Emissions in pharmaceutical distribution: A systematic literature review of accounting methodologies in supply chains

Abstract

Background: The pressure to meet sustainability goals in the pharmaceutical industry has resulted in significant obstacles, one of which is accurately calculating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the supply chain.

Objectives: This systematic literature review (SLR) aims to identify the frameworks or methodological approaches for calculating logistics emissions in pharmaceutical supply chains (which includes software), as well as the available energy consumption values and emission intensity factors that are needed to calculate emissions.

Method: This SLR follows the nine-step PRISMA 2020 protocol. Keywords were used to form three different search strings to search for frameworks, energy and emission factors. The review encompassed an analysis of a total of 33 documents.

Results: The findings highlight that no standardised methodological approach is used to calculate the emissions of pharmaceutical distribution. Furthermore, no emission factors specific to pharmaceutical products and few benchmarked energy consumption values are available.

Conclusion: The current lack of a standardised methodological approach within the pharmaceutical industry makes it challenging to quantify the emissions associated with the distribution of pharmaceutical products.

Contribution: This SLR identifies the need for a standardised emission framework and associated emission intensity factors in the pharmaceutical industry. It shows that the distribution of pharmaceutical products produces substantial emissions. Shipping 1 kg of ARV pills from a manufacturer in India to a hospital in South Africa emits 0.88 kg CO₂e, while shipping 1 kg of snake antivenom ampoules from a manufacturer in India to a hospital in South Africa emits 207.78 kg CO₂e.