Understanding the environmental impact of the pharmaceutical industry

The Pharmaceutical Industry’s Environmental Impact 

On a global scale, the healthcare market is anticipated to reach $83.4 billion USD by 2025, while the prescription medicines sector is forecasted to escalate to $1,562.1 billion by 2026. Simultaneously, environmental issues like air, water, and land pollution, extreme temperatures, antibiotic resistance, and plastic waste are linked to health consequences, contributing to healthcare expenditures estimated at around $800 million annually in the US alone, thereby perpetuating a detrimental cycle. 

Waste Disposal 

Roughly 85% of the waste produced by healthcare activities is non-hazardous, like household waste, while the remaining 15% is classified as hazardous material — including infectious, chemical, or radioactive waste. 

However, in low-income countries, healthcare waste is often not properly separated into hazardous and non-hazardous categories, leading to potentially higher quantities of hazardous waste. 

Specifically, pharmaceutical companies generate a substantial amount of waste during the production process. This waste includes unused or expired medications, chemicals, and packaging materials. Improper disposal of pharmaceutical waste can contaminate water bodies and soil, posing a threat to ecosystems and human health. 

For instance, approximately 16 billion injections are administered globally each year, yet not all needles, syringes, and associated packaging are disposed of properly afterward. 

Moreover, there tends to be a concentration of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and finalized-dose antibiotics in specific regions. This consolidation results in elevated pollution levels within these zones, impacting nearby vulnerable communities residing close to manufacturing sites and sewage treatment facilities. 

CO ₂ Emissions

The pharmaceutical industry is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane. The production, transportation, and storage of pharmaceutical products require energy, which often comes from fossil fuel sources. 

Research suggests that the pharmaceutical industry generates approximately 52 megatons of CO₂ annually, equivalent to the emissions produced by 11 million cars in a year. The pharmaceutical industry must reduce its emissions intensity by roughly 59% from 2015 to 2025 to align with the Paris Agreement objectives. Establishing clear targets to diminish emissions and achieve net zero will yield significant benefits for human health and companies. 

Plastic Usage 

The pharmaceutical industry relies heavily on plastic packaging for medications. This leads to a significant amount of plastic waste, which is known to have detrimental effects on the environment. Plastics take hundreds of years to decompose and can harm marine life and ecosystems when they end up in oceans and landfills. 

Each year, the pharmaceutical industry is estimated to generate over 300 million tons of plastic waste, 50% of which is designed for single-use purposes. Because 85% of the waste generated by healthcare operations, including pharmaceutical and medical equipment packaging, is non-hazardous, there is a considerable potential to replace these items with eco-friendly and reusable alternatives, leading to significant cost savings. 

Pollution

The pharmaceutical industry's manufacturing processes can release pollutants into the air, contributing to air pollution. These hazardous pollutants include volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulate matter, per- and polyfluroralky substances (PFAS), methylene chloride, methanol, toluene, and hydrogen chloride, among others, adversely affecting air quality and human health. 

The presence of persistent pharmaceutical pollutants in the environment also adds another layer of complexity. These compounds — including certain antibiotics, hormones, anti-inflammatory medications, anti-depressants, and chemotherapy drugs — are engineered to resist degradation, persisting in the environment long after their intended use.  

Their release into ecosystems can directly impact non-target organisms, disrupt wildlife habitats, and even contribute to antimicrobial resistance, posing significant environmental and public health challenges.

Water Consumption 

The pharmaceutical and biotech industries heavily rely on water, especially purified sterile water, for processing, as their products are intended for human consumption. Biologics manufacturing is particularly water-intensive due to the need for controlled aqueous mediums in microbial and mammalian cell cultures. Water availability and quality are critical factors in determining plant location and growth.  

Water is also essential for downstream processing, formulation, and cleaning, with cleaning alone accounting for a significant portion of water usage in manufacturing plants. Considering the energy and costs associated with producing different grades of water, plant water requirements vary based on the final product's dosage form and purity requirements. This high water consumption can strain local water resources, especially in areas where water scarcity is already a concern. 

Although water quality requirements for oral products are less stringent than those for parenteral products, any interruptions in the water supply can severely impact production for all types of pharmaceutical manufacturers.  

Energy Consumption 

The pharmaceutical industry demands stringent environmental controls for production, including precise temperature, humidity, room pressurization, cleanliness, and containment. This high energy consumption contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and pressures global energy resources. 

For instance, laboratories, research facilities, and manufacturing sites rank among the highest energy consumers, surpassing office spaces by double or triple the typical energy usage. This energy intensity results in annual expenditures exceeding $1 billion and emissions surpassing those of the automotive industry by 55%.  

Antibiotic Resistance 

The introduction of antibiotics into the environment, particularly during production, can accelerate the emergence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens. This trend poses a significant risk to public health, undermining the efficacy of antibiotics in combatting infections. Experts predict this resistance could result in up to 10 million deaths annually by 2050.  

The WHO has flagged antibiotic resistance as a major global health threat that is primarily driven by drug misuse and overuse.

In a 2022 Lancet study, researchers underscored the magnitude of antibiotic resistance, attributing nearly 5 million deaths to antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections in 2019 alone. The Lancet study reveals that drug-resistant bacteria are most prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, regions with high pharmaceutical pollution levels. Bangladesh's river exhibited the highest antibiotic pollution, with metronidazole levels surpassing safe limits by 300 times, while ciprofloxacin levels exceeded safety thresholds in 64 rivers. 

Reducing the Industry’s Environmental Impact 

Sustainable manufacturing methods, effective waste management, adopting sustainable packaging, water conservation efforts, and collaborative regulatory measures all serve as strategies to reduce the pharmaceutical industry's environmental impact. 

Green Manufacturing Practices 

The pharmaceutical industry is increasingly adopting several green manufacturing processes to reduce its environmental impact. These include green chemistry, waste minimization, energy efficiency, sustainable sourcing, green packaging, extended producer responsibility (EPR), collaboration, and information sharing. These initiatives aim to optimize production processes, reduce waste generation, lower energy consumption, promote responsible sourcing, adopt eco-friendly packaging, take responsibility for product lifecycles, and foster stakeholder collaboration.  

By embracing green manufacturing practices, pharmaceutical companies can mitigate their environmental footprint while ensuring global access to essential medications.  

Waste Management

Proper disposal and management of pharmaceutical waste are essential to prevent environmental contamination. Improper disposal of healthcare waste in landfills can contaminate water sources if the landfills lack proper construction. Chemical disinfection of healthcare waste can release harmful substances into the environment if not managed correctly.  

Companies should implement effective waste management strategies, such as recycling, incineration, or safe disposal methods, to minimize the release of harmful substances into the environment. 

While widely practiced, incineration can lead to air pollution and the spreading of toxic substances if not carried out properly, particularly if operated below 850 °C. Only modern incinerators meeting specific temperature (850–1100 °C) and emission standards can mitigate these risks. Alternatives to incineration, such as autoclaving or microwaving, should be considered where resources allow operation and maintenance. 

Sustainable Packaging 

The expanding roster of pharmaceutical drug candidates has inadvertently fueled an uptick in the demand for product packaging solutions. Furthermore, the gradual transition of the healthcare industry from a one-size-fits-all treatment model to a personalized approach, alongside the increasing complexities of modern pharmacological interventions, has compelled packaging providers to seek innovative solutions.  

Given that packaging materials come into direct contact with drugs, it's crucial to ensure they don't compromise the sterility and quality of the product. Additionally, packaging serves as a vital source of information, including dosing instructions. Presently, most healthcare packaging relies on plastic, which is known to have adverse environmental impacts. 

In recent years, healthcare stakeholders have actively pursued replacing conventional packaging with sustainable, biodegradable, and recyclable alternatives to mitigate environmental impact. Circular economy principles are also being adopted within the healthcare packaging industry to promote sustainability across supply chains. Sustainable solutions currently represent 10–25% of primary pharmaceutical packaging, with many companies developing novel options such as plant-based packaging made from corn starch, sugarcane, and cassava.  

Greener packaging solutions can expand the customer base, reflecting the growing environmental consciousness among individuals, as evidenced by surveys showing willingness to pay extra for eco-friendly packaging.  

Over 50 companies offer sustainable packaging solutions to the healthcare sector, with substantial merger and acquisition activity observed as players aim to provide comprehensive solutions. With ongoing innovation, increased drug approvals, and heightened awareness of plastic's harmful effects, the sustainable packaging market is poised for positive growth in the foreseeable future. 

Exploring eco-friendly alternative packaging materials can help reduce the environmental impact of plastic waste. Additionally, optimizing packaging sizes and reducing unnecessary packaging can further minimize the use of resources and waste generation. 

Water Conservation 

Implementing water conservation measures, such as recycling, minimizing water usage, and reusing water in manufacturing processes, can help reduce the pharmaceutical industry's water footprint. Companies can also invest in wastewater treatment technologies to ensure that pharmaceutical waste is adequately treated before being discharged into water bodies. 

For example, Novartis has pledged to halve its water consumption in operational activities by 2025, ensuring that manufacturing effluents have no adverse impact on water quality. Furthermore, the company aims to achieve water neutrality in its operations by 2030 while simultaneously improving water quality in all the regions where it operates. 

Collaboration and Regulation 

Collaboration between pharmaceutical companies, regulatory bodies, and healthcare technology providers is crucial in addressing the industry's environmental impact. Governments can establish and enforce environmental regulations, while healthcare technology providers can develop innovative solutions to monitor and mitigate the environmental impact of pharmaceutical production and distribution. 

In addition to collaboration and regulation, fostering transparency and accountability within the pharmaceutical industry is essential. Companies should prioritize disclosing their environmental impact and progress toward sustainability goals to stakeholders, including investors, consumers, and regulatory bodies. By promoting transparency, the industry can build trust and credibility while encouraging peer-to-peer learning and best practice sharing.  

Establishing industry-wide standards and certifications for sustainable practices can provide clear guidelines and benchmarks for companies to follow, facilitating a collective effort toward environmental stewardship. Through transparent reporting and adherence to rigorous standards, the pharmaceutical industry can demonstrate its commitment to environmental responsibility and drive positive change across the healthcare sector. 

While the pharmaceutical industry plays a vital role in advancing global health through the development of life-saving medications, it is important to acknowledge and address its significant environmental impact. The industry's exponential growth, coupled with increasing healthcare expenditures and environmental degradation, underscores the urgent need for sustainable practices.  

By adopting green manufacturing methods, effective waste management strategies, sustainable packaging solutions, water conservation efforts, and collaborative regulatory measures, pharmaceutical companies can mitigate their environmental footprint while ensuring continued access to essential medications. Through concerted efforts and collective action, the healthcare sector can strive toward a more sustainable future, safeguarding both human health and environmental integrity.