Continuous Manufacturing Technology – a new process flow in sustainable drug production

Abstract

Pfizer, one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, adopted a globally applicable sustainability plan in 2009. Among other things, this plan includes a binding target for CO₂ emissions, water consumption and waste prevention. The Freiburg plant has a pioneering role within the Pfizer Group. In line with their long-term strategy, sustainable technologies have been implemented consistently since the late 1990s. These include geothermal heating and cooling of buildings, photovoltaics, the use of biomass for energy generation and numerous innovative technologies such as adiabatic cooling of laboratory areas and a pilot plant for drying process air using solar energy. The overall concept is rounded off by appropriate building technology with online monitoring of energy flows.