Evonik now offers its customers cradle-to-gate LCA data for selected EUDRAGIT® functional polymers. These results are derived from Evonik’s TÜV-certified LCA method. This data supports customers’ Scope 3 emissions (indirect emissions) reporting and underscores Evonik’s commitment to greater transparency across the value chain. LCA data is currently available for EUDRAGIT® L 100-55 and EUDRAGIT® L 30 D-55, with further grades expected to follow in early 2027.
“Our customers need credible sustainability data they can trust and use,” said Thilo Krapfl, head of the Oral Drug Delivery Solutions product line at Evonik. “Life cycle assessments enable us and our customers to make data-driven decisions that improve the sustainability profile of pharmaceutical products and processes."
Pharmaceutical companies are facing increasing pressure to reduce their Scope 3 emissions and meet evolving environmental, social and governance (ESG) requirements. As a result, customers increasingly seek suppliers who offer transparent environmental data and demonstrate efforts to reduce emissions across the value chain.
Cradle-to-gate LCAs evaluate the environmental impact of a product from raw material extraction through production. LCA data from Evonik's certified LCA methodology helps pharmaceutical companies understand the footprint of excipients, and leverage opportunities to reduce environmental impacts across the value chain.
In the case of EUDRAGIT® L 100-55, the implementation of a state-of-the-art spray drying system at Evonik's Darmstadt site resulted in approximately 6 percent reduction in the PCF compared to the previous set-up. The new spray drying facility is powered by renewable electricity, and its location minimizes transport between production sites.
“Sustainability is a continuous improvement journey,” said Muhammad Irfan, Plant Production Manager at Evonik Health Care. “By using LCA data to identify hotspots, we can focus our improvement efforts where they have the greatest impact – from energy use and transport to process efficiency.”
EUDRAGIT® polymers are polymethacrylates suitable for a wide range of drug delivery applications. Used individually or in combination, they enable virtually any target release profile, including immediate, delayed and sustained release. In addition, selected EUDRAGIT® grades can be used for solubility enhancement of poorly soluble drug substances. They are compatible with all relevant processing technologies, including hot melt extrusion and spray drying.
LCA data is integral to Evonik Health Care’s sustainability strategy, helping customers develop effective medications and treatments while minimizing environmental impacts. Evonik Health Care has the ambition to be climate neutral in Scope 1 and 2 emissions and generate more than 70 percent of its portfolio with Next Generation Solutions by 2030.
