Nothing weighs more on a pharmaceutical company's footprint than the chemical processes. The pharmaceutical industry typically requires 100 kg of material in order to produce 1 kg of active medicine. 

Green chemistry has become a standard practice at Janssen and aims for sustainable methods for the development and production of medicines. In each step of the synthesis process the company wants to work with a minimum of raw materials and waste, to achieve a minimum of impact on the environment. Janssen wholeheartedly joined the European CHEM21 program. Together with 5 other pharmaceutical companies and 13 academic research institutions and SMEs in Europe, Janssen joined forces with a view to developing sustainable production methods for medicines.

In 2013 the active pharmaceutical ingredient buprenorfine was granted an EARTHWARDSTM certificate. This is the seventh pharmaceutical product to receive this recognition. Buprenorfine is a narcotic painkiller which is used both for acute and chronic pain control and for the treatment of narcotic drug addiction. The product was given the certification because it met the strict criteria on green production: less raw materials, less water, less waste and an innovative production process. 

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Ecological
Sustainability

For Janssen, ecological sustainability starts from the development of new products, with the application of green chemistry and green technology.

During the production of our medicines, we aim to continuously improve our environmental performance. At the end of the life cycle of our medicines, we take a careful and responsible line in this context.

In this broad field of action, we aim to reduce our ecological footprint as much as possible: fewer raw materials, efficient production through reduced water and energy consumption, and production of less waste and emissions.

This leads to a win-win situation: Janssen minimizes its impact on the environment from the outset, while, at the same time, saving a lot of time and money in the long run.