Going green? Bring an API partner who won’t hold you back
Article
Environmental sustainability is no longer just a corporate responsibility measure. In API manufacturing, it has become a strategic lever for improving process efficiency, reducing costs, and strengthening long-term supply resilience. Greener approaches can minimize solvent and energy usage, cut waste disposal expenses, and reduce exposure to volatile raw material markets.
While regulators, investors, and patients increasingly expect measurable ESG progress, many drug developers are also pursuing sustainability to meet technical and commercial goals. The challenge is finding the right partners to support this shift without compromising quality, agility, or compliance.
At Axplora, sustainability is not treated as a separate objective. It is built into how we design, scale, and manufacture APIs to reduce environmental impact while improving performance across the development lifecycle.
Designing greener processes from the start
Sustainability is most effective when addressed early in process development. At this stage, we can influence key parameters such as solvent selection, process mass intensity (PMI), energy efficiency, and waste generation. These decisions shape environmental performance all the way through to commercial production.
Continuous chromatography supports high-volume output while enabling solvent recovery rates exceeding 99 percent. It’s a clear demonstration of how process design and technology investment can deliver both environmental and economic benefits.
Real-world examples of Axplora’s sustainability approach
Axplora has made significant investments across its network to support greener API manufacturing. Here are a few examples:
- Electrochemistry at scale
Axplora operates dedicated electrochemical development and manufacturing at four sites across France, Germany, and India. This platform, developed over more than 30 years, enables the production of over 1,000 tons of intermediates annually using selective reactions that reduce waste and avoid hazardous reagents. - Flow chemistry capabilities
In 2023, a €1 million GMP-compliant pilot unit was installed at our Leverkusen site in Germany. It supports sustainable continuous processing under a wide range of temperatures and pressures, offering greater control and reduced solvent usage. - Purification and recovery systems
Across sites in France, Axplora applies preparative chromatography to support both batch and continuous purification. These systems are designed to maximize solvent recovery and minimize waste in complex synthesis routes.
- Customer collaboration on sustainable metrics
Sustainability is embedded in how we work with customers. From early discussions onward, we assess PMI and solvent selection, explore greener synthetic pathways, and offer practical guidance on implementing sustainable practices at scale.
Why collaboration matters in sustainability
Sustainability in API manufacturing is not just about deploying the right technologies. It also depends on close collaboration between CDMO and the customer. That includes early alignment on project goals, transparent decision-making, and shared responsibility for environmental impact without compromising technical or commercial performance.
As Françoise Durand Rivoire, Axplora’s Global Head of ESG and Public Affairs, puts it: “Sustainability is not something we can achieve in isolation. Our role is to help customers embed greener practices into development and manufacturing in a way that supports their goals, reduces risk, and creates long-term value.”
This approach is reflected in Axplora’s ESG roadmap, which prioritizes climate action, efficient resource use, and the development of safer, lower-impact processes. Customer collaboration is key to delivering on these priorities and ensuring that sustainability becomes a competitive advantage, not a constraint.
At Axplora, we work side by side with customers from the earliest development stages. We help identify opportunities to improve PMI, reduce hazardous solvent use, and implement sustainable approaches that are scalable, compliant, and technically robust.
Looking ahead
Meeting today’s sustainability expectations requires more than intent. It demands experience, investment, and a mindset of shared responsibility. For drug developers, choosing a CDMO that knows how to take ESG and drive real results is a critical first step.
Ready to adjust your trajectory towards a greener future? Contact us and let’s redefine what’s possible.