Pharmaceuticals play a crucial role in healthcare. However, their use also has significant environmental impacts. In Germany and globally, pharmaceutical residues enter the environment, particularly water bodies, and affect ecosystems as well as water quality. A possible approach to addressing this issue is the introduction of an environmental information and classification system for pharmaceuticals. Such a system is a systematic database or list that contains information about pharmaceuticals and assists doctors, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals in reviewing, prescribing, or recommending medications based on their environmental properties and other relevant information.

The research project “Feasibility Study on the Establishment of an Environmental Information and Classification System for Pharmaceuticals in Germany”, led by Ecologic Institute, developed a concept for an environmental information and classification system for Germany and conducted a feasibility analysis for this concept, evaluating organizational, technical, legal, financial and political feasibility. (Further information on the project can be found in the project article “Feasibility Study on the Establishment of an Environmental Information and Classification System for Pharmaceuticals in Germany”).

The project results were presented to a wide range of interested parties at a final presentation held at the beginning of March 2025. Over 110 participants, including representatives from the pharmaceutical industry, health insurance companies, doctors, pharmacists and environmental authorities, took part in the online event.

The agenda of the event and the presentation slides (in German) are available below for download.

• Veranstaltungsagenda
• Vidaurre (Ecologic Institut) – Zielsetzung Veranstaltung
• Hein (UBA) – Hintergrund zum Projekt
• Vidaurre (Ecologic Institut) – Drei Säulen, Konzept Informationssystem
• Woitaske-Proske (CAU) + Hein (UBA) – Konzept Klassifikationssystem
• Heni (Ecologic Institut) – Konzept Vermittlungssystem
• Woitaske-Proske (CAU) – Wirksamkeitsanalyse, Machbarkeit technisch und organisatorisch
• Prof. Gassner – Machbarkeit rechtlich
• Vidaurre (Ecologic Institut) – Machbarkeit finanziell
• Heni (Ecologic Institut) – Machbarkeit politisch
• Hein (UBA) – Ausblick