Sustainability in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing: A Guide for Architects and Engineers
High-performance, sustainable coatings enable pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities to meet strict regulatory standards while enhancing durability, efficiency, and environmental responsibility. Image: Courtesy of Sherwin-Williams
In the rapidly evolving pharmaceutical manufacturing segment, architects and engineers play a pivotal role in designing facilities that meet stringent regulatory standards while fostering innovation and sustainability. As the industry faces growing pressure to balance compliance with environmental responsibility, incorporating sustainable materials and design strategies is key to enhancing efficiency, durability, and long-term resilience.
Architects and engineers are responsible for creating high-performance facilities that support the production of life-changing medications and devices. These facilities must comply with FDA and Current Good Manufacturing (cGMP) standards while addressing operational efficiency, safety, and sustainability. To achieve this, design professionals seek materials that provide durability, chemical resistance, and flexibility—ensuring facilities remain adaptable to future technological advancements and regulatory changes.
Meeting rigorous performance standards
Pharmaceutical facilities must meet some of the highest performance expectations in any sector. In addition to complying with FDA and cGMP requirements, these spaces must support safe, sterile conditions and allow for regular, aggressive cleaning. Facility components must resist chemical exposure, high humidity, UV light, and heavy foot and cart traffic—conditions that can quickly deteriorate unprotected materials.
For architects and engineers, this means selecting durable, flexible building systems that perform under stress while remaining adaptable to future manufacturing advancements and evolving regulations.
Sustainability challenges and opportunities
Incorporating sustainable design strategies in such a high-stakes environment isn’t always straightforward. Hygiene requirements and material restrictions can limit the use of certain green building products. Budget limitations, tight project timelines, and supply chain availability also introduce complications. But these constraints don’t have to eliminate sustainability from the equation.
Today’s high-performance coatings and building materials allow A&E professionals to specify options that both meet rigorous compliance demands and support environmental goals, such as lower emissions, less frequent replacement, and improved energy efficiency.
Key considerations for sustainable design
High-performance coatings play a central role in sustainable pharmaceutical facility design. These systems protect surfaces, extend the life of facilities, and support clean, efficient operations. The right coating strategy contributes to regulatory compliance, minimizes long-term maintenance, and helps facilities reduce environmental impact.
Here are five key attributes of sustainable coatings to consider:
Employee health and safety: Coating technologies that are isocyanate-free, Red List-free, and low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) align with green building standards, improving air quality and worker safety and reducing long-term environmental impact.
Energy efficiency support: Reflective or light-colored coatings can help enhance lighting efficiency by improving indoor brightness and reducing the energy load on lighting systems. Seamless coatings also reduce contamination risks by eliminating crevices where microbes can hide—supporting both sustainability and safety goals.
Lifecycle cost savings: Durable, long-lasting coatings reduce the frequency of repairs and replacements. By minimizing material use over time and lowering maintenance labor demands, these systems help reduce the total cost of ownership and environmental impact.
Fast cure times: Rapid-curing coatings help speed up construction or maintenance schedules, minimizing production downtime and associated energy use. Fast return to service also supports project cost savings and facility uptime.
Durability and resistance: Coatings must withstand repeated sanitization, exposure to harsh chemicals, and mechanical wear and tear. Products designed for industrial environments retain their integrity over time, reducing the need for frequent touchups or recoating that would add waste and emissions.
By considering these key factors, design professionals can make informed material choices that align with both regulatory compliance and sustainability objectives.
Long-term facility value
High-performance, sustainable coatings help pharmaceutical facilities stay compliant, efficient, and durable over time. By protecting walls, floors, ceilings, and structural steel, these systems reduce the need for frequent maintenance, minimizing downtime, labor, and material waste.
Over time, this durability translates directly into reduced operating costs. Facilities benefit from fewer shutdowns for repairs or recoating, minimized labor for ongoing maintenance, and a lower need for replacement materials—all of which help reduce waste, conserve resources, and lower the facility’s overall carbon footprint.
Ultimately, sustainable coatings also enhance a facility’s long-term adaptability, allowing it to respond to changing processes and regulations without major renovations, maximizing value for owners and operators.
Designing for the future
As sustainability becomes a central pillar of pharmaceutical manufacturing, architects and engineers have the opportunity to lead the way with smart design and material selection. Coatings that meet environmental goals while standing up to rigorous operational demands are key to this strategy.
By integrating sustainable coatings into facility design, A&E teams can help clients ensure long-term compliance, durability, and innovation—all while contributing to a more sustainable future for the pharmaceutical industry.
