Lupin to pioneer eco-friendly inhalers in India with Honeywell’s Solstice air propellant

In a major step toward decarbonising pharmaceutical delivery systems, Lupin Limited has announced a breakthrough partnership with Honeywell to integrate the latter’s next-generation propellant, Solstice® Air, into its respiratory inhalers. The announcement, made jointly from New Delhi and Mumbai on May 20, 2025, positions Lupin to become the first Indian pharmaceutical manufacturer to adopt Solstice Air at commercial scale in pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs). This move is aimed at significantly lowering greenhouse gas emissions associated with respiratory therapy, while enhancing patient access to modern, environmentally conscious treatment options for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The collaboration signifies a key alignment between sustainable healthcare and industrial innovation, leveraging Honeywell’s proprietary hydrofluoroolefin (HFO-1234ze cGMP) technology. Solstice Air, developed to replace traditional hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)-based propellants in inhalers, offers a near-zero global warming potential (GWP) while maintaining efficacy and safety for patients. As demand for climate-responsible pharma solutions rises globally, this tie-up sets a new benchmark in the Indian respiratory medicine space.

What Makes Solstice® Air a Game Changer in Respiratory Care?

The defining feature of Honeywell’s Solstice Air is its exceptionally low environmental footprint. Classified as HFO-1234ze cGMP, the compound is non-flammable, non-ozone-depleting, and has a GWP of less than one, according to comparative environmental studies. For context, this represents a reduction of up to 99.9% in emissions when compared to legacy HFC propellants like HFA-134a and HFA-227ea, widely used in conventional pMDIs.

Lupin’s interest in adopting this propellant technology stems not just from environmental pressures, but also from evolving regulatory frameworks in Europe and the United States. These regions are actively pushing for pharma companies to adopt low-GWP technologies in accordance with global climate commitments under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. As environmental considerations become increasingly central to pharmaceutical product development, Solstice Air offers Lupin a timely competitive edge.

Why Is India’s First Commercial Use of Solstice Air Significant?

The integration of Solstice Air into Lupin’s production at scale is not just a symbolic win for India‘s pharmaceutical sector but a practical demonstration of global leadership in sustainable healthcare. As one of the top five pharmaceutical producers globally by volume, India has long been under pressure to align its industrial growth with climate-resilient practices. By becoming the first Indian company to integrate Solstice Air in its inhaler portfolio, Lupin is aligning with net-zero ambitions and preparing for future compliance requirements from international buyers and regulators.

CEO Vinita Gupta highlighted this strategic pivot as part of Lupin’s broader sustainability vision. She noted that the company’s mission includes not just delivering high-quality medications but doing so in a manner that promotes planetary health. Gupta pointed out that adopting Honeywell’s eco-friendly propellant technology reflects Lupin’s commitment to providing both therapeutic efficacy and climate responsibility in a single solution.

How Does the Partnership Advance Honeywell’s Clean Tech Mission?

From Honeywell’s perspective, the partnership with Lupin underscores its expanding role in the healthcare and life sciences segment. Traditionally known for its work in aerospace, industrial systems, and building automation, Honeywell has steadily grown its sustainability-oriented portfolio through its Energy and Sustainability Solutions business unit. The adoption of Solstice Air in India marks a new frontier in its mission to reduce the carbon footprint across critical industries.

Jeff Dormo, president at Honeywell’s Energy and Sustainability Solutions division, stated that the collaboration is a milestone in the company’s broader efforts to blend industrial innovation with healthcare outcomes. He noted that technologies like Solstice Air exemplify Honeywell’s commitment to developing safer, cleaner alternatives that don’t compromise on product integrity or therapeutic value.

What Are the Market and Regulatory Drivers Behind the Collaboration?

Globally, environmental sustainability is no longer optional for pharmaceutical manufacturers. The European Medicines Agency (EMA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have all issued guidance and expectations for the industry to transition toward low-emission alternatives. Pharmaceutical-grade HFOs like Solstice Air are now seen as critical to ensuring long-term compliance with emission control norms, particularly for products like inhalers that have a direct atmospheric discharge profile.

The Indian government, too, has been tightening its climate commitments through its National Action Plan on Climate Change and active participation in global environmental accords. For Indian pharma exporters like Lupin, which derive a significant portion of their revenues from international markets, pre-emptive adoption of green technologies is both a strategic and regulatory imperative.

Could This Trigger a Broader Shift in the Inhaler Industry?

The implications of this move extend beyond Lupin. The adoption of Solstice Air by one of India’s largest respiratory pharma companies could encourage other Indian and global players to follow suit, especially as sustainability pressures escalate from both regulators and consumers. With the global inhaler market projected to exceed $40 billion by 2030, according to industry analysts, the sector faces a dual challenge—meeting therapeutic demand while complying with emission reduction goals.

Pharmaceutical companies may increasingly be evaluated not just on drug efficacy but on their environmental footprint. This joint initiative between Lupin and Honeywell may serve as a catalyst for future collaborations across the industry, accelerating the transition from traditional propellants to next-generation climate-smart alternatives.

What Happens Next in the Lupin–Honeywell Collaboration?

While the announcement marks a significant milestone, it also clarifies that the final terms of the agreement are still subject to negotiation and formal documentation. Both companies are reportedly working on finalising definitive commercial agreements that will pave the way for a full-scale rollout of the new inhalers.

Operational implementation is likely to involve technology transfer, formulation adaptation, regulatory submissions, and potentially retrofitting of manufacturing lines. Given Lupin’s 15 global manufacturing facilities and seven R&D centres, the company appears well-equipped to integrate and scale the new propellant technology once contractual terms are formalised.

Reimagining Respiratory Health Through Climate-Conscious Innovation

The collaboration between Lupin and Honeywell represents a rare convergence of pharmaceutical science, environmental stewardship, and global industrial innovation. By taking a lead in deploying low-GWP propellants in pMDIs, Lupin is reimagining the future of respiratory healthcare in a way that addresses both clinical and environmental needs. With global warming and air quality now deeply intertwined with human health, such initiatives underscore the rising importance of sustainability in medical innovation.

As healthcare systems worldwide grapple with balancing therapeutic efficacy and climate responsibility, partnerships like this may become the new blueprint for pharmaceutical product development—prioritising both patient outcomes and planetary wellbeing. Lupin’s leap into green inhalers may well mark the beginning of a broader pharmaceutical pivot toward net-zero healthcare.