“Our approach is realistic, based on market availability and regulatory constraints”

A global leader in drug delivery devices for ophthalmic, nasal, and parenteral applications, Nemera is committed to reducing its carbon footprint. Séverine Duband, Strategy & Marketing Director for ophthalmics and nasal products, explains the solutions and approaches being explored in the search for alternatives to petroleum-based plastics.

The Pharmaceutical Post: Nemera confirmed its EcoVadis Gold Medal status in November 2025. What does this recognition mean to you?

Séverine Duband: It's recognition of our commitment and the result of collective work carried out with determination by our teams, particularly under the leadership of Sandrine Coutarel, our group's Sustainability Director. This Gold Medal rewards our efforts across four fundamental pillars: ethics, human rights, environment and sustainable procurement. We're now in the top 5% of the best-ranked companies worldwide. This assessment is particularly demanding because it scrutinizes all of our suppliers and practices. So it's external validation of our commitment, but also a driver to go even further.

What are your specific commitments regarding carbon footprint reduction?

S. D.: Our approach is based on four main objectives: reducing our carbon footprint, social responsibility, sustainable procurement, and eco-design coupled with product recyclability. Our commitments are part of the SBTi (Science Based Targets initiative) framework and focus on reducing emissions and improving energy efficiency. We've adopted a realistic approach, based on precise indicators that give us clear visibility on our progress. For Scopes 1 and 2, the results are already spectacular: we've already reduced our footprint by 96% compared to a 2019 baseline. All our production sites—United States, Brazil, France, Germany, and Poland—use decarbonized energy, and except for the US, all our sites have switched to renewable energy. This was an absolute priority because our energy consumption weighs significantly on these two scopes. All our new buildings systematically incorporate low energy consumption standards and BREEAM certification.

What about Scope 3, often the most complex to manage?

S. D.: You're right, that's where our main challenge lies. 80% of our greenhouse gas emissions come from Scope 3, mainly related to the raw materials we purchase, particularly plastics. That's why we've focused our efforts on developing sustainable alternatives, especially with bio-based resins.

Read the full article here: Interview SD - TPP JAN 26 - Bio Resin