Green pharmacy: sustainability begins behind the counter
Sustainability has long ceased to be a purely marketing topic. Pharmacies too increasingly have a responsibility to take the ecological, economic and social aspects of what they do into account — from the proper disposal of medicines and the reduction of packaging material to energy-efficient operations. So-called “green pharmacy” is developing into an important issue for the future of the Swiss pharmacy landscape. But which measures are actually effective, and what role can pharmacists take on?
Key points
- Pharmacies make an important contribution to environmental protection through the proper take-back and disposal of medicines.
- Reducing packaging, digitalisation and energy-efficient infrastructure lower costs and resource consumption.
- Alongside ecological aspects, green pharmacy also covers social ones such as staff development and securing skilled personnel.
- Sustainable counselling helps reduce waste of medicines and makes health care more efficient in the long term.
Sustainability becomes a competitive factor
Worldwide, the health sector causes an estimated 4.4 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions. If global health care were regarded as a country, it would be the fifth largest emitter in the world¹. The discussion is gaining importance in Switzerland too: according to the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), residues of medicines in water bodies continue to represent a relevant environmental burden².
Pharmacies occupy a particular position here. On the one hand they are part of health care provision, on the other they are important interfaces between industry, patients and disposal systems. That gives them a direct lever for promoting sustainable behaviour.
Medicine disposal: an underestimated environmental task
Many patients still do not know that medicines should never be disposed of via the sink or the toilet. Residues of analgesics, antibiotics or hormones thereby reach water bodies, where they can affect organisms.
In Switzerland, pharmacies have therefore played a central role in taking back old medicines for years. Through proper collection and thermal disposal, potentially harmful substances are removed from the water cycle.
Antibiotics are particularly relevant here. Studies show that medicine residues can contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant germs³. Counselling on correct disposal is therefore not only environmental protection but also a contribution to public health.
Reducing packaging: small steps with a large effect
An often overlooked area is packaging consumption in pharmacies. Shipping cartons, plastic bags, single-use carrier bags or additional outer packaging generate considerable amounts of waste.
Many Swiss pharmacies are therefore increasingly turning to:
- paper carrier bags made from recycled material
- reusable transport boxes for care homes and nursing institutions
- digital rather than printed customer information
- electronic receipts and invoices
- optimised stockholding to avoid expiry and destruction
Digital receipts and information materials in particular can substantially reduce paper consumption without impairing the quality of counselling.
Energy efficiency in the pharmacy
Energy consumption also offers potential. Refrigeration units for medicines, lighting, ventilation and IT infrastructure account for a considerable share of operating costs.
Modern LED lighting reduces electricity consumption by up to 80 per cent compared with conventional light sources⁴. At the same time, intelligent cooling systems and automated temperature monitoring can save energy and increase medicine safety.
More and more pharmacies also integrate sustainability criteria when refurbishing or opening new premises:
- use of energy-efficient equipment
- use of electricity from renewable sources
- heat recovery
- sustainable building materials
- optimised logistics routes
Such investments not only have a positive effect on the environment; in the long run they also reduce operating costs.
Social sustainability is part of it
Green pharmacy covers more than ecological aspects. Social responsibility is also part of the idea of sustainability.
That includes:
- fair working conditions
- health promotion for staff
- reconciliation of work and family
- continuous training
- support for the next generation of pharmacists
Given the growing skills shortage, employer attractiveness in particular is gaining importance. Sustainability thus also becomes an instrument of staff retention.
The next stage: sustainable health care
International professional societies increasingly speak of sustainable health care. This is not only about reducing the ecological footprint, but also about the efficient use of resources.
Pharmacists can make an important contribution here:
- avoiding unnecessary dispensing of medicines
- promoting adherence to therapy
- counselling on correct use and storage
- supporting prevention and health promotion
- avoiding waste of medicines
Every misuse avoided and every pack not destroyed saves resources along the entire value chain, from production to disposal.
In brief
Sustainability in the pharmacy means far more than recycling or paperless processes. Green pharmacy combines environmental responsibility, economic efficiency and social commitment. Swiss pharmacies in particular have numerous opportunities to reduce their ecological footprint while strengthening their role as modern health care providers. The future of sustainable health care does not begin in politics and industry. It begins every day at the pharmacy counter.
References
- Health Care Without Harm. Health Care’s Climate Footprint – How the Health Sector Contributes to the Global Climate Crisis and Opportunities for Action. 2019.
- Bundesamt für Umwelt (BAFU). Mikroverunreinigungen in Schweizer Gewässern – Massnahmen und Herausforderungen. Bern.
- World Health Organization (WHO). Antimicrobial Resistance and the Environment. Genf, aktuelle Fachberichte.
- International Energy Agency. Energy Efficiency 2024 – Lighting Sector Analysis.