Energy Efficiency and Waste Reduction Through Maintenance Optimization: A Case Study in the Pharmaceutical Industry

Nuno Soares Domingues () and João Patrício
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Nuno Soares Domingues: Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Rua Conselheiro Emídio Navarro, 1, 1959-007 Lisbon, Portugal
João Patrício: Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Rua Conselheiro Emídio Navarro, 1, 1959-007 Lisbon, Portugal

Waste, 2025, vol. 3, issue 3, 1-20

Abstract: The global rise in population, increased life expectancy, and heightened international mobility have escalated disease prevalence and pharmaceutical demand. This growth intensifies energy consumption and chemical waste production within the pharmaceutical industry, challenging environmental sustainability and operational efficiency. Chromatography, a vital analytical technique for ensuring product quality and regulatory compliance, can also contribute to material waste and energy inefficiencies if not properly maintained and optimized. This study applies Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) to chromatographic equipment maintenance within Hovione’s Engineering and Maintenance Department, aiming to identify and mitigate failure risks. By integrating environmental metrics derived from Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) into the FMEA framework, a hybrid risk evaluation tool was developed that prioritizes both equipment reliability and sustainability performance. The findings demonstrate how this integrated approach reduces unplanned downtime, lowers solvent waste, and improves energy efficiency. Additionally, the study proposes a conceptual dashboard to support proactive, sustainability-driven asset management in pharmaceutical laboratories. By bridging reliability engineering and environmental sustainability, this research offers a strategic model for optimizing resource use, minimizing chemical waste, and enhancing long-term operational resilience in regulated pharmaceutical environments.

Keywords: energy efficiency; waste; sustainability; lifecycle; maintenance; process optimization; operational efficiency; biomedical devices; pharmaceutical industry (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q16 Q18 Q2 Q20 Q23 Q24 Q25 Q28 Q3 Q31 Q38 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jwaste:v:3:y:2025:i:3:p:28-:d:1729085

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