Case Study Spotlight: PAHO-GSK Collaboration for a Greener Health Supply Chain
Date postedOctober 30, 2025
Blog,
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has integrated sustainability into its procurement practices, emphasizing “best value for money” that includes technical specifications, quality, price, and sustainability. Following the impact of COVID-19, climate change emerged as a significant health threat, evidenced by a dramatic rise in dengue cases linked to rising temperatures. To combat this, PAHO is focusing on emissions reduction across its supply chain, particularly through its $1.2 billion procurement portfolio, which includes 3,000 annual shipments to 41 countries.
The PAHO Carbon Emission Reduction Project aims for a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions intensity factor by 2030. A strategic partnership with GSK has introduced innovative transportation methods, allowing vaccines to be shipped by sea while maintaining cold chain protocols, resulting in a 43% cost saving and 83% reduction in CO2 emissions for initial shipments. This groundbreaking approach sets a precedent for the pharmaceutical industry, demonstrating that sustainable solutions can be both effective and cost-efficient, encouraging broader collaboration and innovation in supply chain practices. Lessons learned emphasize that sustainability does not equate to higher costs and that effective partnerships with the private sector can yield significant benefits for health systems in resource-limited settings. Click here to read the full case study*
The PAHO Carbon Emission Reduction Project aims for a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions intensity factor by 2030. A strategic partnership with GSK has introduced innovative transportation methods, allowing vaccines to be shipped by sea while maintaining cold chain protocols, resulting in a 43% cost saving and 83% reduction in CO2 emissions for initial shipments. This groundbreaking approach sets a precedent for the pharmaceutical industry, demonstrating that sustainable solutions can be both effective and cost-efficient, encouraging broader collaboration and innovation in supply chain practices. Lessons learned emphasize that sustainability does not equate to higher costs and that effective partnerships with the private sector can yield significant benefits for health systems in resource-limited settings. Click here to read the full case study*
The PAHO-GSK case study was submitted to the 2025 SPLC Leadership Awards program, and was awarded the 2024 SPLC Leadership Award for Business Case. Visit the SPLC website for more information on the Leadership Awards Program.
*The Case Study Library is available to SPLC members only. If you are an employee of a member company but do not have a web account, please click here to create one.