Industria farmazeutikoak ingurumenean duen inpaktua murrizteko estrategiak

Abstract

The pharmaceutical industry, in terms of the volume of production it handles, is among the most polluting industrial sectors. Therefore, in line with the current United Nations (UN) Agenda 2030, and in order to meet the objectives set out therein, in this work we will examine various strategies to reduce the environmental impact of the pharmaceutical industry, focusing especially on drug production. First, in an attempt to promote sustainable production, replacement of organic solvents or excipients with supercritical fluids and ionic liquids is proposed. Next, the evolution of drugs or organic matter in the aquatic environment will be examined. As a solution to this, and by promoting the efficiency of water resources, the use of oxidation technique-based reactions will be proposed to eliminate chemical compounds in the treatment of waste water. In addition, and taking into account the impact of current climate change on the environment, several strategies based on promoting the use of renewable energy will be analysed, in order to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases and improve the efficiency of the energy used. Additionally, other stages of the production are also examined, from the time the drug is created until the drug is discarded and recycled. Therefore, in pursuit of a more responsible production and consumption model, it would also be necessary to reduce the impact of these stages by changing the design of medicine boxes, achieving greener packaging and encouraging the use of environmentally friendly transport, among others. Finally, given that the pharmaceutical industry is the sector that invests the most in R & D & I, a small reflection is made, highlighting the benefits that these resources and technologies can bring in the future.