Sustainability is a priority for NCC
“At NCC, we strive to integrate the environmental and societal impact of our operations into our daily decision-making. To achieve this, we have established robust standards and processes across our international network. We have fostered a culture of
sustainability awareness among our employees and engaged with partners to establish sustainable products and practises. Sustainability is a fundamental principle of NCC’s everyday work and corporate culture.”
Alan Looney, Managing Director, NCC
The Importance of Sustainable Sourcing
All industries, including pharmaceutical manufacturers, face increasing pressure to reduce their carbon footprint and contribute to a more sustainable future. While internal changes can reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions, a significant portion of a pharmaceutical manufacturers’ emissions are linked to Scope 3 activities, particularly the upstream production of raw materials.
On average, 70%¹ of a pharmaceutical or biopharmaceutical company’s carbon emissions originate from the manufacturing of raw materials procured for their own processes. This highlights the critical importance of sustainable sourcing in achieving significant emission reductions.
1Sumudu Dehipawala, Ellie Goldman, Emily Hwang, Prem Shah, Ayushi Shroff, and Matthew O’Hara, The pharmaceutical industry’s carbon footprint and current mitigation strategies: A literature review, Trinity Life Sciences, August 16, 2023.
NCC’s Role in Sustainable Sourcing
By strategically partnering with NCC, companies across the various sectors we serve can identify and procure alternative sustainable raw materials that match their sustainability goals. These materials can also be a cost-effective way to help reduce Scope 3 emissions, either alongside or instead of major investment in changing energy supplies and production processes. Our services include:
Supplier identification and evaluation: We identify and assess suppliers to ensure they adhere to sustainable and ethical practices.
Product Sourcing: NCC is certified for the sale and supply of ISCC PLUS materials, reinforcing our commitment to responsible sourcing and traceability across the value chain. As part of our commitment to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), NCC is implementing a supplier engagement strategy focused on reducing Scope 3 emissions. We work closely with our partners to encourage, support, and accelerate the adoption of their own science-based targets, helping drive meaningful emissions reductions throughout the supply chain.
Sustainability consulting: Our experienced team provides guidance on sustainable sourcing strategies and helps develop roadmaps to reduce carbon footprints.
Sustainable Product Portfolio
Our expertise in sustainable sourcing spans multiple industries. Key products include:
Pharmaceutical: green or bio-based solvents. Click here for more information
Biopharmaceutical: naturally derived raw materials, and solvents manufactured to have very low volatile residue to extend life of chromatography columns – reducing outlay and waste. Click here for more information.
Medical Polymers: advanced bio-based polymers derived from renewable feedstock (in conjunction with Arkema). Click here for more information.
Food Ingredients: plant-based proteins, sugar replacements, natural flavours and organic ingredients. Click here for more information.
Want to know more? Contact us about our sustainable product offering.
Our Sustainability Milestones
NCC’s commitment to the SBTi has been approved, and we have completed a comprehensive assessment of our full emissions scope, identifying the primary sources of our emissions
NCC is ISCC PLUS certified for the handling of bio-based and circular materials
EcoVadis rated (2025): Bronze, top 35%; reassessment underway following sustainability progress
Dedicated sustainability team, led by Chief Sustainability Officer Rory Groves, driving NCC’s sustainability strategy and alignment with evolving regulations, industry standards, and environmental best practices
Investment in software and processes to enable the collation and provision of transportation emissions data and product carbon footprint reporting
Operation Clean Sweep signatory; driving supply chain adoption, with IPC preparing for certification
See our Quality & Compliance page for more information
SBTi
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a corporate climate action organisation that enables companies and financial institutions worldwide to play their part in combating the climate crisis.
Ecovadis
EcoVadis is a trusted provider of business sustainability ratings, intelligence and collaborative performance improvement tools for the global supply chain.
ISCC Plus
ISCC PLUS is a voluntary, international certification scheme that verifies the sustainability and traceability of bio-based, circular (recycled), and renewable raw materials across various supply chains.
Operation Clean Sweep
Operation Clean Sweep® (OCS) is an international programme designed to prevent the loss of plastic granules (pellets, flakes and powders) during handling by the various entities in the plastics value chain and their release into the environment.
SBTi
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a corporate climate action organisation that enables companies and financial institutions worldwide to play their part in combating the climate crisis.
Ecovadis
EcoVadis is a trusted provider of business sustainability ratings, intelligence and collaborative performance improvement tools for the global supply chain.
ISCC Plus
ISCC PLUS is a voluntary, international certification scheme that verifies the sustainability and traceability of bio-based, circular (recycled), and renewable raw materials across various supply chains.
Operation Clean Sweep
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a corporate climate action organisation that enables companies and financial institutions worldwide to play their part in combating the climate crisis.