Novartis Singapore steps up in the race to net-zero

Leveraging innovation and a strong culture of sustainability, Novartis Singapore Pharmaceutical Manufacturing (NSPM) aims to cross the significant milestone of carbon neutrality for Scope 1 and 2 emissions at its Tuas facility.

This achievement will put the company on track to realise its ambition of becoming net-zero by 2040.

NSPM’s strategy towards becoming carbon neutral is anchored on two main pillars: to reduce energy consumption by adopting new and advanced technologies and efficiency projects, and to ensure clean supply solutions from renewable energy sources.

As part of this plan, the company has implemented on-site solar panels generating 3,000 megawatt-hours annually, and is purchasing all its electricity from renewable sources starting in 2025. It is also exploring green heat technologies to eliminate natural gas from its operations.

“These projects, while ambitious in scope and complexity, required dedicated resources to ensure successful implementation,” says Prakash Sambasivan, NSPM’s site head in Singapore.

“Although achieving net carbon neutrality presents challenges, the company views sustainability not as a constraint but as a driver of innovation, cross-functional collaboration, and ethical responsibility,” he adds.

A strong culture of engagement supports these large-scale projects. Since 2020, the company’s Novartis Environmental Sustainability Team (NEST) volunteer group has driven sustainability efforts through grassroots activities such as circular-economy workshops, packaging-waste recycling, and participation in national tree-planting and waterway clean-up programmes.

“By complementing our large-scale sustainability projects with grassroots action, NEST amplifies our progress towards carbon neutrality and net-zero goals. Their unwavering dedication demonstrates that small, consistent actions can deliver lasting impact,” notes Prakash.

Novartis was recognised with the Excellence in Energy, Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Management Award at the EENP Awards 2025, highlighting its achievements in reducing energy consumption, adopting renewables, and embedding sustainability in daily operations.

Sharing knowledge across borders has also been integral to the company’s success in promoting sustainability. The Singapore site engages regularly with global Novartis teams in environmental, social, and governance (ESG), procurement, and technical functions to exchange learnings.

“Such collaboration ensures that learnings from Singapore are not only recognised but also contribute to the broader global strategy. In turn, we benefit from best practices and innovations from other sites, creating a two-way exchange that strengthens our collective progress,” says Prakash.

Looking forward, Novartis is focusing on its value chain, where more than 90 per cent of emissions occur. The company has launched its Environmental Sustainability Criteria for suppliers, rolled out digital platforms to capture emissions data, and is working with industry peers to set common minimum sustainability standards.

“Through these efforts, we are building a robust and collaborative approach to reducing Scope 3 emissions, ensuring that our suppliers grow with us towards a more sustainable future,” explains Prakash.

By combining ambitious targets with community action and global collaboration, NSPM is demonstrating that decarbonisation can drive both operational excellence and industry transformation.
 

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