Environmental sustainability
The health-care industry is responsible for nearly 5% of Canada’s total greenhouse gas emissions, with medication-related emissions accounting for almost 25% of that total. According to the World Health Organization, climate change is the biggest threat facing humanity today, with record breaking temperatures and increasing natural disasters already evident across Canada.
Pharmacists are well-positioned to act as environmental stewards and help mitigate the environmental harms associated with our health-care system. By guiding patients and health-care providers on sustainability, they can reduce the carbon footprint associated with medication usage. Optimizing medication regimens by deprescribing and preventing prescribing cascades can further reduce waste. Additionally, pharmacy teams can minimize waste by optimizing inventory, transitioning to paperless systems and implementing recycling programs.
The resources listed below will support you in promoting environmental sustainability in your pharmacy and with your patients and colleagues.
- Seeing Through Green: Critical Thinking for Sustainable Pharmacy Practices webinar recording
- Climate Change and Pharmacy Practice webinar recording
- Climate conscious recommendations for pharmacists (CPhA, CSHP, Choosing Wisely Canada)
- Sustainable Blood Glucose Monitoring practice tools and resources
- Natural Disaster and Pharmacy Practice Resources for emergency preparedness
- Environmental sustainability Resource Round-up