< PreviousWASTE MANAGEMENT20Pharma Business International www.pbiforum.net© Shutterstock /Atsushi HiraoWastedopportunity In any industry in which harmful or potentially hazardousmaterials are handled on a regular basis, there is afundamental need to correctly manage and dispose ofwaste. And waste management has come under increasedscrutiny from both government bodies and fromconsumers themselves. 20-23.qxp_Layout 1 08/06/2018 10:01 Page 1Pharma Business International 21www.pbiforum.netWASTE MANAGEMENTAs traceability becomes a more tangibleand quantifiable aspect of a company’soperations, so too does the need arise toconform to changes in the marketplace,consumer habits and, of course,government legislation. Perhaps the biggest driver behindchanges in regulation and the wants ofconsumers is the issue of the environment.Businesses have long maintainedsomewhat of a precarious relationship withthe environment, and the last five yearsespecially has given rise to companiesgetting actively involved in sustainability,especially when it comes to reducing itscarbon footprint. Waste management mightseem innocuous, but in fact makes up animportant part of the overall strategyneeded to realistically tackle rising carbonemissions. When it comes to thepharmaceutical industry, it’s as much aboutreducing carbon emissions where possible,as is the case for myriad other industries,but it also means doing so in a safe,transparent and responsible manner. By their very nature, pharmaceuticalproducts are harmful, and can have adevastating effect on the environment ifdisposed of in a careless way. Although thisaccounts for the chemicals and processesinvolved in the manufacture ofpharmaceuticals, it also extends to thepackaging itself. There is already excitingrumblings taking place in the realm ofpharma packaging, with a greaterprominence on a more multi-functional andsustainable approach. The packaging ofexisting products ranges from bottles toblister packs and beyond, some of whichcan be recycled, while others are simplythrown in the bin after use due largely tothe mixture of metal and plastic in the samepackaging. A paradigm shift in pharmaceuticalpackaging is needed to curb the amount of22 Á20-23.qxp_Layout 1 08/06/2018 10:01 Page 2WASTE MANAGEMENT22Pharma Business International www.pbiforum.netpackaging that ends up in landfill site, and isrequired in the storage and distribution ofproducts. For designers and producers, this hasmeant overhauling the existing shapes andfunctionality so a greater number of products canbe stored together limiting the strain on logistics,while others are turning to more sustainable,easier-to-recycle materials. What happens at onestage of the supply chain invariably affects everyother aspect, and helping to curb wastage in thepackaging and distribution and warehousing stagecould very well echo throughout the industry. The presence of pharmaceuticals such asveterinary drugs, antibiotics and over the countertherapeutic drugs in drinking water has bouncedbetween urban myth and into quantifiable factfollowing advances in the sensitivity of analyticalmethods for the measurement of these chemicalsat trace concentrations. Pharmaceuticals can bereleased into water sources from a variety oforigins, including from sewage whereby peoplehave disposed of medicines by flushing them downthe toilet and other uncontrolled drug disposal;from poorly maintained and regulatedmanufacturing or production facilities, particularlythose associated with generic medicines; fromagricultural runoff, i.e. livestock manure and, morecommonly, through the excretions of people andpatients who have been using pharmaceuticals. Anumber of studies have identified the presence oftrace concentrations of pharmaceuticals in wastesources and some drinking waters. On the commercial side of things, greatercommunication and more transparency will enableconsumers to better dispose of theirpharmaceutical products in a safe and accountableway. Ensuring pharmacies have waste disposalservices would also provide a further level ofdefence in keeping pharmaceuticals from beingleeched into drinking water and landfill. When itcomes to hazardous material, however, newregulations are making sure that manufactures aredisposing of waste in a safe and responsiblemanner, and ensuring that facilities which had beenacting in this way are met with legal action. Wastemanagement is a necessary part of industry, and isrequired doubly so when dangerous materials arebeing handled on a regular basis. When it comesto disposing of pharmaceutical waste, it’s better tobe safe than sorry. 20-23.qxp_Layout 1 08/06/2018 10:01 Page 320-23.qxp_Layout 1 08/06/2018 10:01 Page 4DISTRIBUTION24Pharma Business International www.pbiforum.netExpenditure is endemic to any manufacturing industry, from fronting thecost of raw goods, investing profits into research or the latest equipment,and to pay workers’ wages. Among its most expensive budget items is itsfleet. Pharmaceutical companies are dependent on their fleet to transportingredients and finished products from warehouses to suppliers andstockists. Far from the cost of the fleet alone, a company must also factorin the expenses such as fuel, maintenance and repairs. Pharmaceutical sales fleets are a formidable sector in their own right,with the combined fleets in Europe, the United Kingdom and Europe totallysome 300,000 vehicles. To put that in perspective, the average size of aManagingthe fleet As one of the most expensive assets in a pharmaceutical company’sarsenal, its fleet needs to be constantly evaluated and newtechnology is helping to safeguard the bottom line. 26 Á24-27.qxp_Layout 1 08/06/2018 10:02 Page 1Pharma Business International 25www.pbiforum.netDISTRIBUTION© Shutterstock /dotshock24-27.qxp_Layout 1 08/06/2018 10:02 Page 2DISTRIBUTION26Pharma Business International www.pbiforum.netpharma sales fleet is around 1,000 vehicles which can be as much as fivetimes higher for the largest 15 companies. Much like the rest of thepharmaceutical industry itself, sales vehicles are evolving. However, as newermodels enter the market, older, lower-end vehicles hold less value to acompany, meaning they need to be sold to make way for the next generationof models. For fleet managers, this tipping point has come at an ideal time, as theyembrace new technologies enabling them to track and manage the datathat comes from their drivers and vehicles like never before. The way inwhich managers look at their fleets has changed, allowing them toscrutinise every phase of a vehicle’s life span – from point of purchase toeverything in between. This allows them to know exactly when the time isright to sell a vehicle on, or get real time feedback on a new addition to afleet. The transportation of pharmaceuticals and other medicines requires an24-27.qxp_Layout 1 08/06/2018 10:02 Page 3Pharma Business International 27www.pbiforum.netDISTRIBUTION© Shutterstock /Tanoy1412efficient and specialised logistical network. Although many ambient over-the-counter medicines are packaged in such a way that requires minimuminterference or additional protection, many other pharma products hasspecific transportation needs. As some of these products and theirmaterials are temperature and light sensitive, the transport must reliablyconform to these needs, from a temperature controlled environment to theexpert handling of goods, not to mention the health and safetyrequirements. Embracing new technology is driving the entirety of the pharmaceuticalsupply chain into industry 4.0. Some of the most exciting and importantdevelopments are taking place in the transport and logistics side of thedivide, from integrating tracking software and utilising mobile applications,logistics are evolving alongside the industry itself. We’ve passed a watershedmoment and the future of pharma is, among other things, looking like anefficient and streamlined one. 24-27.qxp_Layout 1 08/06/2018 10:02 Page 4LABORATORIES28Pharma Business International www.pbiforum.netResearch and development remains key to the progress of manypharmaceutical firms, and also the future of the human race. In anera where pathogens are becoming increasingly resistant tocommon medicine, the safe and efficient running of a lab hasnever been more important. Quality, control and management28-31.qxp_Layout 1 08/06/2018 10:03 Page 1Pharma Business International 29www.pbiforum.netLABORATORIES© Shutterstock /joker1991Good laboratory practice (or GLP forshort) is obviously very important. Inmost cases it refers to a quality systemof controls and management forlaboratories, which helps to make surethat there is a certain reliability andintegrity to any results. This involves anumber of requirements, as any goodnon-clinical research must be consistent,reliable and above all reproducible. GLP was born in 1972 in New Zealandand Denmark, but only spread to the USin 1978 following a BioTest Labs scandal.The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)helped to spread the principles of GLP tomany other countries, and now it iscommon around the world. Obviously GLP does not refer to thebasic safety necessities of lab health andsafety, such as gloves, glasses and otherpersonal protective equipment (whichyou can read more about on page 16).These are basic requirements that shouldcome as standard in every way. GLP is split into many differentcategories, all of which carry equalimportance in the eyes of the OECD. The30 Á28-31.qxp_Layout 1 08/06/2018 10:03 Page 2Next >