Bespak, a drug delivery systems manufacturer with sites in Holmes Chapel and King's Lynn, has published a new report detailing its supply chain's biodiversity footprint. The assessment was conducted in collaboration with Tunley Environmental, a sustainability consultancy based in Leeds.

The report, "The Implementation of Biodiversity Footprinting: Examining Supply Chains," uses a method developed by Tunley to evaluate ecological impact. This approach, which applies Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) methods, uses an internationally recognised metric called 'species.yr' to estimate the potential loss of species due to supply chain activities.

The assessment's key findings highlight the environmental impact of specific commodities:

The Bespak facility in King's Lynn was found to have a biodiversity footprint of 0.2153 species.yr, which is equivalent to the loss of one species every four years.

The Holmes Chapel site recorded a footprint of 0.0777 species.yr, translating to one species lost every 13 years.

At both locations, aluminium and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) were responsible for more than 70% of the total biodiversity footprint.

This proactive step allows Bespak to pinpoint environmental "hotspots" within its supply chain, enabling it to focus on targeted mitigation efforts. The company has already started to integrate biodiversity measures into its procurement and operational strategy in response to the findings.

Dr Tara Garraty, Senior Scientist and Biodiversity Lead at Tunley Environmental, commented on the project: "It's been a real pleasure collaborating with Bespak on this important project. These assessments help shine a light on the hidden ways supply chains impact nature and give companies the insight they need to take meaningful, lasting action."

This initiative establishes a framework for other manufacturers to measure and address their environmental impact, aligning with growing global expectations for nature-positive strategies and corporate responsibility. The full white paper detailing the methodology and results is publicly available.