Decarbonising Life Sciences

2025
Detail

Decarbonising Life Sciences

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
Dr Sophia Lentzos
Dr Sophia Lentzos
Head of Sustainability - National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
Joana da Silva
Joana da Silva
Programme Manager for the Sustainable Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Programme - Innovate UK
Michael Clarke
Michael Clarke
Partnerships Director and Sustainability Lead - Medicines UK
Josh Crosley
Josh Crosley
Design for Life programme Co-Lead - Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)

Event Schedule.

08.00 – 09.30 – Breakfast, registration and networking

09.30 – 09.45 – Chair’s welcome address

Dr Fiona Adshead, Chair, Sustainable Healthcare Coalition

09.45 – 10.00 – Building a Sustainable Future through Responsible Procurement

Josh Crosley, Design for Life programme Co-Lead, Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)

10.00 – 10.15 – Innovations in Sustainable Medicines Manufacturing

Joana da Silva, Programme Manager – VPAG Sustainable Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Programme, Innovate UK

10.15 – 10:30 – Headline Sponsor

10:30 – 10.50 – Q&A Panel Debate

10.50 – 11.30 – Refreshments and Networking

11:30 – 11.45 – Improving sustainability in medical research

Susan Simon, Director of Capital and Estates, Medical Research Council (MRC)

11.45 – 12.00 – Next steps for reaching supplier benchmarks

Heidi Barnard, Head of Sustainability, NHS Supply Chain

12.00 – 12.15 – Reducing the environmental impact of medicine manufacturing

Michael Clarke, Partnerships Director & Sustainability Lead, Medicines UK

12:15 – 12.35 – Q&A panel Debate

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

12.35 – 12.50 – Movement Break

12.50 – 13.10 – Industry Case Study 1

13.10 – 13.30 – Industry Case Study 2

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

14.30 – 14.45 – Current progress in reducing emissions

Emma Pinchbeck, Chief Executive, The Climate Change Committee

14.45 – 15.00 – Leveraging HealthTech to drive cost-effective reduction of emissions

Addie MacGregor, Sustainability Manager, Association of British HealthTech Industries

15.00 – 15.15 – Funding research to decarbonise health and care

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

15:15 – 15.35 – Q&A Panel Debate

15.35 – 15:40 – Conference Close

 

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

Event Sponsors.

In Partnership With

In Attendance