Development of a New Shipping Container to Significantly Reduce CO2 Emissions During the Shipping of Bio Drug Substances

As one measure to reduce environmental impact in the pharmaceutical cold chain*¹, Chugai Pharmaceutical has developed a new shipping container for bio drug substances with enhanced cooling performance. This enables an approximate 40% reduction in CO₂ emissions during shipping compared with conventional shipping methods.

*1 A system designed to ship pharmaceuticals to their destination while maintaining refrigerated or frozen conditions in order to preserve product quality

Development Concept

In the overseas shipping of biopharmaceutical drug substances, to ensure product quality, the conventional method involved placing the drug substance in a shipping container for biopharmaceuticals filled with dry ice (A) and then using an additional outer cool container (B).
By optimizing the placement and quantity of dry ice and the specifications of insulation materials in the shipping container for biopharmaceutical drug substances, we successfully developed a new shipping container (C) that achieves the required cooling performance without the need for the outer cool container (B).

Impact of the Newly Developed Container

Previously, the use of an additional cool container increased total weight, resulting in higher energy consumption during shipping and greater CO₂ emissions. With the development of this container, the outer cool container is no longer required, thereby reducing CO₂ emissions during shipping. From 2026 to 2035, cumulative CO₂ emissions are projected to be reduced by 505 tons*² (a 42% reduction compared with the conventional shipping method), contributing to Chugai Pharmaceutical’s mid-term environmental target of “reducing Scope 3 emissions by 30% by 2030.” Furthermore, as the cool outer container is no longer necessary, shipping costs for drug substances will also be reduced.
The development of this new container for biopharmaceutical drug substances represents a sustainability initiative that achieves both CO₂ emissions reduction and cost reduction. We will continue to pursue technological innovation and engage in technological development that contributes to solving further social challenges.

*2 Calculated using the ton-kilometer method and assumed shipping volume

For more information on our environmental conservation initiatives, please visit our website.
Mid-term Environmental Target 2030