Waste as a Resource: Circular Economy Practices in Indian Biopharma

Learn how Indian biopharma companies are adopting circular economy principles to convert waste into resources, supporting Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Education Apr 8, 2025 23 Add to Reading List

The traditional model of industrial growth has long been linear—take, make, and dispose. But as the world grapples with climate change and ecological degradation, a new model is emerging: the circular economy, which promotes reuse, recycling, and regeneration. In India’s rapidly expanding biopharmaceutical sector, circular practices are gaining traction, transforming how waste is perceived, managed, and repurposed. This shift supports both Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat, making the industry not just productive, but also sustainable and self-reliant. The circular economy concept is particularly relevant to biopharma, where production processes generate a wide variety of waste: chemical solvents, biological residues, expired formulations, packaging material, and more. Instead of seeing these outputs as mere waste, companies are now exploring ways to convert them into valuable inputs—closing loops, cutting costs, and reducing environmental impact. A recent study by Pringle, Dadwal, and Kumar affirms that Indian pharmaceutical facilities are beginning to embed circular economy principles into their daily operations, especially in the realm of waste management.

Understanding the Circular Economy in Biopharma

A circular economy in biopharma doesn’t mean simply recycling paper or reusing containers. It involves redesigning entire systems to minimize waste creation and to ensure that by-products re-enter the value chain. The primary strategies include:

Reducing waste generation at source through process optimization

Reusing treated water and heat for secondary operations

Recycling solvents, reagents, and containers in a controlled loop

Recovering energy from organic and combustible waste

Reengineering packaging for reuse or biodegradability These practices allow for environmental compliance while boosting operational efficiency, reducing dependency on external resources, and enhancing brand credibility.

Examples of Circular Economy Implementation

1. Solvent Recovery Systems

Pharmaceutical formulations often use high-purity solvents. After their initial use, many solvents retain up to 90% of their chemical integrity. Companies are now investing in solvent recovery units that distill and purify these chemicals for reuse in non-critical processes. This reduces procurement costs and limits the quantity of hazardous waste generated.

2. Steam and Heat Recovery

Heat exchangers and steam traps are now commonly used to capture and reuse waste heat from boilers, reactors, or sterilization systems. The recovered thermal energy can be reused in cleaning operations, water preheating, or HVAC support, creating a looped energy system that cuts emissions and utility bills.

3. Water Reuse from Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs)

Advanced ETPs allow for the internal recycling of treated water. Non-potable uses like cooling towers, gardening, toilet flushing, or floor washing are being handled with recycled water, drastically cutting fresh water intake—a critical gain in water-scarce areas.

4. Repurposing of Biological Waste

Biological waste, such as fermentation residues or microbial biomass, is being explored for secondary applications like biogas generation or composting. Some companies have partnered with agri-tech startups to convert stabilized biomass into bio-fertilizers, merging industrial and agricultural sustainability.

5. Eco-Design in Packaging

Circular thinking is also influencing packaging. Several firms now use recyclable blister packs, biodegradable labels, and reusable crates for internal transport. Lightweight packaging further reduces material usage and emissions during distribution.

Benefits of Circular Waste Practices

The benefits of adopting a circular economy framework in Indian biopharma are multifaceted:

Environmental Impact Reduction: Less raw material use, lower emissions, and reduced landfill pressure.

Cost Efficiency: Savings from reused solvents, water, and heat translate into improved profit margins.

Compliance and Certification: Circular practices simplify audits and facilitate green certification.

Brand and Export Advantage: Demonstrating circular practices strengthens ESG profiles and appeals to global buyers.

Innovation Culture: Encouraging waste conversion fosters a mindset of innovation and problem-solving. The study notes that companies implementing these strategies reported higher compliance scores and lower waste treatment costs, alongside improved team engagement in sustainability efforts.

Building Infrastructure for Circular Systems

Circular operations require the right infrastructure. Indian companies are now investing in:

On-site distillation units for solvent recovery

Modular biogas plants for organic waste

Rainwater harvesting systems to supplement recycled water

Reverse logistics platforms for internal packaging reuse

Material flow analysis (MFA) tools to identify circularity potential Infrastructure scalability is key—what works in a large export-oriented facility must be adaptable to smaller regional plants to ensure widespread adoption.

Engaging the Workforce in Circular Thinking

Technology and infrastructure alone are not enough. Employees across departments must be trained to recognize waste as a potential resource. Leading firms have launched:

Cross-functional sustainability task forces

Reward programs for circular innovations

Workshops on circular economy principles

Internal audits focusing on reuse and recycling metrics These steps embed environmental consciousness into organizational culture, increasing accountability and idea generation from the ground up.

Partnerships Driving Circular Innovation

A growing number of Indian biopharma companies are collaborating with:

Cleantech startups developing low-energy recovery systems

Academic institutions researching solvent reusability and packaging materials

Waste management firms offering closed-loop solutions

Logistics providers designing reverse flow packaging systems

R&D labs testing organic waste conversion methods These partnerships enable faster technology adoption and more innovative circular applications tailored to the pharma sector’s unique needs.

Government Support and Policy Frameworks

To encourage circularity, policy must move beyond waste limits and promote resource regeneration. Some recommended actions include:

Incentives for recovery systems such as distillation or filtration units

Recognition schemes for circular economy leaders in pharma

Inclusion of circular practices in environmental clearance criteria

Tax credits or subsidies for renewable material sourcing

Capacity-building programs for circular design in pharma manufacturing Such measures, combined with industry initiative, can make circular economy practices a defining feature of Indian industrial policy.

Challenges and Roadblocks

Despite its promise, the circular economy journey in Indian biopharma is not without challenges:

High initial investment for advanced recovery systems

Regulatory ambiguity around reuse of certain materials

Lack of expertise in circular metrics and analysis

Space constraints in existing facilities

Quality consistency concerns with recovered inputs Overcoming these hurdles requires a balanced approach—combining financial tools, technical support, and flexible regulatory frameworks to de-risk early adopters and build long-term momentum.

Aligning with Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat

The goals of the circular economy dovetail with the national priorities of Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat. A circular approach reduces raw material imports, promotes indigenous innovation, supports local job creation in recycling and recovery, and builds resilience in supply chains. Moreover, by minimizing waste and maximizing reuse, biopharma companies reduce environmental pressure, which is crucial for sustainable manufacturing expansion across the country. Circular practices also prepare Indian pharma firms for international trade requirements. Many countries are introducing carbon and waste transparency regulations that could affect import permissions. Companies with demonstrable circular operations will enjoy smoother access and greater trust in these markets.

Future Outlook

As circular economy thinking continues to gain ground, Indian biopharma can expect to see:

Digital circularity tools for material tracking and reuse optimization

Blockchain-based waste tracking for export-facing transparency

Sector-specific circular economy roadmaps

Growth of local markets for recovered pharma-grade inputs

Increased investor interest in companies with closed-loop credentials This momentum will fundamentally reshape how Indian pharma manufactures, not just what it produces—ushering in a new era of eco-efficient industrial growth.

Summary

Circular economy practices are rapidly transforming Indian biopharma’s waste management landscape. Rather than viewing waste as an endpoint, companies are now seeing it as a beginning—a potential resource waiting to be tapped. As the study shows, forward-thinking firms are already implementing recovery, reuse, and regeneration strategies across solvents, water, heat, and packaging. These efforts align powerfully with the twin national visions of Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat, which call for growth that is not only scalable but also sustainable. Through continuous innovation, collaboration, and cultural change, the Indian biopharma sector is building a circular future—where waste is no longer a problem, but part of the solution.

???? Bibliography (APA Style)

Pringle, I., Dadwal, N., & Kumar, A. (2024). A questionnaire-based study on industrial waste management in Indian biopharmaceutical industries. Environment Conservation Journal, 25(4), 972–978. https://doi.org/10.36953/ECJ.28502884