Discover how Green Pharma Parks are transforming India’s biopharma industry with eco-friendly infrastructure aligned with Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Education Apr 9, 2025 15 Add to Reading List

Green Pharma Parks: The Future of Sustainable Biopharma Infrastructure in India

India’s biopharmaceutical industry has emerged as a cornerstone of national development and global health leadership. Under the strategic push of Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat, the country is expanding its production base through industrial clustering, policy incentives, and capacity building. Among the most innovative and future-ready developments in this space is the rise of Green Pharma Parks—integrated industrial zones designed not only for manufacturing efficiency but also for environmental sustainability. These parks represent a paradigm shift, bringing together clean energy, smart waste systems, and collaborative compliance frameworks in a single industrial ecosystem. Unlike conventional industrial parks that prioritize cost and logistics, Green Pharma Parks integrate eco-design into every layer of infrastructure. From shared effluent treatment plants to renewable energy grids and circular economy strategies, these parks aim to balance productivity with ecological preservation. A study by Pringle, Dadwal, and Kumar reinforces the urgent need for such models, revealing critical gaps in decentralized waste systems and regulatory compliance in current setups. Green Pharma Parks emerge as the solution, promising resilience, innovation, and sustainability at scale.

What Are Green Pharma Parks?

Green Pharma Parks are industrial clusters exclusively dedicated to pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical manufacturing, with built-in environmental infrastructure. Their distinguishing features include:

Centralized effluent and sewage treatment facilities

On-site hazardous waste storage and disposal zones

Common utilities powered by solar or wind energy

Green-certified building codes

Smart monitoring systems for pollution and waste

Shared logistics, training centers, and compliance support The idea is to reduce the environmental impact per unit of production by enabling shared infrastructure, economies of scale, and centralized oversight—all while reducing the cost and burden of environmental management on individual firms.

Why India Needs Green Pharma Parks

The Indian biopharma sector is highly fragmented, with many small and medium firms operating in semi-urban or peri-urban areas without adequate access to waste treatment or energy-efficient systems. These limitations result in:

Non-compliance with national and international environmental norms

Increased operational costs due to duplicate systems

Inefficient use of land, water, and energy

Public health risks in surrounding communities As environmental audits and ESG expectations become stricter globally, Indian manufacturers need infrastructure that allows them to scale up responsibly. Green Pharma Parks serve as enablers of this transition, helping companies embed sustainability into their operations from day one.

Key Components of a Green Pharma Park

1. Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP)

The CETP forms the environmental backbone of the park. It treats wastewater from all units using:

Physical, chemical, and biological processes

Membrane technologies for micropollutants

Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) systems for water reuse Centralized treatment ensures consistent compliance, reduced costs, and better water stewardship.

2. Renewable Energy Integration

Green parks incorporate rooftop solar systems, wind turbines, and bioenergy plants to power common facilities. Energy-efficient lighting, HVAC systems, and grid-interactive meters further reduce the carbon footprint.

3. Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Units

The park includes zones for safe segregation, storage, and pre-treatment of solid and hazardous waste. These units work in tandem with certified vendors for final disposal or co-processing, reducing illegal dumping risks.

4. Digital Infrastructure

IoT devices, SCADA systems, and cloud-based dashboards track:

Effluent quality and flow

Air emissions

Energy and water use

Real-time compliance metrics This digital ecosystem simplifies audits and promotes transparency.

5. Green Buildings and Landscaping

Park layouts follow green building norms (LEED, IGBC), featuring:

Natural ventilation and daylighting

Rainwater harvesting and pervious pavements

Green belts and buffer zones to reduce noise and air pollution

Policy Support for Green Pharma Parks

Recognizing their potential, Indian policymakers are now encouraging green cluster development through:

Capital subsidies for environmental infrastructure

Faster approvals for green-certified zones

Inclusion in national programs like Bulk Drug Parks and Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes

State-level industrial promotion policies with green incentives However, to scale effectively, clear guidelines are needed for:

Park layout standards

Minimum environmental benchmarks

Monitoring and enforcement frameworks

Land use and ecological impact assessments

Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat Alignment

Green Pharma Parks fit perfectly into India’s vision of industrial excellence under Make in India. They help domestic manufacturers meet international environmental expectations while boosting output and employment. These parks also support Atmanirbhar Bharat by:

Reducing reliance on imported waste technologies

Encouraging indigenous R&D in green infrastructure

Creating local jobs in environmental services, waste management, and monitoring

Strengthening rural-urban linkages through cleaner industrialization The study emphasizes the need for centralized, eco-friendly solutions that lower compliance barriers and improve systemic efficiency. Green Pharma Parks address exactly this need by bringing structure to sustainability.

Economic and Environmental Benefits

1. Cost Efficiency

Shared utilities significantly lower per-unit costs of waste treatment, energy use, and compliance monitoring. Smaller firms that might otherwise struggle with environmental investment can thrive within this infrastructure.

2. Enhanced Global Competitiveness

Export-oriented firms gain a marketing advantage by operating from green-certified facilities. They are also better positioned to meet buyer requirements on ESG disclosures.

3. Regulatory Ease

Pre-installed systems mean faster compliance approvals and fewer regulatory hurdles for individual companies. Park-level audits further reduce inspection frequency at unit level.

4. Innovation Ecosystem

By co-locating labs, R&D centers, and training facilities, these parks foster cross-pollination of ideas, leading to innovation in green chemistry, biotech processes, and low-waste manufacturing.

5. Community Health and Acceptance

By reducing pollution risks, parks improve local air and water quality, making them more socially acceptable and reducing litigation from affected communities.

Challenges to Green Pharma Park Development

1. High Capital Investment

Building CETPs, green utilities, and digital monitoring systems requires substantial upfront investment. While costs are shared, initial funding models need clarity and support.

2. Coordination Across Stakeholders

Developers, regulators, utility providers, and tenants must collaborate seamlessly. Delays or disputes in one area can stall the entire ecosystem.

3. Land Acquisition and Zoning

Finding large, ecologically appropriate tracts of land near skilled labor hubs can be difficult. Proper environmental impact assessments and community engagement are critical.

4. Skill Gaps

Operating advanced green infrastructure requires skilled personnel. Dedicated training programs and partnerships with technical institutions are essential.

Recommendations for Scaling Green Pharma Parks

To accelerate the development and effectiveness of Green Pharma Parks, India should consider:

Creating a national Green Pharma Park policy with clear standards

Offering viability gap funding and green bonds for infrastructure

Developing a certification system for green clusters

Setting up park-level ESG performance dashboards

Mandating skill certification for park managers and environmental officers Such systemic support would enable faster, more uniform adoption and reduce the burden on individual firms.

Global Examples and Learnings

India can learn from international models like:

China’s National Green Manufacturing Demonstration Zones

Germany’s Chemical Parks with integrated utilities and waste treatment

Singapore’s Tuas Biomedical Park with green energy and logistics Adapting these frameworks to India’s context will require balancing cost, capacity, and compliance.

The Road Ahead

As India aims to become the pharmacy of the world, infrastructure must keep pace with ambition. Green Pharma Parks are not just industrial estates—they are innovation platforms that fuse environmental responsibility with economic opportunity. Their success will depend on visionary planning, sustained investment, and agile governance.

Summary

Green Pharma Parks represent the next frontier in India’s biopharma journey—a synthesis of industrial growth and environmental stewardship. As seen in the study, centralized and eco-integrated waste management systems offer a compelling alternative to fragmented, decentralized approaches. These parks support the goals of Make in India by improving global market readiness and of Atmanirbhar Bharat by building local capacity and innovation. With the right policy push and industry commitment, Green Pharma Parks can become the standard model for sustainable manufacturing across India’s pharmaceutical landscape.

???? Bibliography (APA Style)

Pringle, I., Dadwal, N., & Kumar, A. (2024). A questionnaire-based study on industrial waste management in Indian biopharmaceutical industries. Environment Conservation Journal, 25(4), 972–978. https://doi.org/10.36953/ECJ.28502884