Bespak, a leading manufacturer of drug delivery systems, has partnered with Tunley Environmental to complete its first Supply Chain Biodiversity Footprint (SCBF) assessment – a move the company says underlines its commitment to sustainable and responsible business.
The collaboration marks a first for the pharmaceutical sector, demonstrating how science-based methods can uncover and mitigate ecological impacts hidden within complex global supply chains.
Why biodiversity matters
Healthy ecosystems underpin the stability of the global environment and economy, providing essential services such as clean water, fertile soil and raw materials. In resource-intensive industries like pharmaceuticals, these dependencies are often overlooked, leaving hidden environmental costs embedded within supply chains. By identifying these impacts, Bespak is positioning itself at the forefront of efforts to safeguard biodiversity and strengthen operational resilience.
Findings from the assessment
Using its SCBF methodology, Tunley Environmental’s scientists applied Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) techniques to measure biodiversity impacts through the species.yr metric – an internationally recognised indicator estimating potential species loss linked to supply chain activity.
-
Bespak’s King’s Lynn facility recorded a biodiversity footprint of 0.2153 species.yr, equivalent to the loss of one species every four years.
-
Its Holmes Chapel site recorded 0.0777 species.yr, or one species every thirteen years.
-
Across both sites, aluminium and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) accounted for more than 70% of the footprint.
Towards a nature-positive future
By identifying biodiversity “hotspots” within its supply chain, Bespak says it can now take practical steps to reduce its impact. The findings will inform procurement and operational strategies, guiding measures that both protect nature and align with growing regulatory and investor expectations around nature-positive business models.
The company has published the results in a new whitepaper, The Implementation of Biodiversity Footprinting: Examining Supply Chains, which sets out its approach and the implications for the wider sector.
Dr Tara Garraty, Senior Scientist and Biodiversity Lead at Tunley Environmental, said: “These assessments help shine a light on the hidden ways supply chains impact nature and give companies the insight they need to take meaningful, lasting action.”
For more articles like this, visit our Sustainability channel
