This ethos is a key differentiator in a market primarily focused on patient health and safety, and where the environment is frequently a secondary consideration.

ten23 has a number of initiatives ongoing across its patients and people pillars. As part of its planet strategy, ten23 identified plastic waste and GHG emissions reduction as material focus areas.

Progress on material topics

Plastic waste

ten23 set an objective to reduce, substitute or recycle plastics wherever possible, with a goal of removing twice as much plastic from the environment than is sent to final disposal, by 2025.

To achieve this, ten23 reduced the use of plastic disposables in labs, switched to biodegradable or reusable materials where possible, and improved sorting and recycling rates through the use of plastic waste collection bins. During 2023, plastic waste sent to incineration reduced from 5.0 tonnes (in 2022) to 2.7 tonnes, thanks to an increase in the recycling rate from 34.4% to 43.3%, despite the company’s year-on-year growth.

Any plastic waste which cannot be separated for recycling is offset through a partnership with Seven Clean Seas, an organisation which removes plastic waste from marine environments. Through this partnership, ten23 has removed 19 tonnes of waste from oceans and rivers to date, representing more than 150% of the plastic waste generated by the company since its inception.

GHG emissions reductions

ten23 aims to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% by 2025 on an intensity basis to reflect the growth and maturity of the business since its establishment. In the first two years of operations, the company established a baseline for 2021 and delivered a 44% reduction against this, through a combination of procuring 100% renewable electricity and implementing several energy efficiency measures throughout its two facilities, including a cooling system upgrade, a new HVAC system installation, office shut-downs implemented to reduce heating requirements between Christmas and New Year, retrofitting of motion sensors into lighting and the purchase of an electric minivan and electric bikes to enable commuting between company locations.

ten23 expects to meet its initial emissions reduction target one year ahead of plan and has an ambition to set further emissions reduction targets in line with the SBTi criteria during 2024.

Collaboration

In addition to making meaningful changes within its own operations, ten23 aims to address systemic industry issues by working in collaboration with its suppliers, other pharmaceutical companies and various other healthcare stakeholders.

One example of this includes a partnership between ten23 and Elio, an eco-design software provider, to co-design and develop a tool which will enable technical experts to integrate sustainability considerations into product and process design. The purpose of this collaboration is to enable change across the healthcare industry, by prioritising sustainable practices without compromising the innovation, efficacy, safety and quality of sterile medicine formulations and manufacturing practices.