The Pharmaceutical Industry is supportive of a circular approach to its operations and products and is aligned with the European Commission's Circular Economy Action Plan. We will achieve the goals of the Circular Economy Action Plan concurrent with our aspiration to safeguard the future supply of pharmaceuticals for patients and improve human health. 

The pharmaceutical industry’s approach to circularity builds on our long experience in environmental sustainability, while recognizing the constraints (e.g. speed of transition), from operating in a highly regulated industry. Circularity and regulation of pharmaceuticals should be carefully balanced. The innovation to enable circularity will drive new opportunities for growth, promote greater resource efficiency, create a more competitive economy and reduce pollutants.

Implementation of a circular economy is fundamental to help limit the global temperature increase to less than or equal to 1.5C, and we welcome the opportunity to be part of the solution by working collaboratively with the EU in shaping the legislative framework and within our organizations to mitigate our impacts.

EFPIA and Industry Circular Economy actions

The pharmaceutical industry's transition toward a circular economy focuses on minimizing waste, maximizing resource efficiency, and designing products, packaging, and processes for reuse and recycling. The approach aligns with EU initiatives and sustainability goals, addressing challenges unique to healthcare while promoting eco-design, greener supply chains, and innovative collaborations across sectors to safeguard the long-term supply of medicines.

Read the EFPIA White Paper on Circular Economy.

Packaging in the Pharmaceutical sector

Pharmaceutical packaging is crucial for protecting medicines, ensuring patient safety, maintaining product quality, and meeting stringent regulatory standards. It covers primary, secondary, and tertiary systems using specialized materials like plastics and glass, with growing efforts to improve sustainability through innovation in recyclable, biobased, and high-barrier packaging solutions.

Read the EFPIA White Paper on pharmaceutical packaging.