Cambrex Corporation

Carbon per million dollars of revenue. The legacy industry-standard reference (CDP, MSCI). Useful for cross-sector context, but distorted by margin — high-margin firms appear artificially efficient. Read alongside the operational and asset intensities for the full picture.

OpEx (operating expenditure) is the running cost of the business — staff, services, energy, materials. This shows how carbon-intensive operations are per million dollars of spend. Removes the margin distortion that revenue-based ratios introduce.

EVIC (Enterprise Value Including Cash) is the firm's total capital footprint — equity + debt + cash + minority interest. The EU's standard intensity measure (SFDR PAI 3) — answers: how much carbon does each million of capital deployed in this business produce?

PP&E (Property, Plant & Equipment) plus leased real-estate assets is the firm's physical infrastructure on the balance sheet. This shows the carbon intensity of that physical footprint — uses Scope 1+2+3 for consistency with the other headline intensities. Surfaces stranded-asset risk for asset-heavy firms.

Since 2019 Cambrex Karlskoga has used 100% origin-labelled hydropower electricity through a renewable electricity agreement. Steam from the Karlskoga combined heat and power plant comprises 97% renewable and recovered energy in 2023, with the supplier targeting 99% renewable steam by 2025. This makes Scope 2 emissions effectively zero from electricity.

No narrative on durable removals approach in the firm's most recent reports.

• Energy efficiency programme + condensate heat recovery

  Since 2019 a dedicated working group has driven energy efficiency, implementing over 28 measures saving 10,324 MWh of steam and 1,816 MWh of electricity. Cambrex also saves 3,000+ MWh/year by using production condensate via a central heating system for buildings. In 2024 ventilation control software was deployed in building z15 to further reduce heating and electricity use.

• VOC emissions reduction from manufacturing processes

  VOC emissions are tracked annually (60 tonnes in 2024 vs 49 in 2023, increase due to production growth, permit limit 80 t/year). Cambrex has initiated work in response to new BAT conclusions for the treatment and management of waste gases in the chemical sector and aims to reduce VOC emissions as far as technically and financially possible.

• Water reduction via process measurement + smart cooling

  Target: 20% reduction in total water consumption by 2030. Approach is to measure all water usage within production (not just inlet/outlet), control manufacturing processes so water is not left on unnecessarily, and install smart cooling/heating systems. In 2024 outflow measurement per factory was implemented to detect anomalies faster.

• Energy efficiency & condensate heat recovery

  Since 2019, a dedicated energy-efficiency working group has implemented 28+ measures yielding savings of 10,324 MWh steam and 1,816 MWh electricity. Condensate recovery from production facilities saves over 3,000 MWh/year in heating costs. In 2024 work continued to expand condensate-based building heating and to install more efficient heat exchangers. Building ventilation in Z15 was instrumented in 2024 to enable demand-control.

• VOC and process emissions reduction

  Cambrex calculates emissions to air (VOC) using calculation software and reports under environmental permit limits (80 t/year). VOC emissions rose to 60 t in 2024 (from 49 t in 2023) due to higher production. Long-term aim is to reduce VOC emissions as far as technically and financially possible. Work has been initiated in response to new BAT conclusions for waste-gas treatment in the chemical sector.

• Water consumption reduction (-20% by 2030)

  Water consumption (drinking, softened and river water) is being reduced through digitalisation, mapping water flows, and smart cooling/heating. 2024 focused on measuring outflows per factory. Target: 20% reduction in total water consumption by 2030.

• Solvent and catalyst recycling

  Cambrex reuses catalysts in some processes and recycles spent catalysts through external parties (target: 100% recycling of spent catalysts). Where logistics and regulation permit, solvents are recycled in cooperation with customers. Waste that cannot be recycled goes to incineration with energy recovery; internal wastewater treatment reduces volumes that would otherwise be incinerated.

• Solvent and catalyst recycling in manufacturing

  Solvents and catalysts dominate hazardous waste. Catalysts are reused in some processes and the aim is to recycle all spent catalysts via external parties. Solvents are recycled where logistics and regulations allow, with an ongoing project to identify additional recyclable outflows. Non-recyclable waste is sent to incineration with energy recovery (6,022 tonnes in 2024).

• Supplier engagement: Code of Conduct + audits

  Cambrex requires suppliers to sign its global Supplier Code of Conduct; in 2024, 85% of solicited suppliers responded and 38% replied with their own policies. Annual audits cover quality plus HSE and sustainability practices; the audit programme ambition is to expand sustainability-focused audits. Around 100 supplier evaluations are planned for 2025.

• Supplier qualification & Code of Conduct rollout

  Cambrex sources chemicals, packaging and services from a global supplier base. Supplier qualification covers quality, HSE and sustainability practices including ethics and working conditions. In 2024, 85% of suppliers contacted responded to Code of Conduct requests (38% provided own equivalent policies). Around 100 supplier evaluations planned for 2025; audit programme being expanded with sustainability focus.