clinical services, and sterile manufacturing for pharmaceuticals. With a background spanning consultancy, construction, and heavy manufacturing, Hywel now applies his expertise to drive sustainability initiatives across Sharp’s global operations.

In a recent interview at CPHI Milan, Hywel shared insights into Sharp’ sustainability journey, highlighting the company’s strategic approach to reducing environmental impact across its diverse business units. He explains how Sharp is tackling the challenges of sustainable packaging, managing scope 3 emissions, and collaborating with suppliers and industry partners to drive positive change in the pharmaceutical supply chain.

Addressing the Scope 3 Emissions Challenge

Hywel identifies scope 3 category 1 – purchased goods and services – as as the most significant sustainability challenge for Sharp Services, accounting for approximately 58% of the company’s total carbon footprint. This aligns with the broader industry struggle to manage scope 3 emissions effectively.

“We’re looking for alternatives through detailed engagement with our suppliers and having positive discussions with our clients and customers” Hywel explains. “We can help reduce your scope 3 emissions, and at the same time, reduce ours. It’s a collaborative effort.”

To tackle this challenge, Sharp Services is exploring alternative materials and engaging in proactive conversations with clients about more sustainable packaging options. The company recognises that these changes can have a dual benefit, reducing both Sharp’s and their clients’ environmental impact.

Building a Strong Foundation for Sustainability

Sharp has implemented several key initiatives to establish a robust foundation for its sustainability efforts:

1. Commitment to Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi): “We will, by the end of this year, next year, submit our targets for verification,”
2. CDP Disclosure: Sharp Services recently submitted its disclosure to CDP, demonstrating transparency in its environmental impact reporting.
3. EcoVadis Alignment: The company has achieved a “Fast Mover” badge from EcoVadis, indicating rapid progress in its sustainability performance.
4. United Nations Global Compact: Sharp Services recently officially aligned with the UN Global Compact, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable and socially responsible policies.

Hywel emphasises the importance of these foundational elements: “It provides us with that annual drum beat, annual disclosure, to say, this is where we are, this is how we’re progressing. From a governance point of view, particularly that framework is really important for us to mature.”

Collaborating for Industry-Wide Change

Sharp recognises the importance of collaboration in driving sustainability across the pharmaceutical supply chain. The company is a founding member of the Alliance to Zero, a supply chain initiative focused on decarbonising the medical device industry.

“We’ve decided to focus our efforts on medical devices, understanding and identifying where the hot spots lie in terms of carbon,” Hywel explains. “We’ve done a cradle-to-grave carbon footprint of a medical device, and that allows us to focus on the hot spots, introduce new solutions, and reduce the embedded carbon within the life cycle of the medical device.”

This collaborative approach extends to Sharp Services’ supplier engagement strategy. The company has implemented a supply chain ESG risk software to assess and support its suppliers’ sustainability performance.

“We don’t want sustainability to be a huge lift for our suppliers,” Hywel notes. “It’s a journey. It’s about supporting them as well as they are supporting us.”

A Personal Commitment to Sustainability

For Hywel, sustainability is not just a professional pursuit but a personal passion that he traces back to his school days. “My interest and passion for sustainability started in secondary school. I had a really good geography teacher, and this was in the late 90s when sustainability wasn’t really a trend,” he recalls.

This commitment extends to his family life and coaching an under-10 soccer team, where he actively incorporates sustainable practices. “At home, it forms our purchasing, what we consume in terms of grocery shopping every week. We look at what plastics we consume and whether it can it be recycled

Looking Ahead: Priorities for 2025

As Sharp Services continues to evolve its sustainability strategy, Hywel outlines several key priorities for the coming years:

1. Regulatory Compliance: Preparing for upcoming regulations such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).
2. Decarbonisation: Developing more sustainable solutions that benefit both Sharp Services and its clients.
3. Sustainable Materials: Exploring options such as more sustainable board stock and circular plastics.
4. Strategy Launch: 2025 will see the launch of Sharp’s comprehensive sustainability strategy and clear goals.

Hywel concludes with an optimistic outlook: “2025 is going to be a challenging but an exciting year for Sharp. It’s where our strategy will be launched, where our goals will become clear, and where we engage further with clients to enable them to meet their goals.”