Decarbonising the UK Life Sciences Sector

2025
Detail

Decarbonising the UK Life Sciences Sector

The health and life sciences industry is under growing pressure to address sustainability issues, particularly carbon emissions. And while it has made some impressive progress in this regard, the hardest challenge still remains.

While the healthcare industry is responsible for saving millions of human lives, its work comes at a considerable cost to the environment.

The healthcare industry accounts for 4.4 – 4.6% of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions and similar percentages of toxic air pollutants, putting it up there with the most carbon-intensive service sectors in the industrialised world.

The NHS has committed to reaching net zero by 2040 for the emissions they control directly, and by 2045 for the emissions they influence, through the goods and services we they from our partners and suppliers.

This conference aims to align the life sciences sector with policy ambitions for achieving net zero. Stakeholders and policymakers will discuss strategic priorities and next steps, including best practice and how challenges are being addressed by major organisations in life sciences.

Interested in the Event?


Event Speakers.

Susan Simon
Susan Simon
Chief Environmental Sustainability Officer - Medical Research Council (MRC)
Addie MacGregor
Addie MacGregor
Sustainability Manager - Association of British HealthTech Industries
Robert Smith
Robert Smith
Head of International & Sustainability Policy - ABPI

Event Schedule.

08.00 – 09.20 – Breakfast, registration and networking

09.20 – 09.40 – Chair welcome

Dr Fiona Adshead, Chair, Sustainable Healthcare Coalition (Confirmed)

09.40 – 09.55 – Keynote address – Building a sustainable life sciences roadmap

Rt Hon Kit Malthouse MP, All-Party Parliamentary Group for Life Sciences (Invited)

09.55 – 10.10 – Accelerating the transition to net zero

Ryan McLaughlin, Director, Net Zero Strategy, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (ESNZ) (Invited)

10.10 – 10:25 – Headline Sponsor

10:25 – 10.40 – Q&A Panel Debate

10.40 – 11.20 – Refreshments and Networking

11:20 – 11.35 – Opportunities for collaboration across the sector to achieve emissions reduction targets

Susan Simon, Chief Environmental Sustainability Officer, Medical Research Council (MRC) (Confirmed)

11.35 – 11.50 – Next steps for reaching supplier benchmarks

Heidi Barnard, Head of Sustainability, NHS Supply Chain (NSS) (Confirmed)

11.50 – 12.05 – Supporting sustainable innovation in healthcare

Pete Waddingham, National Net Zero Lead, Academic Health Science Networks (AHSN) (Invited)

12:05 – 12.20 – Q&A panel Debate

Robert Smith, Head of International & Sustainability Policy, Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) (Confirmed)

12.20 – 12.30 – Movement Break

12.30 – 12.50 – Case Study 1 – The role of data & AI

12.50 – 13.10 – Case Study 2 – Options for moving towards greener clinical trials

13.10 – 13.30 – Case Study 3 – Reducing waste & improving recyclability

13:30 – 14:30 – Lunch in the Network Surgery

14.30 – 14.50 – Case Study 4 – Sustainable packaging, devices & tools

14.50 – 15.10 – Case Study 5 – Overcoming challenges in measurement and monitoring

15.10 – 15:30 Movement Break & Refreshments

15.30 – 15.45 – Leveraging data and technology to drive cost-effective reduction of emissions

Addie MacGregor, Sustainability Manager, Association of British HealthTech Industries (Confirmed)

15.45 – 15.55 – Ensuring health is central to net zero strategies

Professor Louise Heathwaite, Building a Green Future Lead, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) (Invited)

15.55 – 16.10 – Building capacity around climate, health and sustainability in the research community

Dr Sophia Lentzos, Head of Sustainability, National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) (Invited)

16:10 – 16.25 – Q&A Panel Debate

16.25 – 16:30 – Conference Close

 

**These times and invited speakers are subject to change without notice**

Event Sponsors.

In Partnership With