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NPL scientists alongside industry collaborators have received over £16m funding for research through Innovate UK's Sustainable Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Programme (SMMIP) that will drive transformation in sustainable medicines manufacturing. NPL is working on two groundbreaking Grand Challenge projects funded by Innovate UK’s SMMIP programme, supporting major advances in sustainable packaging and next-generation process analytical technologies (PAT) for the pharmaceutical industry.
The first project, "Beyond single-use plastics: Processing innovation driving sustainable pharmaceutical packaging (SusPack)", led by NPL, involves a consortium of 12 partners from across the pharmaceutical packaging value chain. Over the next 3.5 years, the team aims to develop the world's first circular recycling and bio-based packaging solutions for three clinical waste streams currently incinerated due to contamination concerns. This first-of-its-kind initiative not only supports the National Health Service's Net Zero 2040 commitment but also benefits global pharmaceutical communities, by improving the sustainability profile of pharmaceutical packaging.
The SusPack project is expected to deliver significant economic and social benefits, including reducing hazardous waste handling costs by up to 30-40% and lowering logistics costs and emissions through domestic recycling and manufacturing of bio-based packaging solutions. These technology innovations aim to strengthen the UK's circular economy, reduce reliance on imported raw materials, and create a resilient domestic supply chain for sustainable pharmaceutical packaging. NPL’s focus lies on development of a comprehensive analytical technology platform for recycled plastics, biopolymers and sustainable feedstock to ensure products’ quality, safety and their compliances with regulations/legislations.
The second project, "Photonic Sensing for Efficient, Low-Waste Medicines Manufacture" (InSPIREmed), led by the Fraunhofer Institute, seeks to develop advanced Raman, mid-infrared, and particle analysis tools to enable real-time, high-sensitivity measurements in pharmaceutical processes that are currently unmeasurable. The project will demonstrate sustainability and productivity benefits in accelerated crystallisation screening and control, greater control and improved efficiency in freeze-drying processes, and process intensification for biologics manufacturing.
New digital tools and early regulatory engagement will support rapid adoption across industry, strengthening the UK's leadership in sustainable, data-driven medicines manufacturing. NPL’s metrology expertise will enable the delivery of standards, and data supported by robust measurement approaches to guide decision-making across the medicines manufacturing sector.
Beyond these two Grand Challenges, NPL continues to deliver a broad portfolio of Innovate UK-funded R&D projects in the medicines manufacturing area, including collaborations with companies such as Mesox, Proxisense, Erebagen, and Sagetech Medical.
Head of Advanced Manufacturing and Materials Strategy at NPL, Gareth Edwards said: “NPL is proud to bring world-class metrology and standards expertise to these Grand Challenge projects, enabling robust measurement and data-driven decision-making. By convening researchers, industry, and end-users across the full value and supply chain, we are advancing sustainable packaging and next-generation process analytics. These initiatives will cut waste, reduce emissions, and accelerate innovation, strengthening the UK’s leadership in sustainable medicines manufacturing and building a resilient, circular economy for the future.”
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19 Nov 2025