GITNUXREPORT 2025

Sustainability In The Life Sciences Industry Statistics

Life sciences industry’s sustainability efforts drive growth, innovation, and environmental impact.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

The global life sciences industry is expected to reach a valuation of $2.4 trillion by 2027, with sustainability being a key growth driver

Statistic 2

The use of biodegradable polymers in medical devices has increased by 40% over the past five years

Statistic 3

40% of industry respondents report that sustainability performance is a key factor in investor decision-making

Statistic 4

The global market for biodegradable medical products is projected to grow at a CAGR of 12% through 2028

Statistic 5

The use of renewable energy certificates (RECs) in the industry has doubled in the last five years

Statistic 6

The global biodegradable plastics market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 15% through 2030, impacting medical and pharmaceutical packaging

Statistic 7

The adoption of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) reporting standards in life sciences has increased by 60% over the last four years

Statistic 8

The percentage of products certified as sustainably sourced has increased from 10% to 35% over the last decade

Statistic 9

The industry’s investment in circular economy solutions has increased by 50% since 2019, aiming to reduce waste generation

Statistic 10

The use of plant-based raw materials in pharmaceutical formulations has increased by 30% over the last five years

Statistic 11

The wellness and sustainability trend in life sciences is boosting demand for natural and organic medical products

Statistic 12

The adoption of cloud-based sustainability data management tools in the industry has grown by 45% since 2020

Statistic 13

Approximately 75% of life sciences companies have committed to at least one sustainability goal

Statistic 14

The pharmaceutical industry accounts for about 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions

Statistic 15

68% of life sciences companies report integrating sustainability into their core business strategies

Statistic 16

The use of renewable energy in pharmaceutical manufacturing has increased by 25% over the last five years

Statistic 17

Over 60% of life sciences organizations are actively working to reduce single-use plastics in their supply chains

Statistic 18

The adoption rate of green chemistry practices in the industry has doubled in the past decade

Statistic 19

55% of life sciences companies track their carbon footprint regularly

Statistic 20

The waste reduction efforts in pharmaceutical companies have led to a 30% decrease in hazardous waste since 2018

Statistic 21

About 65% of new pharmaceuticals are developed with sustainability considerations integrated into the R&D process

Statistic 22

Nearly 80% of life sciences firms are investing in digital tools to improve energy efficiency

Statistic 23

The average carbon reduction target set by life sciences companies is 50% by 2030

Statistic 24

70% of pharmaceuticals are now produced using greener solvents compared to five years ago

Statistic 25

The pharmaceutical supply chain contributes approximately $150 billion annually to global waste

Statistic 26

Over 85% of life sciences companies have developed sustainability dashboards to monitor ongoing progress

Statistic 27

The percentage of sustainable packaging used in the life sciences industry has increased from 20% to 55% in the last decade

Statistic 28

45% of life sciences companies report measurable reductions in water usage due to conservation initiatives

Statistic 29

The industry has seen a 35% increase in investments into green R&D initiatives since 2019

Statistic 30

62% of life sciences organizations are exploring circular economy models to minimize waste

Statistic 31

A survey indicates that 50% of life sciences companies assess environmental risks as part of their supply chain management

Statistic 32

The adoption of eco-friendly lab practices has increased 50% over the past three years

Statistic 33

72% of life sciences firms have committed to reducing their scope 1 and scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions

Statistic 34

43% of pharmaceutical companies reported increased costs due to sustainability initiatives, balanced by long-term savings

Statistic 35

Digital transformation in life sciences leads to sustainability gains equivalent to removing 200,000 cars from the road annually

Statistic 36

58% of life sciences companies have sustainability as a formal part of their corporate strategy

Statistic 37

Over 55% of life sciences companies are reporting on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) metrics

Statistic 38

65% of industry players intend to incorporate more sustainable materials in their packaging by 2025

Statistic 39

The pharmaceutical industry has reduced water usage by approximately 20% per product since 2010

Statistic 40

Investments in sustainability initiatives by life sciences companies have increased by 40% over the past three years

Statistic 41

80% of life sciences organizations have set public sustainability targets for 2030

Statistic 42

The industry’s use of energy-efficient manufacturing technologies has grown by 30% in the last five years

Statistic 43

Globally, 25% of pharmaceutical companies have committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050

Statistic 44

70% of life sciences firms have implemented life cycle assessments to improve product sustainability

Statistic 45

Recycling rates for pharmaceutical packaging have increased to 45% from 25% over the past decade

Statistic 46

The industry has seen a 90% increase in the use of virtual clinical trials to reduce environmental impact

Statistic 47

62% of companies are considering or have adopted biodegradable packaging for drugs and medical devices

Statistic 48

The carbon footprint of clinical trials has been reduced by 35% through remote monitoring and virtual trial models

Statistic 49

The number of sustainability-focused awards and recognitions in the life sciences industry has increased by 50% over the last five years

Statistic 50

75% of life sciences companies have initiated training programs to embed sustainability into employee culture

Statistic 51

Waste-to-energy projects in the pharmaceutical industry have increased by 45% in the last three years, helping reduce landfill waste

Statistic 52

80% of industry leaders believe sustainability is critical for future innovation and market competitiveness

Statistic 53

A survey indicated that 65% of life sciences companies aim to achieve zero waste in manufacturing by 2030

Statistic 54

Over 70% of new drug substances are now being developed with eco-friendly synthesis methods

Statistic 55

The industry now recycles over 50% of its hazardous waste, up from 30% five years ago

Statistic 56

30% of life sciences manufacturing facilities are powered entirely by renewable energy sources

Statistic 57

The use of digital twin technology in the industry is projected to reduce energy consumption by 20% in manufacturing plants

Statistic 58

90% of pharmaceutical companies report engaging stakeholders on sustainability issues regularly

Statistic 59

The public perception of the life sciences industry’s sustainability efforts has improved by 20% over the past three years

Statistic 60

Over 60% of life sciences companies are involved in community sustainability initiatives, such as local environmental projects

Statistic 61

72% of life sciences companies have established sustainability reporting frameworks aligned with global standards

Statistic 62

Over 65% of industry players report that sustainability performance data is integrated into executive compensation metrics

Statistic 63

55% of life sciences companies participate in sustainability-focused collaborative initiatives with governments or NGOs

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Key Highlights

The global life sciences industry is expected to reach a valuation of $2.4 trillion by 2027, with sustainability being a key growth driver
Approximately 75% of life sciences companies have committed to at least one sustainability goal
The pharmaceutical industry accounts for about 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions
68% of life sciences companies report integrating sustainability into their core business strategies
The use of renewable energy in pharmaceutical manufacturing has increased by 25% over the last five years
Over 60% of life sciences organizations are actively working to reduce single-use plastics in their supply chains
The adoption rate of green chemistry practices in the industry has doubled in the past decade
55% of life sciences companies track their carbon footprint regularly
The waste reduction efforts in pharmaceutical companies have led to a 30% decrease in hazardous waste since 2018
About 65% of new pharmaceuticals are developed with sustainability considerations integrated into the R&D process
Nearly 80% of life sciences firms are investing in digital tools to improve energy efficiency
The use of biodegradable polymers in medical devices has increased by 40% over the past five years
40% of industry respondents report that sustainability performance is a key factor in investor decision-making

With the global life sciences industry set to reach $2.4 trillion by 2027, sustainability has emerged as a vital driver of growth, with over 75% of companies committing to environmental goals and notable advances in green practices shaping a greener future for medicine and biotech.

Market Trends and Industry Growth

The global life sciences industry is expected to reach a valuation of $2.4 trillion by 2027, with sustainability being a key growth driver
The use of biodegradable polymers in medical devices has increased by 40% over the past five years
40% of industry respondents report that sustainability performance is a key factor in investor decision-making
The global market for biodegradable medical products is projected to grow at a CAGR of 12% through 2028
The use of renewable energy certificates (RECs) in the industry has doubled in the last five years
The global biodegradable plastics market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 15% through 2030, impacting medical and pharmaceutical packaging
The adoption of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) reporting standards in life sciences has increased by 60% over the last four years
The percentage of products certified as sustainably sourced has increased from 10% to 35% over the last decade
The industry’s investment in circular economy solutions has increased by 50% since 2019, aiming to reduce waste generation
The use of plant-based raw materials in pharmaceutical formulations has increased by 30% over the last five years
The wellness and sustainability trend in life sciences is boosting demand for natural and organic medical products
The adoption of cloud-based sustainability data management tools in the industry has grown by 45% since 2020

Market Trends and Industry Growth Interpretation

As the life sciences industry scales a $2.4 trillion summit by 2027, its pivot toward biodegradable polymers, renewable energy, and circular economy solutions highlights that green innovation isn’t just good for the planet—it's becoming the primary currency for investor confidence and sustainable growth.

Sustainability and Environmental Initiatives

Approximately 75% of life sciences companies have committed to at least one sustainability goal
The pharmaceutical industry accounts for about 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions
68% of life sciences companies report integrating sustainability into their core business strategies
The use of renewable energy in pharmaceutical manufacturing has increased by 25% over the last five years
Over 60% of life sciences organizations are actively working to reduce single-use plastics in their supply chains
The adoption rate of green chemistry practices in the industry has doubled in the past decade
55% of life sciences companies track their carbon footprint regularly
The waste reduction efforts in pharmaceutical companies have led to a 30% decrease in hazardous waste since 2018
About 65% of new pharmaceuticals are developed with sustainability considerations integrated into the R&D process
Nearly 80% of life sciences firms are investing in digital tools to improve energy efficiency
The average carbon reduction target set by life sciences companies is 50% by 2030
70% of pharmaceuticals are now produced using greener solvents compared to five years ago
The pharmaceutical supply chain contributes approximately $150 billion annually to global waste
Over 85% of life sciences companies have developed sustainability dashboards to monitor ongoing progress
The percentage of sustainable packaging used in the life sciences industry has increased from 20% to 55% in the last decade
45% of life sciences companies report measurable reductions in water usage due to conservation initiatives
The industry has seen a 35% increase in investments into green R&D initiatives since 2019
62% of life sciences organizations are exploring circular economy models to minimize waste
A survey indicates that 50% of life sciences companies assess environmental risks as part of their supply chain management
The adoption of eco-friendly lab practices has increased 50% over the past three years
72% of life sciences firms have committed to reducing their scope 1 and scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions
43% of pharmaceutical companies reported increased costs due to sustainability initiatives, balanced by long-term savings
Digital transformation in life sciences leads to sustainability gains equivalent to removing 200,000 cars from the road annually
58% of life sciences companies have sustainability as a formal part of their corporate strategy
Over 55% of life sciences companies are reporting on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) metrics
65% of industry players intend to incorporate more sustainable materials in their packaging by 2025
The pharmaceutical industry has reduced water usage by approximately 20% per product since 2010
Investments in sustainability initiatives by life sciences companies have increased by 40% over the past three years
80% of life sciences organizations have set public sustainability targets for 2030
The industry’s use of energy-efficient manufacturing technologies has grown by 30% in the last five years
Globally, 25% of pharmaceutical companies have committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050
70% of life sciences firms have implemented life cycle assessments to improve product sustainability
Recycling rates for pharmaceutical packaging have increased to 45% from 25% over the past decade
The industry has seen a 90% increase in the use of virtual clinical trials to reduce environmental impact
62% of companies are considering or have adopted biodegradable packaging for drugs and medical devices
The carbon footprint of clinical trials has been reduced by 35% through remote monitoring and virtual trial models
The number of sustainability-focused awards and recognitions in the life sciences industry has increased by 50% over the last five years
75% of life sciences companies have initiated training programs to embed sustainability into employee culture
Waste-to-energy projects in the pharmaceutical industry have increased by 45% in the last three years, helping reduce landfill waste
80% of industry leaders believe sustainability is critical for future innovation and market competitiveness
A survey indicated that 65% of life sciences companies aim to achieve zero waste in manufacturing by 2030
Over 70% of new drug substances are now being developed with eco-friendly synthesis methods
The industry now recycles over 50% of its hazardous waste, up from 30% five years ago
30% of life sciences manufacturing facilities are powered entirely by renewable energy sources
The use of digital twin technology in the industry is projected to reduce energy consumption by 20% in manufacturing plants
90% of pharmaceutical companies report engaging stakeholders on sustainability issues regularly
The public perception of the life sciences industry’s sustainability efforts has improved by 20% over the past three years
Over 60% of life sciences companies are involved in community sustainability initiatives, such as local environmental projects
72% of life sciences companies have established sustainability reporting frameworks aligned with global standards
Over 65% of industry players report that sustainability performance data is integrated into executive compensation metrics
55% of life sciences companies participate in sustainability-focused collaborative initiatives with governments or NGOs

Sustainability and Environmental Initiatives Interpretation

With three-quarters of life sciences companies embracing sustainability goals and nearly as many integrating eco-conscious practices into their core strategies, it's clear that the industry is shifting from greenwashing to green engineering—aiming for a healthier planet, improved efficiency, and a future where medicine and sustainability go hand in hand, even if the carbon footprint still weighs heavily behind its own ambitions.