Thermo Fisher Scientific has adopted plant-based materials instead of fossil fuel materials for creating lower-carbon, biobased films for its single-use bioprocessing containers (BPCs).
The biobased films, building on the company’s existing Aegis and CX film offerings widely used by customers, contribute to the sustainability of biologics therapy manufacturing.
Thermo Fisher said that the adoption of biobased, sustainable films in BPCs, will help its customers eliminate carbon emissions related to the plastic resin.
Also, sustainable manufacturing allows customers to maintain consistency in their BPCs while reducing their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, said the biotechnology company.
Thermo Fisher single-use technologies business president Ray Mercier said: “Biopharma manufacturers are focused on maximizing productivity, accelerating time-to-market and generating efficiencies all while improving the overall sustainability of their operations.
“Our biobased films allow customers to reduce their environmental impact without having to validate new BPCs, helping them bring treatments to patients faster while also helping to protect the planet.”
Thermo Fischer said that biobased films were granted International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS certification, a certification for circular and biobased products.
The company allows biopharma manufacturers to pre-purchase the biobased films now to incorporate them into their upstream or downstream system in early 2025.
In addition, Thermo Fisher is advancing greener products across five key areas of environmental impact, including minimising the use of hazardous materials.
The company is working to reduce waste and use fewer resources, increase energy efficiency, responsible packaging, and shipping, and extend the useful life of products and materials.
Its scientists apply Design for Sustainability principles to product design, to create more sustainable options as part of its Greener by Design portfolio of products.
In addition to BPCs with biobased film, it also connects customers with recyclers to enable recycling of BPCs after use, said the biotechnology company.
Thermo Fisher Scientific bioproduction business president Daniella Cramp said: “At Thermo Fisher, we pride ourselves on enabling our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer.
“We are reengineering the way we design, produce, package and ship our products to reduce the environmental impacts of our industry, without compromising the quality and performance our customers expect from us.
“With our biobased solutions, we are taking a step toward a cleaner bioproduction process with less waste and, ultimately, helping enable our customers to achieve their sustainability goals.”
