PROTECTING PATIENTS AND THE PLANET

At Chiesi, we believe true ‘sustainability’ in respiratory care can only be achieved with a broad array of projects that protect both our patients and the planet. This holistic approach means we sometimes see things a little differently than other pharmaceutical companies.

As a certified B Corp, we’re part of a global community of businesses that meet high standards of verified social and environmental impact, public transparency and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. ⁽¹¹⁾

Being a B Corp means being the change we want to see in the world and being bold in our ambition to help create a better world for all.

Protecting the planet

• We go beyond reducing our carbon footprint. Being a B Corp encourages us to innovate our products and compels us to be transparent in the reporting of our environmental impact. ⁽¹²⁾

Protecting patients

• We refuse to compromise on the very best care for patients whilst protecting the planet. We believe that patient health must always be central to the choices we make as a business. ⁽¹³⁾

Inhaler device type matters

There are many considerations when deciding on the right inhaler device. We know environmental impact is one of them, but factors like age, coordination or comorbidities can all lead to difficulties and critical errors,^1,2 which can subsequently lead to poor disease control.^3,4 Enforced switching of stable patients can also result in worsening of symptoms and an increased use of healthcare resources.⁴

Inhalers contribute less than 0.1% of global greenhouse gases,^4–6 therefore we at Chiesi believe other innovation opportunities should be prioritised and can play a vital role in helping to protect the environment.^7–9

Patient health must always be at the centre of decision-making

It is important that both pMDIs and DPIs remain an option for patients depending on their needs. The choice of inhaler device should be the result of an informed discussion between a healthcare professional (HCP) and their patient.¹⁰

Whether that’s a pMDI or a DPI, we want to support HCPs in their choice.

How are we helping build a better future? 

We take sustainability seriously and challenge ourselves to do more than the expected. Our ongoing projects include:

• Pledging to become carbon neutral by 2035 well ahead of the UK national target of 2050⁸

• Reducing the direct carbon emissions we generate, and the emissions associated with the purchase of electricity and heat by 70% by 2030, compared to 2019. ⁽¹²⁾
• Reducing carbon emissions per unit of inhaled products we sell by 80% by 2030, compared to 2019. ⁽¹⁴⁾
• Reducing absolute carbon emissions from the use of products we sell by 90% by 2035, compared to 2019.⁽¹⁴⁾

• Continuously working to reduce the environmental impact of respiratory treatments, from becoming one of the first pharmaceutical companies to move away from chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) to continuing to invest millions in low global warming potential innovations to treat respiratory diseases⁸
• Supporting the NHS strategy to reduce medical wasteand empowering patients to change the way they dispose of inhalers by returning them to local pharmacies⁹ 
• Avoiding ‘one size fits all’ solutions and ensuring patients have access to the treatments and information they need

OUR APPROACH TO SUSTAINABILITY MAY SURPRISE YOU.

DPI Dry powder inhaler 

pMDI Pressurised metered dose inhalers 

References:

1. Price D et al. Inhaler errors in the CRITIKAL study: Type, Frequency, and Association with Asthma Outcomes. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2017; 5(4): 1071–1081.
2. Usmani OS. Choosing the right inhaler for your asthma or COPD patient. Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2019; 15: 461–472.
3. Melani AS et al. Inhaler mishandling remains common in real life and is associated with reduced disease control. Respir Med. 2011; 105(6): 930–938.
4. Panigone S et al. An environmentally sustainable patient centred solution for asthma and COPD. Pulmonary & Nasal Drug Delivery. On Drug Delivery. 2020; 106: 14–19.
5. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. AR5 Climate Change 2014: Mitigation of Climate Change. Available at: https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/02/ipcc_wg3_ar5_full.pdf.
6. OzonAction Kigali Fact Sheet 2 OzonAction Current Use of HCFCs and HFCs. Available at: http://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/26867/7877FS02_C_Uses_EN.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y.
7. House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee. UK Progress on Reducing F-gas Emissions. Available at: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmenvaud/469/469.pdf.
8. The way we act. Chiesi Sustainability Report 2019. Available at: https://www.chiesi.uk.com/pdf/Chiesi_Sustainability_Report_2019_ENG.pdf.
9. NHS Long Term Plan. January 2019. Available at: https://www.longtermplan.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/nhs-long-term-plan-version-1.2.pdf.
10. Kaplan A, Price D. Matching inhaler devices with patients: the role of the primary care physician. Can Respir J. 2018; 9473051.
11. Certified B Corporation: About B Corps. Available at: https://bcorporation.net/about-b-corps 
12. Action over words. Available at: https://www.actionoverwords.co.uk
13. Protecting Patients and the Planet. March 2021. Available at: https://www.chiesi.uk.com/sustainable-respiratory-care
14. Every story counts. Chiesi Annual & Sustainability Report 2021. Available at: https://www.chiesi.com/en/flipbook.php?url=https://www.chiesi.com/img/annual_report/documenti/74_chiesi_aas_report_2021_en_long_final_.pdf

UK-CHI-2300342 August 2023