Founded in 2015, Seda is a Contract Research, Development and Manufacturing Organisation based in Cheadle. As the business expanded, it engaged with Green Economy to assess it’s environmental impact, strengthen it’s ESG credentials and establish a clear sustainability roadmap to support future growth.

Changing expectations in the pharmaceutical sector

As Seda’s customer base grew and sustainability expectations in the sector increased, the business recognised the need to take a more structured approach to their ESG strategy.

Green Economy provided tailored support to Seda, helping them establish a solid baseline for sustainability credentials and build a robust plan for the future. Our consultants helped the business calculate their carbon footprint, identifying measurable cost savings through an energy consumption analysis and establishing a Scope 3 emissions reporting process.

With increasing sustainability requirements in the pharmaceutical sector, including supplying services to large pharma clients, our support provided Seda with confidence in their environmental credentials. The development and implementation of a new sustainability strategy helped them work towards their EcoVadis accreditation, a growing ask when supplying to the sector.

The Impacts

Green Economy support and energy consumption analysis identified a series of incorrect HVAC settings – a relatively common finding for businesses with large or complex premises. Following corrective action, the business is forecasting annual energy savings of approximately £8,300, equating to 3.8 tonnes (tCO2e) of carbon savings per year.

The team were also able to identify the potential for further savings, adding up to 140,800kWh of energy, equivalent to approximately £45,000 and 29.2 tCO2e.

This benchmarking activity and associated savings developed a solid foundation for a robust and actionable sustainability strategy to be built.

The Results

Through Green Economy’s tailored support, Seda has developed a strong foundation from which to build their sustainability credentials. Developing a carbon reporting framework and sustainability strategy, the business is equipped to respond to tightening regulatory and customer environmental expectations.

Our energy efficiency analysis unlocked immediate savings and identified the potential for almost £45,000 in annual cost savings, with overall carbon savings projected to amount to 29.2 tCO2e annually.

In addition to improved competitiveness and cost savings, Green Economy and the GM Business Growth Hub have provided valuable support and advice to Seda as it continues to grow and strengthen its sustainability agenda. Alongside these initiatives, the company has secured £15 million in investment to support future growth and international expansion, with plans to pursue a future solar project.

Business Growth Support

Green Economy provides tailored support for businesses seeking to leverage sustainability to power growth. Our consultants provide a range of services to help you identify resource efficiency opportunities, fund green technology investment and respond to changing regulatory environments across a variety of sectors, including the NHS supply chain.

If you’d like to explore how Green Economy can help your business grow, please get in touch!