As the pharmaceutical industry accelerates efforts to reduce emissions, conserve resources and improve supply chain resilience, sustainability has become a key business imperative. Yet for GEA, a global leader in process technology and engineering solutions, sustainability is far more than a mere response to industry pressure. We are proactively driving the development and adoption of sustainable solutions in our customer industries. Sustainability is a core part of how we operate, innovate and partner.
This long-term commitment was recently recognised on the global stage, when TIME and Statista ranked GEA number 12 among the World’s Most Sustainable Companies for 2025. From a pool of more than 5000 companies across 21 industries, GEA placed in the top 3% and stood proudly among a small group of companies in the pharma space, including AstraZeneca, Novartis and Sanofi. It’s a result that not only highlights our sustainability achievements but also reflects the strategic value we bring to our pharmaceutical partners.
Measurable impact, not just intent
GEA’s approach to sustainability is built on engineering excellence, operational transparency and a commitment to measurable results. For example, the company’s ESG Factbook 2024 outlines significant progress against ambitious goals:
- a 58% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions (compared with a 2019 baseline)
- a 33% reduction in product-related emissions (Scope 3)
- 41.6% of total sales from sustainable solutions
- more than 16.9 million cubic metres of water saved at customer sites with GEA’s Add Better portfolio.
Such milestones are not incidental; they derive from consistent innovation and close collaboration with customers in multiple industries, including pharmaceutical manufacturing. “A commitment to bold sustainability objectives is an essential part of our DNA at GEA,” says Stefan Klebert, CEO of GEA, in a recent press release. “We are delighted to see this being globally recognised; but, even more importantly, we are proud to see the significant results we help our customers achieve.”
Engineering efficiency into pharma production
Pharmaceutical manufacturing faces distinct sustainability challenges, including energy-intensive processes, stringent regulatory demands, complex validation and high water and solvent usage. As well as working on innovations to address these very issues, GEA’s current technologies are already engineered to deliver productivity and compliance while reducing environmental impact. Examples include the following.
- Continuous manufacturing lines that lower energy consumption, minimise waste and reduce product variability.
- PerformancePlus digital services that give real-time insights into energy usage, enabling predictive maintenance and continuous optimisation.
- LYOVAC® ECO Mode in freeze drying systems, which intelligently adapts energy use during non-critical phases, reducing overall power consumption without compromising process integrity.
- High-containment systems that limit manual handling, reduce cleaning needs and cut solvent and water usage — all while ensuring operator and product protection.
- Both the NexGen Press® 30 and the high-throughput NexGen Press® 45 have been awarded Add Better labels for power (21%) and utility (27%) savings, respectively.
This is not sustainability as a secondary consideration; it’s integrated into every stage of the process.
From equipment supplier to sustainability partner
As the pharmaceutical sector evolves, the role of GEA has moved beyond supplying machinery to becoming a strategic partner in transformation. Through Add Better Consulting, GEA works with manufacturers to create tailored roadmaps for emissions reduction, energy savings and process optimisation.
Our engineers help customers to select technologies and services that align with long-term environmental goals — including decarbonisation strategies, digitalisation projects and utility efficiency. And once systems are installed, our performance-based service models help to ensure ongoing improvement in energy use, uptime and resource efficiency.
ESG as a catalyst for innovation
GEA views sustainability as a powerful force for innovation — not a constraint. ESG principles shape our product development roadmap, inspire new service models, and guide the way we collaborate with customers and suppliers. Many of our latest developments in continuous manufacturing, LYOVAC ECO Mode for lyophilisation and containment-enabled processing were accelerated because they deliver measurable ESG benefits — including reduced waste, shorter processing times, lower energy use and enhanced product quality.
By embedding ESG into the design phase and lifecycle support, we enable customers to meet evolving regulations, reduce operational risk and gain visibility into sustainability performance — without compromising on compliance or output.
A recognition that reflects our strategy
To be recognised by TIME and Statista in the top tier of global sustainability performers — and one of the few companies serving the pharmaceutical sector to do so — is a significant validation of GEA’s long-term strategy and values.
There’s no avoiding the fact that innovation in a highly regulated environment, such as drug production, has a cost. Yet, third-party endorsement from these trusted sources shines a spotlight on the value — as opposed to the price — of the machinery, technology and service that GEA designs, builds and supplies. It is the justification that reflects the quality of the equipment and our pledge to deliver a simply better future. Many companies talk about their sustainability objectives: we have the proof.
This year’s #12 ranking marks a substantial leap from #33 the previous year, reflecting steady progress and growing impact. It also reinforces what our customers already know: that GEA is helping pharma companies to balance performance, compliance and environmental accountability in ways that are practical, measurable and future-focused.
Looking ahead
As the pressure to decarbonise intensifies, the pharmaceutical industry is both under increasing scrutiny and uniquely positioned to lead from the front. With proven technologies, transparent ESG reporting and a culture of continuous innovation, GEA is ready to support that leadership. Sustainability is no longer a parallel objective. It is a core enabler of resilient, high-performance pharmaceutical manufacturing. And with the right partners, it’s achievable.
