Which environmentally friendly solutions do you offer with EcoPositive and what are the main goals you have set to reduce the impact of your products?
EcoPositive embodies Bormioli Pharma’s longstanding commitment to sustainability, representing 15 years of dedicated research. This comprehensive portfolio encompasses around 3,000 glass and plastic packaging solutions, all designed with a reduced environmental footprint in mind.
To further minimize our environmental impact, we launched our ambitious “50-in-5” strategy, with the goal of reaching 50% of sustainable materials in sold products by 2025. To do so, we are putting in concrete efforts by increasing the percentage of cullet in our glass products, constantly expanding our range of responsible plastic options, and engaging in continuous dialogue with our customers to drive meaningful change.
What are the main sustainability demands you receive from the pharmaceutical industry and end customers? How have these demands contributed to the growth of your sales?
We’ve witnessed a remarkable surge in demand for sustainable products, particularly in recent years, 3 times higher compared 2021.
Initially, the high-end cosmetic application, known for its consumer-driven sustainability focus, drove much of this demand. However, we are now seeing a significant shift as pharmaceutical companies increasingly prioritize sustainable packaging solutions. Their primary concerns revolve around safety and transitioning to eco-friendly materials.
In order to respond to companies’ security concerns, Bormioli Pharma has adopted a scientific approach that uses external laboratories to certify the safety of our products. While, to support companies during the transition process, Bormioli Pharma has acted as a trusted consultant providing continuous support, from the choice of material up to the industrialization of the product.
How do your prototypes address emerging needs in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical markets?
Bormioli Pharma is committed to developing innovative packaging solutions that meet the needs of both pharmaceutical companies and patients. Our co-innovation workshops are a key part of this effort, following a structured process to ensure impactful outcomes both from an industry and patient point of view.
The workshops demonstrate our commitment to developing patient-centric packaging solutions: through a structured process of inspiration, reworking and discussion, and co-developing, these workshops bring together patients, pharmaceutical professionals, and Bormioli Pharma experts to identify needs, brainstorm ideas, and create prototypes.
In April, this year Bormioli organised a workshop in Milan with the participation of leading Pharmaceutical Companies and key decision makers people, focused on simplifying drug delivery. Given the success and participation of customers we are planning another event shortly before CPhI, expanding our collaborative reach. The ultimate goal is to develop sustainable business models that transform prototypes into market-ready products.
What strategies do you use to communicate the value of sustainability to your customers and business partners?
Our sales team plays a key role in advocating for sustainable solutions with our customers. They proactively engage in dedicated meetings, provide detailed scientific dossiers supporting our eco-friendly products, and participate in sustainability roadshows during which, alongside materials specialists, they provide customers with the latest updates on our sustainable packaging solutions.
We also prioritize working with business partners who share our commitment to sustainability. Through the EcoVadis platform, we meticulously monitor our suppliers, validate their ESG practices, and make responsible purchasing decisions. Just as Bormioli Pharma has achieved the EcoVadis “gold medal”, joining the 5% companies with the better scorecard in terms of sustainability, we seek the same commitment to ESG standards from our entire supply chain. To further this commitment, we aim to complete EcoVadis assessments for 90% of our international suppliers by 2026.
What concrete results have you achieved in terms of reducing environmental impact and increasing sales thanks to your EcoPositive offering?
We continue to make significant strides in increasing the use of sustainable materials in our products. In the first half of 2024, we achieved an impressive 47% of sustainable materials in sold products, on track to reach the ambitious 50% target we set.
This achievement is a testament to Bormioli Pharma’s industry-leading commitment to sustainability. We are proud to be the only company to voluntarily set such a challenging target. This success is a direct result of the dedication and collaboration of our sales, marketing, engineering, and operations teams, all working together to make sustainable packaging
a reality.
What are your company’s next sustainability goals for the future?
One pioneering step the company took this year was choosing to undergo external assurance of our sustainability report, two years ahead of legal obligations. We also strengthened our ESG team and governance, leading to the development of robust processes outlined in our ESG Policy. Furthermore, we are proactively preparing to adopt the new reporting system required by the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).
We also remain dedicated to our key sustainability targets, including working towards achieving a 30% reduction in carbon intensity and a 41% reduction in water withdrawal intensity by 2030.
Nicola Carandente, Sales Group Director, Bormioli Pharma
Nicola Carandente joined Bormioli Pharma in 2019 as Purchase Director and was promoted to Group Sales Director in September 2021. Prior to joining the company, he served as Divisional Purchasing Manager and EMEA Raw Materials Commodity Manager at Brembo S.p.A. for four years.
He holds a Master’s Degree in Industrial Engineering and Business Management from Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, and an Executive Master’s in Business Administration (EMBA) from SDA Bocconi. Additionally, he completed courses at the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, focusing on Global Economics, Markets, and Institutions.
