DFE Pharma is the first excipient company to offer a lactose portfolio with accelerated 30% CO₂ reduction for pharmaceutical manufacturers’ sustainability reporting
DFE Pharma, a global leader in pharmaceutical excipients, has launched EcoLact® 2030, a pioneer initiative within the industry, designed to bring transparency and verified sustainability to its current lactose offering. EcoLact® 2030 provides pharmaceutical manufacturers access to auditable CO₂ data and full value-chain traceability, enabling them to demonstrate Scope 3 emission reductions without operational disruption.
Pharmaceutical companies face increasing pressure to meet current climate and ESG targets, particularly when addressing Scope 3 emissions (all indirect emissions, except for purchased energy, that occur in the value chain). These are often very difficult to quantify due to limited transparency and inconsistent data quality. EcoLact® 2030 addresses this gap by providing primary, traceable emission data of an accelerated 30% CO₂ reduction across DFE Pharma’s lactose portfolio, without relying on offsets or estimates. This CO₂-verification offering is backed by granular data and performance-based sustainability incentives for farmers.
DFE Pharma’s lactose excipients verified with EcoLact® 2030 remain unchanged in terms of quality, performance, and regulatory compliance, so manufacturers can achieve their sustainability goals without additional product requalification steps. Companies using EcoLact® 2030-verified lactose receive annual CO₂ reduction reports, to support their CSRD, SBTi*, and ESG reporting.
“EcoLact® 2030 reflects our commitment to lead in sustainable sourcing without compromising the quality our customers rely on,” said Sven Abend, CEO of DFE Pharma. “By providing verified data and transparent practices, we enable measurable progress toward climate goals while securing the operational continuity of our customers.”
DFE Pharma receives EcoVadis Gold medal for the second consecutive year
EcoLact® 2030 builds on DFE Pharma’s ongoing sustainability initiatives. In 2025, the company earned an EcoVadis Gold Medal for the second consecutive time, placing it among the top 5% of companies rated globally.
DFE Pharma’s sustainability initiatives encompass various areas, including carbon emissions reduction, waste management, and social responsibility. The company targets a 42% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030, compared to 2021 levels. Scope 3 emissions, particularly those from FLAG** activities, account for most of the company’s carbon footprint. The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has approved DFE Pharma’s near-term climate targets, which aim for a 30.3% reduction in Scope 3 FLAG emissions by 2030 compared to 2021.
* CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, an EU regulation), SBTi (Science Based Targets initiative)
** Forest, Land and Agriculture (FLAG) targets
