SWEDEN — AstraZeneca, a trailblazer in championing sustainability within the pharmaceutical realm, is intensifying its dedication to clean energy initiatives, particularly in Sweden.
The British pharmaceutical giant is forging an alliance with Stratkraft, renowned as Europe’s largest producer of renewable energy, to bolster wind power provisions, signifying a significant stride towards sustainable practices.
In a strategic collaboration unveiled recently, AstraZeneca and Stratkraft are set to advance renewable electricity availability in Sweden through the establishment of new wind farms.
Under the terms of this pioneering agreement, AstraZeneca will procure 200 gigawatt-hours annually for the next decade.
This remarkable volume accounts for approximately 80% of the total electricity requisites at AstraZeneca’s research hub in Gothenburg and its manufacturing facility in Södertälje.
Situated in proximity to AstraZeneca’s research and manufacturing centers, the designated wind farms are earmarked for the Strömstad and Årjäng regions.
Simultaneously, AstraZeneca is orchestrating an energy-efficient transformation across its Swedish operations, focusing on strategies such as heat recycling, and optimizing humidity and temperature control within its facilities.
President of AstraZeneca Sweden, Per Alfredsson, affirmed the company’s commitment to catalyze societal transition towards sustainable practices, stating, “We want to contribute to the green transition in society.
“To successfully mitigate climate change, we must collaborate across different sectors and think beyond our own operations.”
AstraZeneca’s environmental vanguard
AstraZeneca has positioned itself as a frontrunner in the sphere of environmental sustainability within the global pharmaceutical landscape.
As early as 2021, the company joined forces with Novartis, Novo Nordisk, and other pharmaceutical giants in introducing the Energize program alongside Schneider Electric and Carnstone.
This groundbreaking initiative is designed to rally numerous suppliers in robust climate action and the decarbonization of the pharmaceutical value chain.
AstraZeneca’s resolute commitment to a sustainable future is demonstrated through its Ambition Zero Carbon initiative, a concerted effort to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.
This comprehensive program encompasses strategies such as maximizing energy efficiency, transitioning to renewable energy sources, and investing in nature-based carbon removal techniques.
Beyond energy, AstraZeneca is significantly enhancing its forestry program through a substantial US$400 million investment.
With this infusion, the company is elevating its goal to plant and nurture 200 million trees across six continents by 2030.
The upgraded effort will see AstraZeneca establish new or expanded forestry projects in Brazil, India, Vietnam, Ghana, and Rwanda, the company explained.
This ambitious endeavor aligns with AstraZeneca’s overarching aim to slash its environmental footprint by half throughout its entire value chain by the same year.
AstraZeneca’s global stewardship extends to the United States as well. In a notable partnership with Vanguard Renewables announced in June, the company is poised to facilitate the delivery of sustainable agricultural waste to generate renewable energy.
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