Sustainable Edge: Decarbonizing healthcare from the inside out with Chris Hirst, Bespak

<p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">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.</span></p><p><br></p><p><strong style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">In this episode</strong></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">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.</span></p><p><br></p><p><strong style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Learn about:</strong></p><ul><li><strong style="background-color: transparent;">Strategic transformation:</strong></li></ul><p><span style="background-color: transparent;">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.</span></p><ul><li><strong style="background-color: transparent;">Sustainability in healthcare manufacturing:</strong></li></ul><p><span style="background-color: transparent;">How a traditionally hard-to-decarbonize sector is reducing its footprint and where the biggest opportunities for impact lie.</span></p><ul><li><strong style="background-color: transparent;">Innovation and the low-carbon transition:</strong></li></ul><p><span style="background-color: transparent;">Re-engineering essential products like inhalers to cut emissions without compromising patient safety or performance.</span></p><ul><li><strong style="background-color: transparent;">Regulation and responsibility:</strong></li></ul><p><span style="background-color: transparent;">How emerging sustainability regulations are shaping R&amp;D priorities, transparency, and long-term business strategy.</span></p><ul><li><strong style="background-color: transparent;">Customer and partner expectations:</strong></li></ul><p><span style="background-color: transparent;">Supporting pharma and healthcare customers in meeting decarbonization goals through smarter design and sustainable supply chains.</span></p><ul><li><strong style="background-color: transparent;">Culture and execution:</strong></li></ul><p><span style="background-color: transparent;">What it takes to align people and teams to deliver real change during both business transformation and sustainability transitions.</span></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><strong style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">About Chris Hirst&nbsp;</strong></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">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.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">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.</span></p>