Sustainable Clinical Trials Through eClinical Innovation

By Henk Dieteren, Clinical Trial Supply Consultant, Suvoda

Clinical trials are essential to advancing medicine, yet they carry significant environmental costs. In 2021 alone, more than 350,000 trials produced an estimated 27.5 million tons of CO2e—equivalent to the annual emissions of 6.4 million U.S. passenger cars. Major contributors include drug waste, transportation, and patient travel. Studies show that 43% of trial emissions stem from drug products, with up to 70% of packaged kits never reaching patients due to static allocation models. This inefficiency not only drives emissions but also risks drug shortages and trial delays. Transportation and patient visits further add to the burden; one UK study found trial-related travel accounted for 80% of emissions, with patients traveling more than 30 times farther than for routine care.

eClinical technologies offer a pathway to more sustainable research. Modern IRT systems use predictive analytics and dynamic drug pooling to optimize supply chains, cutting waste and reducing manufacturing needs. Decentralized and hybrid trial models supported by solutions like eConsent, eCOA, and mobile apps can reduce patient travel by up to 60%, lowering emissions while improving patient convenience. With pharmaceutical leaders committing to net-zero goals and initiatives like the SMI Health Systems Task Force advancing measurement standards, sustainability is becoming integral to trial design. Unified eClinical platforms such as Suvoda’s demonstrate how operational efficiency and environmental responsibility can align to accelerate both innovation and sustainability in clinical research.