Photo by Roberto Sorin on Unsplash
When you visit your local drugstore to pick up medication, you likely aren’t giving much thought to how those drugs were produced or the impact that pharmaceutical manufacturing has on the environment. However, it might be time to start, especially when you learn that the C02 emissions of pharmaceutical companies are greater than those of the car industry. From extensive water pollution to high energy consumption and biodiversity loss, the impact is higher than you think.
Water Pollution and Ecosystem Damage
You may start exploring greener alternatives to pain relief pills, such as chiropractic care through thejoint.com, nature-based therapy, and dietary changes, when you realize that pharmaceutical companies are contributing to water pollution and ecosystem damage.
Research shows that pharmaceuticals entering the environment via pathways such as wastewater discharge and runoff are harming aquatic ecosystems, including fish and other animal populations.
For example, common drugs like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs negatively impact the organ functions of aquatic organisms. They also cause cytotoxic and genotoxic damage, defined as the destruction of cells and genetic information. High oxidative cell stress and detrimental effects on behavior, growth, and reproduction are also serious concerns.
When endocrine-disrupting chemicals enter waterways, they disrupt reproductive physiology, reducing reproductive rates and, in some cases, causing male fish to develop female characteristics.
High Carbon Footprint
It’s easy to assume that the automotive industry has one of the highest carbon footprints, but the pharmaceutical industry is even higher. A number of factors contribute to their carbon footprint, including energy-intensive production, complex supply chains and logistics, and waste generation.
Of the 1.47 billion tons of solid waste produced annually, 5.9 million tons are estimated to come from healthcare, including hazardous chemical byproducts, single-use plastics, unused, expired, improperly disposed medications, and general healthcare waste.
Rising demand has also contributed to the industry’s high carbon footprint, with increasing global expenditure resulting in a 77% increase in the industry’s greenhouse gas emissions between 1995 and 2019.
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) refers to microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites, evolving to survive medicines designed to kill them, including antibiotics and antivirals. As a result, illnesses are harder to treat, posing a major global health threat.
While AMR is primarily caused by the misuse and overuse of antimicrobial medicines in humans, animals, and agriculture, manufacturing processes also contribute to it. Uncontrolled discharges from manufacturing, particularly in areas with less-developed infrastructure, are contributing to the emergence of resistant bacteria.
This can occur in several ways, such as low antibiotic concentrations that result in the selective survival of resistant bacteria. Moreover, resistant bacteria from manufacturing effluents can enter surface water, soil, and groundwater, reaching irrigated crops, drinking water, and livestock and fish that are exposed to contaminated water.
Resource Intensity
Resource intensity in the pharmaceutical industry refers to the extent to which resources are used in the manufacture of pharmaceutical products. It’s characterized by high spending on research and development, high energy consumption in manufacturing, and a significant environmental footprint.
In terms of the environmental footprint, the industry accounts for approximately 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Active pharmaceutical ingredient production is the primary source of environmental impact, accounting for 96% of the carbon footprint and 93% of the resource footprint, driven by energy use and materials.
A lesser-considered aspect of resource intensity is supply chain and logistics. Of the health system’s total emissions, supply chains account for 79%. Cold-chain logistics for temperature-sensitive goods, in particular, increase energy use.
How Pharmaceutical Companies Can Make a Difference
We can all do more to reduce our environmental footprint, and pharmaceutical companies are no different. They can significantly reduce their impact on the environment in the following ways:
- Investing in solar energy and switching to solar, wind, and energy-efficient HVAC systems
- Using electric vehicles to optimize distribution networks and minimize emissions
- Localizing manufacturing to reduce transport-related emissions
- Using safe chemical alternatives to reduce hazardous solvents
- Implementing continuous manufacturing, which involves a 24/7 flow of raw materials to finished goods, to reduce waste and increase efficiency
- Minimizing water usage and improving wastewater treatment to prevent pollution
- Using recyclable materials in packaging
- Reducing excess packaging
- Implementing takeback programs for unused medications
- Develop heat-stable medicines to reduce the need for cold-chain transport
The environmental impact of the pharmaceutical industry is rarely discussed, but it’s significant. By implementing several impactful changes, such as switching to solar energy and using recyclable materials and safer chemical alternatives, pharmaceutical companies may be able to reduce the risk of antimicrobial resistance, lower their resource intensity, and reduce their carbon footprint.
