SCHOTT Pharma makes decarbonization measurable
Thursday, October 1, 2026, Mainz, Germany
- SCHOTT Pharma’s Product Carbon Footprint calculation tool for pharmaceutical primary packaging was successfully validated by an independent third party
- It quantifies product carbon footprints and enables fact-based comparisons between products
- This approach supports informed customer decisions on product decarbonization and measures to reduce Scope 3 emissions
SCHOTT Pharma, a pioneer in drug containment solutions and delivery systems, has had its Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) calculation tool for pharmaceutical primary packaging independently validated in line with the Together for Sustainability (TfS) PCF Guideline. As pharmaceutical companies increasingly focus on reducing Scope 3 emissions across their value chains, the need for comparable, externally validated product carbon data is growing. SCHOTT Pharma is committed to advancing decarbonization solutions in the supply chain, including the planned use of pharmaceutical glass with a up to 50% lower CO2e product footprint1 and new circular packaging approaches. However, to translate such solutions into measurable benefits, their environmental impact must be quantified consistently and transparently. The new PCF calculation tool now gives pharmaceutical companies access to emissions data for vials or prefillable glass and polymer syringes, covering both the containers themselves and the upstream value chain.
“Decarbonization requires collaboration across the value chain. Our validated calculation tool provides the data foundation that helps customers and suppliers jointly identify, prioritize, and scale effective emission-reduction measures,” said Reinhard Mayer, CFO of SCHOTT Pharma.
Providing a reliable basis for Scope 3 reduction decisions
Most pharmaceutical companies have set ambitious decarbonization targets, with supply-chain-related emissions accounting for the largest share of their carbon footprint. To identify and prioritize effective Scope 3 reduction measures, they increasingly need objective product-level carbon data from their suppliers. However, differing calculation methodologies without external validation often make product carbon footprints difficult to compare across suppliers and products. SCHOTT Pharma addresses this challenge by aligning its calculation approach with the TfS PCF Guideline, which covers the requirements of most customer requests. To strengthen reliability and ensure consistent application, the methodology and calculation tool were independently validated by GUTcert.
The independent validation by GUTcert was conducted in accordance with ISO 14067:2019 (including Annex C), the GHG Protocol Product Standard, and the TfS 3.0 framework. It assessed the underlying methodology and SCHOTT Group’s PCF Guideline 2.0, as well as the calculation logic and data flows, system boundaries, data quality and assumptions, and reporting approach.
To demonstrate practical applicability, GUTcert also verified three representative product carbon footprints from SCHOTT Pharma’s portfolio: a sterile 1 ml long syriQ® glass syringe, a sterile 1 ml long SCHOTT TOPPAC® polymer syringe, and a 2 ml Core Vial in TopLine quality. Emissions were calculated in grams of CO2e per unit produced using a cradle-to-gate approach covering raw material extraction, pre-production, upstream transportation, production, and storage.
The combination of a validated methodology and representative PCFs demonstrates SCHOTT Pharma’s ability to reliably apply the standards of the TfS PCF Guideline to real-world pharmaceutical packaging solutions.
“Reducing Scope 3 emissions starts with informed decisions. Comparable PCF data helps us and our customers identify where product innovations can create the greatest environmental impact. With our validated calculation tool, we are now able to provide this data reliably across our portfolio,” said Dr. Arne Kloke, Head of Sustainability & Service at SCHOTT Pharma.
By creating a standardized and externally verified approach to product carbon footprinting, SCHOTT Pharma is helping establish the data foundation needed for decarbonization across the pharmaceutical value chain.
1Compared to conventional FIOLAX® pharma glass. More information: https://www.schott.com/en-gb/products/pharmaceutical-tubing-p1000372/product-variants/fiolax-pro-ocf
The validation by GUTcert was conducted in accordance with ISO 14067, the GHG Protocol Product Standard, and the TfS PCF Guideline.
About SCHOTT Pharma
Human health matters. That is why SCHOTT Pharma designs containment solutions grounded in science to ensure that medications are safe and easy to use for people around the world. Every minute, more than 30,000 people receive an injection packed in a SCHOTT Pharma product. The portfolio comprises drug containment solutions and delivery systems for injectable drugs ranging from prefillable glass and polymer syringes to cartridges, vials, and ampoules. Every day, a team of around 5,000 people from over 65 nations works at SCHOTT Pharma to contribute to global health. The company is represented in all main pharmaceutical hubs with 17 manufacturing sites in Europe, North and South America, and Asia. With over 1,000 patents and technologies developed in-house and a state-of-the-art R&D center in Switzerland, the company is focused on developing innovations for the future. Currently, SCHOTT Pharma has over 1,800 customers including the top 30 leading pharma manufacturers for injectable drugs. In the fiscal year 2025, the company generated revenue of EUR 986 million. SCHOTT Pharma has been listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since 2023 and is part of the SCHOTT Group, a company of the Carl Zeiss Foundation, whose purpose is to promote research and teaching in the STEM fields of mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, and technology. Further information at www.schott-pharma.com
Lea Kaiser
PR & Communications Manager
Research Gate