I have always believed that the real power of business lies in sustainable growth. This conviction has guided me through every partnership, project, and strategic decision I have made. As the CEO of Aura Health, a company that collaborates with pharmaceutical and life sciences organizations to develop and commercialize digital health solutions, I am keenly aware of how innovation can transform patient care and drive global progress.

Yet, in the same breath, I also realize that we cannot focus on progress without considering the environmental footprint we leave behind.

My wake-up call arrived when I closely followed the discussions at Swiss Medtech’s National Regulatory Conference on 17 October 2024. The event made it abundantly clear that climate protection and decarbonization are not optional objectives. They have become critical factors that influence market access and long-term sustainability in healthcare and beyond. Although my company does not manufacture physical devices, we still have a responsibility to understand the broader industry push toward net-zero emissions. Our digital health projects might seem intangible, but the servers, data centers, and logistical structures that support these services can have their carbon footprints.

This is where I see a real opportunity. Our focus on digital health means we have fewer direct emissions from factories or raw materials than companies that produce medical equipment. As technology still consumes energy, many of our life science partners have begun evaluating the environmental impact of every vendor in their network. If we are to maintain our standing as a trusted partner, we must show how we are reducing our emissions and supporting the broader shift toward sustainability.

This includes strategic choices—such as selecting eco-efficient cloud computing platforms and implementing green coding practices that reduce energy usage. Although these changes may appear small at first, they add up significantly when integrated across the entire pharmaceutical and life sciences ecosystem.

I have often told my team, “Building a sustainable ecosystem is not just about meeting regulatory requirements; it’s about demonstrating leadership in a field that impacts millions of lives.” Whether we are assisting a pharma partner with real-time remote patient monitoring or helping them streamline data analytics for clinical trials, we look for ways to reduce waste and optimize resources. For instance, one of our recent collaborations involved migrating a partner’s data processing from an outdated local server system to a cloud-based environment powered by renewable energy. This transition cut their data center emissions nearly in half while significantly improving speed and efficiency. Moments like these remind me that addressing climate concerns often leads to better processes overall.

Of course, the regulatory landscape is growing increasingly complex. The European Climate Law (Regulation (EU) 2021/1119) sets ambitious targets for climate neutrality by 2050, and the European Green Deal outlines a plan to reshape entire industries in a greener, more sustainable way. Meanwhile, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD, Directive (EU) 2022/2464) obliges organizations to provide transparent, standardized disclosures about their environmental impact. Though my company does not manufacture tangible devices, our partnerships place us firmly within the medical technology and life sciences supply chain—and that means these new rules and expectations apply to us as well.

From my perspective, the forthcoming Industry Roadmap to Decarbonisation that Swiss Medtech plans to release by mid-2025 will be a valuable guide for everyone—from large manufacturers to digital health service providers like us. While the medical technology field often focuses on complex regulatory frameworks for medical devices, this roadmap can provide insights into how all medtech stakeholders can measure, reduce, and eventually eliminate carbon emissions. By sharing our best practices, we can make a sustainable ecosystem more accessible for everyone in the industry, regardless of whether they are making a physical device or offering a digital solution.

When people ask me why I am so passionate about this topic, my response is straightforward: “We cannot build innovative health solutions for the next generation if we fail to protect the environment in which that generation will live.”

Every step we take to green our operations—whether by optimizing code, choosing data centers powered by renewable energy, or encouraging our partners to do the same—brings us closer to a future where healthcare innovation thrives without compromising the planet. While I recognize that the road ahead may involve a steep learning curve, I am convinced that our collective efforts can reshape the industry for the better.

In the world of digital health, where fast-paced breakthroughs can sometimes overshadow broader environmental responsibilities, I am committed to steering my company toward a more balanced sustainable approach. With the support of forward-thinking partners, a well-informed workforce, and increasingly robust regulations, I see a bright future for truly sustainable healthcare technologies. By embracing decarbonization as a personal mission for growth, we will leave a legacy that benefits not just our clients or our bottom line, but also our patients, our communities, and our shared planet.

A personal mission for sustainable growth in the MedTech industry

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