AstraZeneca Signs 10-Year Renewable Energy Agreement to Decarbonize Manufacturing Operations in China

China Finance News Online, March 27 (Reporter Du Ding) — Recently, AstraZeneca signed its first ten-year renewable energy contract with CR Gas. CR Gas will collaborate with China Everbright Environment to supply biomethane and biomethane-based steam to AstraZeneca's Wuxi production base, aiming to decarbonize the pharmaceutical manufacturing and supply processes.

This move will also help AstraZeneca globally achieve its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 98% for Scope 1 and Scope 2 by 2026.

Pam Cheng (Pan Bin), Executive Vice President of AstraZeneca, Head of Global Production Operations and Information Technology, and Chief Sustainability Officer, stated that this project represents an important milestone in AstraZeneca's sustainable development in China. It signifies AstraZeneca’s transition to 100% renewable energy for heating and power and marks a significant step towards achieving net-zero emissions across the entire value chain by 2045. "We hope that the Wuxi production base's concept of ‘innovative sustainability first’ will inspire more partners and enhance understanding of how the healthcare industry can achieve a green transformation."

According to reports, using domestic waste as raw material and through advanced waste treatment technology, China Everbright Environment and China Resources Gas will cooperate to provide AstraZeneca with 36,000 megawatt-hours of biomethane and steam based on biomethane annually, which is equivalent to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 9,700 tons per year.

AstraZeneca Continues to Invest in Optimizing Business Processes and Reducing Energy Consumption at Its China Production and Supply Base. Through a Series of Initiatives, It Promotes Low-Carbon Development in the Region and Supports China in Achieving the Dual Carbon Goals of Carbon Emission Peak by 2030 and Carbon Neutrality by 2060.

It is reported that as the co-chair unit of the Health Systems Task Force of the "Sustainable Markets Initiative" China Council, AstraZeneca is committed to working with global and local partners to accelerate the net-zero transition of healthcare systems. In January 2024, five globally leading healthcare enterprises in the Health Systems Task Force of the "Sustainable Markets Initiative," including AstraZeneca, announced the industry's first renewable energy agreement reached in China. According to the agreement, relevant institutions located in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, and Jiangsu will receive 200 gigawatt-hours of renewable electricity annually starting from 2024, actively contributing to the decarbonization of the global healthcare supply chain.