Behind every life saving inhaler sits a hidden climate footprint. In this episode, Bespak challenges the status quo, exploring how respiratory products can be redesigned for a low carbon future and why tackling propellant gases and supply chain emissions is one of pharma’s biggest untapped opportunities.

In this episode

Chris Hirst unpacks how Bespak is approaching sustainability at the most granular level: materials, formulations, manufacturing processes, and supplier collaboration. He explains why ESG at Bespak is not a side initiative, but a core business strategy, one that strengthens competitiveness, trust, and long-term value creation.

Learn about:

• Strategic transformation:

Bespak was carved out to become an independent company, strengthening its ability to innovate, move faster, and focus on long-term value creation. How being part of the EQT portfolio makes sustainability a core priority and reinforces responsible growth.

• Sustainability in healthcare manufacturing:

How a traditionally hard-to-decarbonize sector is reducing its footprint and where the biggest opportunities for impact lie.

• Innovation and the low-carbon transition:

Re-engineering essential products like inhalers to cut emissions without compromising patient safety or performance.

• Regulation and responsibility:

How emerging sustainability regulations are shaping R&D priorities, transparency, and long-term business strategy.

• Customer and partner expectations:

Supporting pharma and healthcare customers in meeting decarbonization goals through smarter design and sustainable supply chains.

• Culture and execution:

What it takes to align people and teams to deliver real change during both business transformation and sustainability transitions.

About Chris Hirst

Chris Hirst is the CEO of Bespak, a global Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), specializing in inhaled and nasal drug delivery devices and drug-device combination products.

With a deep background in pharmaceutical manufacturing and operations, Chris has led Bespak’s transformation into an independent company with a strong focus on low-carbon innovation, supply-chain collaboration, and science-based climate targets. Under his leadership, Bespak has committed to the Science Based Targets initiative and is positioning itself as a partner of choice for sustainable respiratory solutions.

What happens when the future of energy meets the reality of climate targets?
In this episode of The Sustainable Edge, host Joachim Nahem sits down with Tomas Qvickström, Vice President of Corporate Sustainability at Fortum, to explore how major energy players are balancing security, scale, and sustainability in the race to decarbonize.

Tomas Qvickström explains how Fortum is contributing to the clean energy transition in the Nordics and Poland through a balanced energy mix, development of renewables and a comprehensive approach to sustainability that goes beyond emissions. From the drivers of electrification, to helping customers decarbonize through data and guarantees of origin, this episode goes inside the energy systems shaping our climate future.

Learn about:

• Balancing the grid: Why the Nordic "energy plate" model combines flexible, firm, and renewable sources like hydro, nuclear, and wind to power a stable transition.
  
  

• A credible decarbonization path: How Fortum is integrating science-based climate targets and biodiversity goals directly into business strategy and finance.
  
  

• From grid to socket: Why clean energy production doesn't guarantee clean consumption, and how Fortum helps customers track and reduce Scope 2 emissions.
  
  

• Bottlenecks to scale: What's really slowing down renewable investments and how long-term offtake agreements, smart cases for implementation, and policy support can unlock progress.

Tomas Qvickström is Vice President of Corporate Sustainability at Fortum, a €16 billion Nordic energy company. He leads Fortum's work on climate, biodiversity, and sustainable finance, helping integrate ESG targets across operational planning and decision-making. Tomas brings a fact-based, systems-level view to one of the world's most complex sustainability challenges: powering the clean transition at scale.

What happens when the thrill of motorsport meets the urgency of climate action? In this episode of The Sustainable Edge, host Joachim Nahem sits down with Jennifer Babington from Envision Racing, Operations Director and General Counsel to explore how sport can fuel global momentum for sustainability.

Jennifer Babington reveals how Envision Racing is embedding sustainability into every lap, from freight emissions and clean tech innovation to fan engagement and sponsorship integrity. She takes us behind the scenes of Formula E's three-step climate strategy, and shares how the team is driving measurable change both on and off the track.

Learn about:

• Sustainability at speed – Formula E's framework to measure, reduce, and offset carbon emissions across Scopes 1, 2, and 3.
  
  

• A credible net-zero pathway – How the series plans to cut Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 50% and Scope 3 by 27.5% by 2030, reaching net zero by 2040.
  
  

• Innovation through competition – Why motorsport's transition to electric, circular, and regenerative technologies is shaping the future of clean mobility.
  
  

• The power of platform – How a global audience of 491 million and races in 150+ countries amplify the message of sustainability and action.
  
  

• Race Against Climate Change – How Envision Racing is using gamified engagement, partnerships, and pledges to turn awareness into real-world impact.
  
  

Jennifer Babington is the Operations Director and General Counsel at Envision Racing, a leading team in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. With a background in corporate law and operations leadership, she oversees Envision Racing's sustainability strategy, governance, and stakeholder engagement. Jennifer's work bridges the gap between elite sport and environmental responsibility, proving that high performance and sustainability can, and must go hand in hand.

Inspired by the ideas shared on Sustainable Edge?
Learn more about Envision Racing's Race Against Climate Change and make your own pledge. A tree will be planted for every donation.
https://envision-racing.com/sustainability/