Sustainability West Midlands: Why Carbon Reduction Matters in Life Sciences

By: Clare Chapman – Membership Manager – Sustainability West Midlands

The Midlands is home to one of the most vibrant life sciences ecosystems in the UK, with clusters of innovation spanning healthcare, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, diagnostics, and medical technologies. This sector is not only central to improving health outcomes for people across the UK and beyond, but also a major contributor to regional economic growth and skilled employment. However, as life sciences companies continue to innovate and expand, the sector faces a challenge that is increasingly urgent: how to operate in a way that is environmentally sustainable, resilient, and aligned with the transition to a low-carbon economy.

The healthcare sector, including its life sciences supply chains, is responsible for a significant proportion of national carbon emissions. With growing pressure from policymakers, funders, the public, and the NHS’ ambition to become the world’s first net zero national health service, the life sciences sector has a clear opportunity—and responsibility—to show leadership in carbon reduction and climate adaptation.

At Sustainability West Midlands (SWM), we work alongside organisations from every sector to provide the guidance, partnerships, and resources that help them adapt and thrive in the face of environmental and societal challenges. Life sciences is one of the most important sectors we engage with. Our approach is to support businesses, research institutions, and public bodies in taking practical steps to reduce their carbon footprint while continuing to deliver cutting-edge science, world-class healthcare solutions, and economic prosperity for the region.

Why Carbon Reduction Matters in Life Sciences

The life sciences sector has unique characteristics that make sustainability both a challenge and an opportunity:

• Energy intensive processes: Laboratory work, controlled manufacturing environments, and high-tech equipment all demand significant amounts of energy. Transitioning to low-carbon energy sources and increasing efficiency is vital.
• Complex supply chains: The sector depends on global procurement networks, from chemicals and plastics to high-precision machinery. Reducing emissions across these supply chains requires collaboration and innovation.
• Waste and materials: Laboratories and manufacturing sites generate hazardous, clinical, and plastic waste, much of which has traditionally been difficult to recycle or repurpose. Innovative circular approaches are emerging to address this.
• Alignment with healthcare priorities: The NHS, as one of the largest purchasers of products and services in the UK, is setting strong expectations for suppliers to demonstrate carbon reduction, set out clearly in their Net Zero supplier roadmap. For Midlands-based life sciences organisations, this represents both a compliance requirement and a competitive opportunity.

By embedding sustainability and carbon reduction into their operations, life sciences companies can not only reduce environmental impact but also strengthen resilience, reduce costs, attract investment, and win new contracts in line with NHS and global expectations.

SWM’s Role in Supporting Life Sciences and the NHS

As the sustainability champion for the region, SWM provides life sciences organisations with tailored support to accelerate carbon reduction. We also have a strong track record of working with the NHS on climate adaptation, ensuring the sector is resilient to the physical risks of climate change.

Adaptation Resources for the NHS

Climate change has serious consequences for public health and healthcare delivery, and the latest adaptation progress report from the Climate Change Committee (CCC) identifies healthcare as one of the slowest progressing sectors in the UK in adapting to climate change calling their current delivery and implementation ‘insufficient’. ). SWM has delivered multiple projects to support the NHS, making training, open-source tools and guidance as well as supporting individual organisations in their adaptation journey. 

• Adapt to Survive (2023): Developed with the Environment Agency, this project provided a toolkit, guidance, case studies, and video tutorials to help Trusts, ICSs and ICBs plan for climate risks. SWM also hosted the first national NHS adaptation conference online in 2023 with nearly 80 NHS staff from across the country, highlighting demand for practical support.
• Developing adaptation capability of the NHS (2024-25): In partnership with Verture, SWM worked with NHS England (North West, North East & Yorkshire) and NHS Greater Manchester to co-create resources including a Climate Adaptation Framework (now NHS England official guidance), training courses, and guidance for embedding adaptation in NHS statutory reporting including Green Plans. 
• Other contributions: SWM has supported NHS Trusts and ICBs directly with adaptation plans, created health and social care briefings for CCRA3, and developed resilience action plans for local NHS organisations such as Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust.
• To support the Circular Economy development, SWM has been working with one of its members to design and develop a quality management system for their Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Equipment reconditioning process, utilising our knowledge of Standards and Remanufacturing experience. The avoided carbon savings have the potential to be utilised within the Life Sciences value chain. 

An SWM Associate has been working with NHS Scotland to create a circular purchasing framework that recycles Theatre waste into recycled content for products that are then purchased back by NHS Scotland. Associated carbon avoidance savings have been identified through the recycling process and transferred back to NHS Scotland for Carbon Accounting purposes.  These projects demonstrate SWM’s expertise not only in carbon reduction but also in climate resilience, positioning us as a trusted partner for life sciences organisations navigating both agendas.

Practical Pathways for Carbon Reduction and Resilience

Life sciences organisations often ask: “Where do we start?” SWM helps members build manageable pathways that integrate both carbon reduction and adaptation:

1. Carbon Reduction Plans – SWM leverages the UK Government’s PPN 06/21 framework—central to the NHS Sustainable Procurement Strategy—to develop robust, compliant carbon reduction plans for suppliers.
2. Energy and estates management – assessing building performance, exploring renewable energy options, and optimising energy efficiency in laboratories, offices, and manufacturing spaces. 
3. Sustainable procurement – developing procurement policies that reduce carbon intensity and encourage suppliers to adopt sustainable practices and ensuring that carbon reporting and reduction progress aligns with changing NHS supply chain requirements. 
4. Travel and logistics – reducing business travel emissions, improving fleet efficiency, and supporting sustainable commuting for staff.
5. Waste management and circular solutions – finding ways to minimise single-use plastics, improve recycling, and engage in circular economy practices for specialist materials.
6. Innovation and product design – embedding sustainability into R&D so new products are both effective and resource-efficient.
7. Adaptation planning – using SWM’s tools and NHS-tested resources to anticipate risks from flooding, heat, and resource disruption, ensuring operations are climate-resilient.

Why Join SWM’s Network?

Membership of SWM offers life sciences organisations a unique opportunity to embed sustainability within their growth journey. By joining, members benefit from:

• Access to insights and publications tailored to sustainability challenges in healthcare and life sciences.
• Networking opportunities with organisations across the region, from universities and NHS trusts to SMEs and global businesses.
• Collaboration brokerage that sparks partnerships and new projects.
• Visibility and profile as part of a respected regional network of sustainability leaders.
• Opportunities to shape policy by contributing to regional dialogues on sustainability, carbon reduction, and adaptation for the healthcare sector and beyond.

Our members frequently tell us that the greatest value of SWM membership lies in connection: being part of a supportive network that helps them achieve more than they could alone.

Building a Sustainable and Resilient Future for Midlands Life Sciences

The Midlands has the talent, infrastructure, and ambition to be at the forefront of sustainable life sciences. With cutting-edge med-tech hubs in Nottingham, Leicester, and Coventry, and the opening of the Birmingham Health Innovation Campus this month adding to Birmingham’s thriving healthcare research base, the region is already a powerhouse of innovation. This strength is growing, with the identification of ‘Health & medical devices, diagnostics and associated digital healthcare’ as one of six High Growth Clusters in the West Midlands Growth Plan, showing a clear commitment to support for this sector moving forwards. By embedding carbon reduction and climate adaptation into the sector’s DNA, we can ensure this growth is not only economically successful but also environmentally responsible and resilient.

SWM is proud to stand alongside life sciences organisations as they make this transition. Together, we can build a future in which the Midlands is recognised not just for its scientific breakthroughs, but also for its leadership in sustainable healthcare and responsible innovation.

If your organisation is part of the life sciences ecosystem and is ready to take the next step on its sustainability journey, we invite you to connect with us at enquires@swm.org.uk. Whether through membership, partnership, or collaboration, SWM is here to help you succeed.