AstraZeneca signs renewable gas partnership

Beginning in Newark, Delaware, the cooperation will provide renewable natural gas to American research and industry facilities, accelerating progress toward the goal of reducing global emissions. | DBT PHOTO BY JACOB OWENS

WILMINGTON – To allow the distribution of renewable natural gas to all of its facilities in the United States by the end of 2026, AstraZeneca has partnered with Vanguard Renewables.

AstraZeneca will start purchasing natural gas supplied by Vanguard Renewables starting in June 2023 for its Newark Campus in Delaware, where the company manufactures 26 medications for distribution throughout the U.S. and creates medication formulations for worldwide supply.

“We recognize the interconnection between the health of people and the planet, and are committed to driving deep decarbonization across our operations and value chain,” Pam Cheng, executive vice president of global operations & IT and chief sustainability officer at AstraZeneca, said in a statement. “Our innovative partnership with Vanguard Renewables in the U.S. is an illustration of how we are collaborating at scale to deliver sustainable science and medicines, as part of the transition to net zero health systems and a circular economy.”

To reduce environmental impact, AstraZeneca is adopting a patient-centered, science-led approach. As heat and electricity is needed for the production of pharmaceuticals, natural gas can supply both.

 By 2026, the partnership will allow for the usage of up to 190,500 megawatt hours annually or natural gas at all of AstraZeneca’s American facilities. This amount of energy is equal to that needed to heat more than 17,800 American houses for a year. 

By 2030, AstraZeneca plans to have cut its total value chain footprint in half, with the goal of reaching science-based net zero by 2045 at the latest. 

In accordance with this agreement, Vanguard Renewables will use its Farm Powered technology, which enables it to collaborate with dairy farmers, food and beverage producers, retailers, and distributors to generate natural gas via farm-based anaerobic digestion.

“Vanguard Renewables is excited to be partnering with AstraZeneca on this transformative business-to-business clean energy solution,” Neil Smith, Vanguard Renewables chief executive officer said in a statement. “AstraZeneca has set a very ambitious and challenging net zero target, which is a benchmark for their sector and other global corporations. We strongly believe this partnership will provide a path for other like-minded companies to join us on the journey towards global decarbonization.”

AstraZeneca and Vanguard Renewables plan to lessen pollution from the agricultural industry by trapping methane from nearby family-owned farms. 

Vanguard Renewables has collaborated with family-owned dairy farms and producers of food and beverages since 2014 to provide sustainable solutions to the problem of greenhouse gas emissions by preventing food waste from going to landfills and sequestering farm emissions.