Eco’Ophtalmo
Our programme to
reduce the environmental footprint of ophthalmology
An environmental commitment
rooted in our history
Since the creation of our laboratory in Nice, nestled between the Mediterranean Sea and the Alps, our founders’ attachment to the sea and mountains has nurtured our awareness of environmental issues. From manufacturing to distribution, our business has an impact on nature. At the same time, the pharmaceutical industry must comply with strict regulatory requirements in terms of quality, efficacy and safety.
True to our ‘small steps’ approach, we have structured our continuous improvement process around the Eco’Ophtalmo programme. This initiative aims to reduce, at our level, the environmental impact of Horus Pharma through concrete actions taken locally and throughout the value chain, from the design and formulation of our products to our packaging.
Our products: short preservative-free formulations and European manufacturing
We have always favoured formulations with a limited number of ingredients and excipients in our preservative-free products.
Horus Pharma has also chosen to manufacture 75% of its products in France and 100% in Europe, reducing its carbon footprint associated with transport.
We also prioritise working with Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisations (CDMOs) that share our concern for the environment. These long-term partnerships are based on joint efforts to reduce our carbon footprint, helping to strengthen a more sustainable value chain.
Manufacturing in France means combining environmental responsibility with a positive economic impact. With the aim of contributing to the country’s health sovereignty.
Our packaging:
a pioneering approach
Beyond the composition of our products, our eco-design approach extends to primary packaging, particularly bottles, an area in which we have been innovating since our beginnings. Horus Pharma has established itself as one of the pioneers of preservative-free multi-dose bottles, with the aim of limiting harmful effects on the environment.
We initially launched the 10 mL multi-dose format, before increasing the volume to 15 mL, a more environmentally friendly format that reduces the environmental impact of this type of packaging.
The multi-dose format
to minimise the environmental impact
We have carried out a simplified life cycle assessment to compare the environmental impact of a multi-dose bottle treatment with that of single-dose vials.
Example of a 25-day course of treatment with one of our medicines. In terms of plastic volume, a 10 ml bottle is equivalent to 120 single-dose vials.
Functional unit: treatment for both eyes, 5 times a day, for 25 days, i.e. 250 drops.
Our ISCC Plus certification
Proof of our commitment to more responsible packaging
Horus Pharma is certified under ISCC+ since 2022.
ISCC+ (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) certification is a voluntary international standard that guarantees the sustainability and traceability of bio-based raw materials (derived from living organisms such as paper, wood and plant fibres) or recycled materials throughout the supply chain.
This standard requires compliance with environmental criteria (soil protection, climate protection, no deforestation), social criteria (working conditions, human rights) and good governance, as well as rigorous traceability of material flows, from natural resources to the final product.
Two of the major products in our portfolio use bio-based plastic based on the mass-balance.
The Plastic Bank Partnership:
a twofold impact
Given the constraints facing the pharmaceutical sector, we currently have no alternative to the use of plastic for many products. To go further and achieve plastic neutrality for around 30 products, we have partnered with Plastic Bank, a Canadian social organisation that works to prevent plastic waste from reaching the oceans.
Since the end of 2022, we have helped collect and recycle 434 tonnes of plastic (equivalent to 21.7 million 50 cl bottles). This collaboration also supports 2,044 people in local communities, combining environmental and social impact.
434 tonnes collected and recycled
21.7 million 50 cl bottles
2,044 people supported
Since 2022, Horus Pharma has taken meaningful action for people and the planet with #Us. The long-term commitment of its leadership in creating impact reflects what’s possible when businesses restore the planet and uplift collector communities. Together, we are proving that companies can be a powerful force in helping end poverty and stopping plastic pollution.
Mobilising eye care professionals as well
Care and environmental protection are closely linked, and the transition to sustainable healthcare cannot be achieved without cooperation. Committed to doing our part to help our entire sector move towards this goal, we have formed an advisory board of committed ophthalmologists to support the evolution of practices. These experts share their environmental initiatives, both in private practice and in hospitals, creating a collective dynamic.
We also support future practitioners by funding the SFO Eco’Ophtalmo Initiative Award since 2024, which rewards an innovative project by a young ophthalmologist combining environmental responsibility and ophthalmology.
Every year, we also organise Eco’Ophta meetings, which bring together environmental experts and eye health professionals for dialogue, exchanges of best practices, awareness-raising and more. This event helps drive environmental progress in the pharmaceutical sector.
The Eco’Ophtalmo programme is therefore fully in line with our social and environmental responsibility policy. We want to demonstrate that medical innovation and environmental responsibility can move forward together, gradually and with pragmatism, for the benefit of patients and the planet.