Water and pharmaceuticals – a shared responsibility

Many of the tools required to create a future with no negative environmental impact from pharmaceuticals are already available. This paper suggests that combining efforts along the whole pharmaceutical life cycle will not only be key to for sustainable development but also lead to increased transparency and understanding between stakeholders.

The Swedish Water House, (SWH), Cluster Group for Water and Pharmaceuticals at the Stockholm International Water Institute, (SIWI), initiated a process to highlight key imperatives that could contribute to national and global reductions in the amount of pharmaceutical substances that enter water resources. We have concluded that a holistic solution is needed, where all stakeholders in the pharmaceutical life cycle co-operate, and that Sweden’s extensive experience and competencies constitute a substantial resource in this regard. Many of the tools required to create a future with greatly reduced negative environmental impact are already available – it is more a matter of pushing the “green button” for the greatest overall benefit. Combining efforts along the entire pharmaceutical life cycle, including production, procurement, consumption, and wastewater treatment, will not only be key for sustainable development, but also lead to increased transparency and understanding between stakeholders catalyzing positive change.

Pharmaceutical products are essential to our society, and their use is likely to increase due to a growing, ageing population. In sufficient concentrations, pharmaceuticals will impact the recipient waterbody, although many tools to reduce environmental impact from pharmaceuticals are already available. Combining efforts along the pharmaceutical life cycle – production, procurement, consumption, and wastewater treatment – will be key for sustainable development and lead to increased transparency and understanding between stakeholders.

Citation

How to cite: Schaaf, N., Karlsson, J., Borgendahl, J., de Pedro, C., Fiedler, E., Flygar, H., Göthberg, P., Lonaeus, K., Magnér, J., Mattson, B., Olsen, T., Olsson, B., Schultz, S., Svedberg, A., Svinhufvud, K. 2016. Water and Pharmaceuticals – a shared responsibility. Working paper Nr. 26. SIWI, Stockholm.