The environmental price tag of medications: Pharmacists’ perspective on the medication life cycle

Abstract

Climate change is a critical global health threat, expected to cause an additional 250,000 deaths annually and costing up to $4 billion/y by 2030. Health care contributes 8.5% of the United States’ total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, of which 20% are from pharmaceuticals and chemicals, the largest of any category. This article describes the cradle-to-grave pharmaceutical life cycle to bring awareness to the environmental impacts and inform decisions about medication management. A cradle-to-grave medication life cycle assessment evaluates the environmental impact through all stages—sourcing raw materials, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, prescribing and use, and disposal—including resource consumption, GHG emission, and ecotoxicity. Each stage of the life cycle has a pronounced impact on the environment. Opportunities for pharmacy professionals to mitigate these effects include the following: (1) educate (learn about the environmental impacts of medications), (2) act (select medications with lower environmental impact and implement sustainable operational practices), and (3) advocate (encourage the pharmaceutical industry to offer greener alternatives and provide more accessible and transparent data on pharmaceutical production). Through these actions, pharmacy professionals can mitigate the harmful effects of climate change and contribute to optimal patient care for their patients and the public.