Managing waste in the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry

Published: 11-Mar-2025

With estimates suggesting that pharmaceutical manufacturing companies produce approximately 300 million tons of plastic waste each year, the industry is being put under ever more stringent levels of environmental scrutiny

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A significant portion of this unwanted material is single-use packaging, highlighting the substantial amount of pharmaceutical waste produced each year.

To overcome this hurdle, it’s key that manufacturers tailor their approach to effectively reduce the industry's carbon footprint. 

Managing waste in the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry

Common concerns related to pharmaceutical waste include the improper disposal of expired or unused medications by patients, an inadequate waste management infrastructure, the complex chemical composition of pharmaceuticals that complicates disposal and the risk of environmental contamination from incorrect handling.

The most effective solution is to minimise waste production while ensuring the sustainable management of unavoidable pharmaceutical waste. 

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