Environmental Checklist for Prescribing and Dispensing Medications

Publication: Infographic
Citation: German Environment Agency, Ecologic Institute 2023: Environmental Checklist for Prescribing and Dispensing Medications. How can I, as a medical professional or pharmacist, contribute to reducing the input of pharmaceuticals into the environment? Infographic. Online: uba.de/hmp

Healthcare professionals increasingly want to ensure the best medical care, but also consider the environmental impact. To provide pharmacists and healthcare professionals with quick and effective information, core elements for environmentally friendly prescribing and dispensing practices have been compiled in a checklist.

The checklist offers structured suggestions on how to reduce the release of pharmaceutical substances into the environment. It has been published under a Creative Commons license (CC-BY 4.0) and can be shared and edited, provided the author is acknowledged.

We would be delighted if you could provide other interested people with access to this important information, and thus promote awareness of environmentally conscious prescribing and dispensing of medicines.

Environmentally oriented approaches to prescribing and dispensing medicines help to reduce the entry of pharmaceutical substances into the environment and ensure high-quality patient care at the same time.

Pharmaceuticals and the Environment: New Teaching and Informational Materials Now Available!

22 January 2025

Publication:Document

Slides of a presentation set titled "Environmental Aspects of Human Pharmaceuticals in Medical Practice." Subtitle: "Basic slide set with free materials for medical education."

Pharmaceuticals in the environment are a growing problem. The UBA Internet portal "Human Medicinal Products and the Environment" offers freely available, scientifically proven teaching materials for medical and pharmaceutical lecturers. With the basic set of slides and the accompanying texts, the topic can be taught comprehensively and practically despite tight curricula.

Umweltaspekte von Humanarzneimitteln in der medizinischen und pharmazeutischen Praxis

Basisfoliensatz und Begleittexte mit freien Materialien

Year 2024

Publication:Fact Sheet

Cover page of the information package 'Pharmaceuticals and the Environment' for pharmacies, published by the German Environment Agency. The page includes a message of thanks to pharmacists for their contribution to reducing the entry of pharmaceuticals into the environment. Below, an introduction to the topic highlights the three main sections of the information package.

Pharmacies are an obvious place for conversation about pharmaceuticals and their effects on people and the environment, as well as the disposal of unused products. The information package for pharmacies provides pharmacy staff with in-depth background information for such discussions.

Infopaket für Apotheken – Arzneimittel und Umwelt

Year 2024

Publication:Document

Pharmacies can order this decorative wall calendar free of charge and give it as a promotional gift to their customers. The calendar is designed as a year-independent birthday calendar in DIN A4. Each month, attractive, large photo motifs and short texts focus on a different aspect of pharmaceuticals and the environment.

Geburtstagskalender: Arzneimittel und Umwelt

Year 2024

Publication:Postcard

Bei der Anwendung arzneimittelhaltiger Cremes und Gels kann die ins Abwasser gelangende Arzneistoffmenge dadurch reduziert werden, dass man sich nach dem Auftragen zunächst die Hände mit einem Papiertuch abwischt, das im Hausmüll entsorgt wird, und erst dann die Hände wäscht. Deshalb wurde zu diesem Thema eine deutschsprachige Postkarte in DIN A6 (10 x 15 cm) entwickelt, die der Kundschaft bei Abgabe von arzneimittelhaltigen Cremes und Gels in der Apotheke mitgegeben werden kann.

Der Umwelt zuliebe: Erst Wischen ... dann Waschen!

Year 2024

Publication:Postcard

Liquid pharmaceutical leftovers are more often disposed of incorrectly in waste water than solid ones. For this reason, a German-language postcard in DIN A6 (10 x 15 cm) has been developed on this topic, which can be given to customers when liquid medicines are handed in at the pharmacy.

Der Umwelt zuliebe: Hausmüll statt Glascontainer

Year 2024

Publication:Website

Screenshot of the German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt) website section on "Human pharmaceuticals and the environment." The page features navigation options for topics such as "For patients," "For doctors and pharmacists," "Scientific background," and "Downloads." Below, an infographic shows a crossed-out symbol over a sink and toilet, surrounded by pills, bottles, and environmental icons like fish. The text highlights the agency's mandate to educate about the environmental risks of pharmaceuticals.

The Federal Environment Agency's online platform "Human Pharmaceuticals and the Environment" provides information on the environmental impact of human pharmaceuticals and gives recommendations for environmentally conscious use and disposal. The aim is to minimize the entry of pharmaceutical residues into the environment and thus protect organisms, water, and soil.

Humanarzneimittel und Umwelt

Information platform

Year 2025

Publication:Poster

Poster titled "Correct disposal of leftover medicines." It presents three disposal options: domestic waste, pharmacies, and mobile hazardous waste units or recycling centers. The poster emphasizes not disposing of liquid or solid pharmaceuticals in toilets or sinks to protect water bodies and drinking water. Information is provided in multiple languages, and a QR code links to additional resources on arzneimittelentsorgung.de. Published by the German Environment Agency.

Many people think that old medicines should always be disposed of via pharmacies. Providing information about the applicable disposal methods, which vary from region to region, takes time in the pharmacy. The poster "Correct disposal of leftover medicines in: ...." is intended to ease the burden on staff by providing disposal information in writing on the sales floor. Other useful locations for the poster could include doctors' surgeries, hospitals, health advice centers, health insurance companies or waste disposal companies.

Correct Disposal of Leftover Medicines in: ...

Year 2024

Publication:Flyer

Do not dispose of unused pharmaceuticals in the toilet or sink, as this is how they end up in water, soil and groundwater. This leaflet explains in various languages how to dispose of old pharmaceuticals correctly and why this is important.

Do NOT Dispose of Drugs in the Toilet or Sink

Year 2023

Languages: German

English
Credits: Concept: Melanie Kemper
Content: Clemens Woitaske-Proske, Jennifer Strehse, Arne Hein
Design und Layout: Beáta Welk Vargová
Funding: German Environment Agency (UBA), Germany
Published in: UBA online platform "Humanarzneimittel und Umwelt"
Year: 2023
Project: Information and Teaching Materials for an Environmentally Conscious Use of Pharmaceuticals
Project ID: 50064
Keywords: Communication

Education

Health

Water

Human pharmaceuticals, doctor, physician, pharmacist, pharmacist, pharmacy, medicine, healthcare professionals, environmental impact

Germany

Infographic, information, internet, online, portal, information material, communication, information product, online platform, visualization, checklist

Further Links

PublicationInfographicChecklist: Eco-friendly Use of Medications

Checklist titled “Eco-friendly Use of Medications” providing tips for patients to reduce the environmental impact of pharmaceuticals. Illustrated with healthcare and environmental icons, the checklist encourages sustainable medication practices. Additional resources are linked at uba.de/hmp and arzneimittelentsorgung.de. Published by the German Environment Agency and Ecologic Institute, 2023.

How can I, as a patient, contribute to reducing the entry of pharmaceuticals into the environment?

German Environment Agency, Ecologic Institute 2023, CC-BY 4.0

By using pharmaceuticals in an environmentally conscious manner, patients can help to minimize their release of pharmaceuticals into the environment. The core elements have been compiled in a checklist to provide quick and effective information on environmentally... Read more

German Environment Agency 2023: Checklist: Eco-friendly Use of Medications. How can I, as a patient, contribute to reducing the entry of pharmaceuticals into the environment? Infographic. Online: uba.de/hmp

PublicationInfographicEnvironmental Aspects of Different Methods of Administration of Pharmaceuticals

Environmental impact of pharmaceutical administration methods: oral, parenteral, and local forms are compared in terms of dosage, metabolism, disposal, and environmental effects.

CC-BY 4.0 German Environmental Agency, Ecologic Institute, 2023

The decision to use a particular form of administration of a pharmaceutical can have an impact on the release of pharmaceutical substances into the environment. This infographic provides a comprehensive overview of common routes of administration of human medicines and... Read more

German Environment Agency 2023: Environmental aspects of different methods of administration of pharmaceuticals. Infographic. Online: uba.de/hmp

PublicationInfographicToxizität von Humanarzneimittelwirkstoffen für Nichtzielorganismen

Toxicity table of pharmaceutical substances on aquatic organisms (2024): Lists drug groups, specific substances, their toxicity levels (very high, high, moderate, low), and affected non-target organisms like fish, cyanobacteria, and water fleas.

CC BY 4.0 German Environment Agency, 2024

This infographic provides a brief overview of the toxicity of human pharmaceutical substances on non-target organisms observed in laboratory and case studies. A detailed version of the table, which also includes effect concentrations and literature sources, can be... Read more

Umweltbundesamt 2024: Toxizität von Humanarzneimittelwirkstoffen für Nichtzielorganismen. Infografik. Online: uba.de/ham

PublicationInfographicDiclofenac: Influence of the Pharmaceutical Form and Wastewater Treatment on the Discharge into the Environment

Bar chart comparing the environmental impact of different Diclofenac pharmaceutical forms (transdermal patch, tablet, gel, and gel with wiped hands) and wastewater treatment levels (tertiary and quaternary). The chart illustrates the distribution of Diclofenac in the body, household waste, sewage sludge, filter residue, and water bodies. Key data emphasizes the influence of pharmaceutical form and wastewater treatment on environmental discharge.

CC-BY 4.0 German Environment Agency, CAU Kiel, Ecologic Institute, 2024

The analgesic and anti-inflammatory pharmaceutical active ingredient Diclofenac can be administered in various forms of application. The discharge of the active ingredient into wastewater varies depending on the form of application. The final entry into the environment... Read more

German Environment Agency 2023: Diclofenac: Influence of the Pharmaceutical Form and Wastewater Treatment on the Discharge into the Environment. Online: uba.de/hmp

PublicationInfographicCorrect Disposal of Leftover Drugs!

An infographic titled "Correct disposal of leftover drugs" shows a map of Germany indicating recommended disposal options for expired or unused medicines by region. The options include domestic waste, mobile hazardous waste units or recycling centers, and pharmacies. A green sidebar advises against disposing of medicines in toilets or sinks to protect water bodies.

CC-BY 4.0 German Environment Agency, DECHEMA, Ecologic Institute 2023

The improper disposal of (used) pharmaceuticals via the toilet and sink is still one of the largest avoidable ways in which pharmaceuticals enter the environment. This infographic therefore provides information on the correct disposal of leftover pharmaceuticals in... Read more

German Environment Agency 2023: Correct Disposal of Leftover Drugs! Infographic. Online: uba.de/hmp

UBA online platform "Humanarzneimittel und Umwelt"