Recently, AstraZeneca’s conference service supplier — Shanghai Weidun Conference Service Co., Ltd. — completed its 2024 corporate greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory and obtained a certificate issued by the authoritative third-party certification body Titan Certification. The GHG inventory followed the GHG Protocol: Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard, covering Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions.
With the support of professional carbon management partner Carbon Newture, this comprehensive inventory marks Weidun Conference’s proactive response to the green supply chain requirements of key clients such as the global pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca. Beyond fulfilling its own low-carbon transition and compliance goals, this case also reflects a broader industry trend — under the leadership of major pharmaceutical companies, decarbonization is becoming a new entry threshold for suppliers across the pharmaceutical supply chain.
Pressure transmission under “Ambition Zero Carbon”:Why are leading pharma companies focusing on supply chain emission reduction?
The healthcare sector accounts for around 5% of global GHG emissions, with the majority originating from the supply chain and delivery of medical products and services.¹
To tackle this challenge, AstraZeneca launched its Ambition Zero Carbon strategy to decarbonize its own operations and value chain. Using FY2015 as the baseline, AstraZeneca targets a 98% reduction in Scope 1 & 2 emissions by FY2026, and by FY2030 aims to reduce Scope 3 emissions by 50%, including 80% in Categories 3, 8, and 13; 95% in Category 11; and 46% in Categories 4, 5, 6, 7, and 12 — reaching net-zero across its value chain by FY2045. This target has been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
AstraZeneca’s ambition zero carbon roadmap, source: AstraZeneca official website
Importantly, AstraZeneca also places strong emphasis on Scope 3 emissions — those from its value chain — setting specific supplier requirements:
By FY2025, 95% of suppliers under Category 1 (Purchased Goods and Services) and Category 2 (Capital Goods) must set science-based targets (SBTs).
For Category 4 (Upstream Transportation and Distribution) and Category 6 (Business Travel), 50% of suppliers must also establish SBTs.
This focus reflects the shared emissions profile among major pharmaceutical companies — Scope 3 emissions account for over 75% of total GHG emissions for the global top 10 pharma firms. In 2024, AstraZeneca’s Scope 3 emissions reached 5,897,822 tCO₂e, accounting for 94.51% of its total emissions.
Company | Scope 1 & 2 | Scope 3 | Scope 3 Share |
|---|---|---|---|
Johnson & Johnson | 775,554 | 6,597,133 | 89.48% |
Roche | 314,930 | 5,478,525 | 94.56% |
Merck & Co. | 884,200 | 6,057,900 | 87.26% |
AbbVie | 541,214 | / | / |
Pfizer | 1,063,311 | 3,555,207 | 76.98% |
Eli Lilly | 527,000 | 5,139,500 | 90.70% |
AstraZeneca | 342,412 | 5,897,822 | 94.51% |
Novartis | 237,000 | 4,350,300 | 94.83% |
Bristol Myers Squibb | 311,375 | 1,700,746 | 84.53% |
Novo Nordisk | 10,100 | 2,160,000 | 99.53% |
Source: Carbon Newture analysis based on latest ESG reports (Scope 2 data based on location-based method) | |||
To realize its “Ambition Zero Carbon,” AstraZeneca requires suppliers with annual procurement exceeding USD 250,000 to meet a series of green criteria, including:
Setting SBTi-validated emission reduction targets by 2025;
Achieving an EcoVadis score above 45;
Annual disclosure of Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions data.
Furthermore, AstraZeneca expects suppliers to:
Cut annual carbon emissions by 10%, halving emissions by 2030;
Achieve 100% renewable energy use by 2030, with interim progress by 2025;
Provide primary emission data for products or services supplied to AstraZeneca, including carbon footprint information.
From individual action to industry consensus: Green procurement becomes the common choice among leading pharma companies
AstraZeneca’s requirements are not unique — among the global top 10 pharma companies, 7 have Scope 3 emission reduction targets, and 6 require suppliers to set science-based targets (SBTs).
Merck & Co.
requires suppliers to report relevant Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions by 2025, set SBTi targets by 2026, and achieve net zero by 2050.
AbbVie
identifies major Scope 3 contributors, engages them to set SBTi targets, and monitors progress.
Pfizer
incorporates environmental sustainability into its procurement and performance processes, expecting all suppliers to commit to SBT-aligned emission reductions.
As a member of AstraZeneca’s supply chain, Weidun Conference’s corporate GHG inventory serves not only as a prerequisite for setting science-based targets but also as a comprehensive “green assessment” that enables the company to design a data-driven, goal-oriented emission reduction roadmap.
This case illustrates a clear message for the broader pharmaceutical supply chain:
Proactive carbon management is no longer optional — it is central to future competitiveness.
Forward-looking suppliers are transforming regulatory pressure into motivation, enhancing their green management capabilities, and demonstrating sustainability leadership to seize opportunities amid global low-carbon transformation.
References:
[1] Romanello M. et al. The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change: Health at the Mercy of Fossil Fuels. The Lancet, 2022.
[2] Carbon Newture. Global Pharma Giants on the Road to Net Zero: How Can Chinese Suppliers Join This “Green Race”?
