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

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.

In this episode

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.

Learn about:

• Strategic transformation:

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.

• Sustainability in healthcare manufacturing:

How a traditionally hard-to-decarbonize sector is reducing its footprint and where the biggest opportunities for impact lie.

• Innovation and the low-carbon transition:

Re-engineering essential products like inhalers to cut emissions without compromising patient safety or performance.

• Regulation and responsibility:

How emerging sustainability regulations are shaping R&D priorities, transparency, and long-term business strategy.

• Customer and partner expectations:

Supporting pharma and healthcare customers in meeting decarbonization goals through smarter design and sustainable supply chains.

• Culture and execution:

What it takes to align people and teams to deliver real change during both business transformation and sustainability transitions.

About Chris Hirst 

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.

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.