Takeda and Boston Medical Center Announce Innovative Collaboration to Help Tackle Decarbonization Across Health Care Ecosystem

Rhea-AI Summary

Takeda and Boston Medical Center (BMC) announced a three-year collaboration to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in healthcare, focusing on regulated medical waste and pharmaceutical packaging. The initiative aims to identify and pilot decarbonization solutions that can be shared across the healthcare ecosystem. BMC will conduct waste audits in clinical areas to identify emission hotspots and test new technologies. This partnership supports Takeda's goal to achieve net-zero emissions in operations by 2035 and across its value chain by 2040, recently validated by the Science Based Targets initiative.

Positive

• Partnership aligns with Takeda's validated net-zero emissions goals for 2035 (operations) and 2040 (value chain)
• Collaboration with leading environmental excellence hospital BMC enhances sustainability initiatives
• Potential for cost reduction through waste management optimization

Negative

• Implementation of new waste management systems may require significant investment
• Regulatory compliance requirements could limit decarbonization options

Insights

Environmental Sustainability Expert

This collaboration between Takeda and Boston Medical Center represents an innovative step in healthcare decarbonization, but lacks immediate financial materiality. While the initiative to reduce emissions from medical waste and pharmaceutical packaging aligns with Takeda's validated 2035 and 2040 net-zero goals, the three-year research project's direct impact on operations and financial performance will be minimal in the near term.

The partnership demonstrates strong ESG commitment and could yield long-term cost benefits through waste reduction and improved operational efficiency. However, without specific investment figures or quantifiable targets, the immediate market impact is The focus on sharing best practices suggests this is more about industry leadership and knowledge development than direct financial returns.

• First-of-its-Kind Research Collaboration for Takeda and Boston Medical Center with the Aim to Decarbonize the Health Care Value Chain
• Three-Year Collaboration to Tackle Carbon Emissions from Regulated Medical Waste, Including Pharmaceutical Packaging
• Learnings will be Shared to Scale Decarbonization Solutions Across the Health Care Value Chain

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. & BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Takeda (TOKYO:4502/NYSE:TAK) and Boston Medical Center (BMC) today announced a new collaboration focused on identifying innovative solutions that can reduce hard-to-abate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the health care sector. The collaboration between Takeda and BMC aims to reduce the GHG emissions caused by disposal of regulated medical waste, such as pharmaceutical packaging and single-use plastics, which are among the most difficult environmental challenges facing the industry. The effort will also seek to scale the interventions developed through the collaboration by sharing best practices to help other organizations adopt and learn new ways to decarbonize in their operations to drive wider health care ecosystem impact.

“At BMC, as a national leader in environmental excellence, we have long recognized that sustainability is health care,” said Robert Biggio, Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability & Real Estate Officer at Boston Medical Center Health System. “Increasing health risks exacerbated by climate change, such as extreme heat, pollution, biodiversity loss and other environmental impacts are a real and direct threat to patient and community wellbeing. Our collaboration with Takeda aims to drive meaningful change by tackling environmental challenges that contribute to health disparities in many communities. This collaboration is a critical step in driving innovation in the medical supply chain that can be shared with other health care organizations for a healthier environment for all communities.”

A key objective of this collaboration is to effectively identify, pilot and share valuable insights on decarbonization solutions that other healthcare organizations can adopt as they also seek to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This may include engaging with other industry stakeholders, such as suppliers, waste vendors, and packaging providers to share and establish new best practices and practical applications.

As a part of this collaboration, Boston Medical Center will conduct waste audits across key clinical areas to identify emission hotspots and pilot new technologies aimed at reducing emissions from the disposal of regulated medical waste, including pharmaceutical packaging. BMC, recognized with multiple Practice Greenhealth Top 25 Environmental Excellence Awards, is the first hospital in the nation to leverage a rooftop solar array to provide energy bill credit to eligible patients facing energy insecurity. The hospital built two rooftop farms supplying fresh produce for the hospital's food pantry, patient meals and local community organizations, and opened the first net-zero ready for energy behavioral health facility—among other leading initiatives. BMC was also the first nonprofit health care organization in the country to issue sustainability bonds with a $232 million bond sale for campus renovations to better support patient care.

“Takeda understands the undeniable connection between human and planetary health,” said Teresa Bitetti, president of Takeda’s global oncology business unit. “To help us develop solutions and tackle some of the most difficult environmental challenges the health care industry is facing, we need bold collaborations with organizations like BMC. We are proud to partner with BMC, an organization that shares our commitment to advancing environmental sustainability, improving patient health and supporting innovations across the broader healthcare ecosystem.”

For Takeda, this collaboration supports its ambitious climate goal to reach net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in its operations by 2035 and across our value chain by 2040. In 2024, the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) validated Takeda’s net zero GHG emission goals as being consistent with reductions required to limit the rise in global temperature to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

About Takeda
Takeda is focused on creating better health for people and a brighter future for the world. We aim to discover and deliver life-transforming treatments in our core therapeutic and business areas, including gastrointestinal and inflammation, rare diseases, plasma-derived therapies, oncology, neuroscience and vaccines. Together with our partners, we aim to improve the patient experience and advance a new frontier of treatment options through our dynamic and diverse pipeline. As a leading values-based, R&D-driven biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Japan, we are guided by our commitment to patients, our people and the planet. We serve patients in approximately 80 countries and regions driven by our purpose and are grounded in the values that have defined us for more than two centuries. For more information, visit www.takeda.com.

About Boston Medical Center
Boston Medical Center models a new kind of excellence in healthcare, where innovative and equitable care empowers all patients to thrive. We combine world-class clinicians and cutting-edge treatments with compassionate, quality care that extends beyond our walls. As an award-winning health equity leader, our diverse clinicians and staff interrogate racial disparities in care and partner with our community to dismantle systemic inequities. And as a national leader in research and the teaching affiliate for Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, we’re driving the future of care.

Important Notice
For the purposes of this notice, “press release” means this document, any oral presentation, any question and answer session and any written or oral material discussed or distributed by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (“Takeda”) regarding this release. This press release (including any oral briefing and any question-and-answer in connection with it) is not intended to, and does not constitute, represent or form part of any offer, invitation or solicitation of any offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, exchange, sell or otherwise dispose of, any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction. No shares or other securities are being offered to the public by means of this press release. No offering of securities shall be made in the United States except pursuant to registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or an exemption therefrom. This press release is being given (together with any further information which may be provided to the recipient) on the condition that it is for use by the recipient for information purposes only (and not for the evaluation of any investment, acquisition, disposal or any other transaction). Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of applicable securities laws.

The companies in which Takeda directly and indirectly owns investments are separate entities. In this press release, “Takeda” is sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Takeda and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” are also used to refer to subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release and any materials distributed in connection with this press release may contain forward-looking statements, beliefs or opinions regarding Takeda’s future business, future position and results of operations, including estimates, forecasts, targets and plans for Takeda. Without limitation, forward-looking statements often include words such as “targets”, “plans”, “believes”, “hopes”, “continues”, “expects”, “aims”, “intends”, “ensures”, “will”, “may”, “should”, “would”, “could”, “anticipates”, “estimates”, “projects” or similar expressions or the negative thereof. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions about many important factors, including the following, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements: the economic circumstances surrounding Takeda’s global business, including general economic conditions in Japan and the United States; competitive pressures and developments; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including global health care reforms; challenges inherent in new product development, including uncertainty of clinical success and decisions of regulatory authorities and the timing thereof; uncertainty of commercial success for new and existing products; manufacturing difficulties or delays; fluctuations in interest and currency exchange rates; claims or concerns regarding the safety or efficacy of marketed products or product candidates; the impact of health crises, like the novel coronavirus pandemic, on Takeda and its customers and suppliers, including foreign governments in countries in which Takeda operates, or on other facets of its business; the timing and impact of post-merger integration efforts with acquired companies; the ability to divest assets that are not core to Takeda’s operations and the timing of any such divestment(s); and other factors identified in Takeda’s most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and Takeda’s other reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, available on Takeda’s website at: https://www.takeda.com/investors/sec-filings-and-security-reports/ or at www.sec.gov. Takeda does not undertake to update any of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or any other forward-looking statements it may make, except as required by law or stock exchange rule. Past performance is not an indicator of future results and the results or statements of Takeda in this press release may not be indicative of, and are not an estimate, forecast, guarantee or projection of Takeda’s future results.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241024567079/en/

Takeda Media Relations:

media_relations@takeda.com

BMC Media Relations:

communications@bmc.org

Source: Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited

FAQ

What are Takeda's (TAK) net-zero emission targets?

Takeda (TAK) aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in operations by 2035 and across its value chain by 2040, as validated by the Science Based Targets initiative.

What is the focus of Takeda's (TAK) collaboration with Boston Medical Center?

The collaboration focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from regulated medical waste, including pharmaceutical packaging and single-use plastics, while developing shareable decarbonization solutions for the healthcare sector.

How long is the decarbonization partnership between Takeda (TAK) and Boston Medical Center?

The collaboration between Takeda (TAK) and Boston Medical Center is a three-year partnership focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions in healthcare.