The climate crisis is a health crisis. This year's wildfires in Los Angeles and southern Europe, monsoon rains in Pakistan, and flash floods in central Texas were devastating reminders that droughts, storms, floods, wildfires, and heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense, causing widespread health impacts. In fact, recent research published in The Lancet found that air pollution linked to climate change was responsible for more than eight million premature deaths globally in a single year, making it the second-leading risk factor for death globally.
Addressing climate change means supporting human health—yet it requires coordinated action, particularly on complex sources of emissions.
Collaboration is key to solve complex climate issues
Takeda has committed to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in its operations by 2035 and across the value chain by 2040, with reduction targets aligned with the requirements of the Science Based Targets initiative. While some emissions reduction initiatives will be fairly straightforward—like Takeda's 18,000-square-meter photovoltaic installation in Neuchâtel, Switzerland—others present complex challenges. Innovation and collective action will be critical to address hard-to-abate emissions that currently lack low-carbon alternatives that are scientifically viable, affordable, and commercially scalable.
This Climate Week NYC, Takeda shared updates on three impactful collaborations that are designed to address thorny emissions challenges, including:
- Product distribution – Takeda is set to become the first pharmaceutical company to transport its products using VELA Transport’s state-of-the-art sailing cargo trimaran, which is powered 100% by wind when on sea—reducing emissions by 99% compared to air and up to 90% compared to containerized shipping. The newly announced partnership was featured at The Nest Campus on September 24, with the goal of inspiring other companies to explore wind-powered cargo shipping, helping to scale environmentally sustainable logistics for the healthcare industry and beyond.
- Waste: Partnering with Boston Medical Center, Takeda is tackling hard-to-abate emissions from medical waste disposal, including pharmaceutical packaging and single-use plastics. Following a detailed waste audit, we previewed findings from year one of the collaboration at an event hosted by Health Care Without Harm and the American Red Cross. BMC expects to publish a report on the full waste audit findings in early 2026 and will use these insights to identify and pilot solutions, building blueprints for system-wide change.
- Plastics: Alongside SchottPharma and Corplex, Takeda ran a pilot project in Singen, Germany to reduce the impact of single-use plastic transportation trays for vials. By recycling these trays to produce new trays, a closed loop was created, helping Takeda reduce emissions by up to 50% per tray while applying 70% recycled content.
Mitigating climate impacts won't be quick or easy in healthcare, where quality and patient safety are paramount. Yet these collaborations demonstrate it's possible to drive value for patients, business, and planet simultaneously. The future of human health depends on our collective ability to scale solutions that not only mitigate our impact but transform how we deliver care in a climate changing world.
Looking ahead to scalable solutions and adaptation to the climate landscape
Building resilience within our healthcare ecosystems and communities has never been more critical. The path forward demands strategies that address the cascading health effects of climate change, while simultaneously preparing infrastructure and care delivery systems to withstand future climate impacts. Takeda is committed to enhancing the climate resilience of health systems and deepening its focus on supporting the world’s most vulnerable communities.
Unique collaborations such as our work with International Medical Corps (IMC), announced at Climate Week NYC, focus on building climate-resilient health systems by partnering with organizations rooted in local communities. Their programs help address climate-related health risks, scale innovative solutions, and strengthen long-term resilience, enabling health professionals to lead the integration of adaptation efforts into health care systems.
The urgency of the climate-health crisis requires an exponential expansion of partnerships, knowledge sharing, and coordinated action. We invite healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers, and organizations who share our vision of a healthier, more resilient future to explore opportunities to collaborate with Takeda in this essential mission. Collectively, we must continue to push the boundaries of what's possible, ensuring that our response to climate change is as comprehensive and urgent as the threat itself.
Every step we take to reduce emissions, to strengthen supply chain resilience, and to tackle hard-to-abate areas like plastics and medical waste is also a step toward protecting patients and health for all.