This animated video visualizes the different methods of disposal throughout Germany.

Pharmaceutical substances from creams and gels can enter wastewater when washed off after application. However, this can be reduced by first wiping your hands with a paper towel, disposing of it in the household waste, and only then washing your hands.

The Federal Environment Agency's online platform "Human Pharmaceuticals and the Environment" provides information on the environmental impact of human pharmaceuticals and gives recommendations for environmentally conscious use and disposal. The aim is to minimize the entry of pharmaceutical residues into the environment and thus protect organisms, water, and soil.

Kemper, Melanie 2025: Verbreitung von Informations- und Lehrmaterialien für einen umweltbewussten Umgang mit Humanarzneimitteln - Konzept und Plan für eine Kampagne. Ecologic Institut, Berlin. Unpublished.

Pharmaceuticals in the environment are a growing problem. The UBA Internet portal "Human Medicinal Products and the Environment" offers freely available, scientifically proven teaching materials for medical and pharmaceutical lecturers. With the basic set of slides and the accompanying texts, the topic can be taught comprehensively and practically despite tight curricula.

Liquid pharmaceutical leftovers are more often disposed of incorrectly in waste water than solid ones. For this reason, a German-language postcard in DIN A6 (10 x 15 cm) has been developed on this topic, which can be given to customers when liquid medicines are handed in at the pharmacy.

Pharmacies are an obvious place for conversation about pharmaceuticals and their effects on people and the environment, as well as the disposal of unused products. The information package for pharmacies provides pharmacy staff with in-depth background information for such discussions.

This infographic provides a brief overview of the toxicity of human pharmaceutical substances on non-target organisms observed in laboratory and case studies. A detailed version of the table, which also includes effect concentrations and literature sources, can be downloaded as a PDF.

Pharmacies can order this decorative wall calendar free of charge and give it as a promotional gift to their customers. The calendar is designed as a year-independent birthday calendar in DIN A4. Each month, attractive, large photo motifs and short texts focus on a different aspect of pharmaceuticals and the environment.

Many people think that old medicines should always be disposed of via pharmacies. Providing information about the applicable disposal methods, which vary from region to region, takes time in the pharmacy. The poster "Correct disposal of leftover medicines in: ...." is intended to ease the burden on staff by providing disposal information in writing on the sales floor. Other useful locations for the poster could include doctors' surgeries, hospitals, health advice centers, health insurance companies or waste disposal companies.

Bei der Anwendung arzneimittelhaltiger Cremes und Gels kann die ins Abwasser gelangende Arzneistoffmenge dadurch reduziert werden, dass man sich nach dem Auftragen zunächst die Hände mit einem Papiertuch abwischt, das im Hausmüll entsorgt wird, und erst dann die Hände wäscht. Deshalb wurde zu diesem Thema eine deutschsprachige Postkarte in DIN A6 (10 x 15 cm) entwickelt, die der Kundschaft bei Abgabe von arzneimittelhaltigen Cremes und Gels in der Apotheke mitgegeben werden kann.

The article "Design of greener drugs: aligning parameters in pharmaceutical R&D and drivers for environmental impact" published in Drug Discovery Today explores the challenges and opportunities in developing pharmaceuticals that are not only safe and effective for patients but also environmentally sustainable. This open access article – written by a cross-disciplinary team with representatives of universities, regulators, research-based pharmaceutical companies and SMEs – identifies the most promising areas for action in pharmaceutical research and development. It specifically aims to bridge the scientific concepts used by the expert communities in both environmental science and pharmaceutical R&D.

Urban water management is facing new challenges due to climate change. Intensified precipitation is putting additional stress on stormwater systems, leading to increased flood risks, more frequent combined sewer overflows (CSOs), and resultant risks to public health and urban biodiversity. These topics are addressed in a new publication co-authored by Gregory Fuchs and McKenna Davis of Ecologic Institute entitled 'Sitting in our own soup? Combined sewers, climate change and nature-based solutions for urban water management in Berlin.'

Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), their metabolites, and transformation products often act as pollutants in the environment, impacting both human health and ecosystems. To tackle this issue, an efficient, long-term prevention strategy involves designing APIs with reduced environmental impact – greener APIs. This involves incorporating environmental parameters into the Research and Development (R&D) process. This article explores the feasibility of designing greener APIs, drawing insights from drug design experts in major research-based pharmaceutical companies.

The decision to use a particular form of administration of a pharmaceutical can have an impact on the release of pharmaceutical substances into the environment. This infographic provides a comprehensive overview of common routes of administration of human medicines and their potential environmental impact.

The analgesic and anti-inflammatory pharmaceutical active ingredient Diclofenac can be administered in various forms of application. The discharge of the active ingredient into wastewater varies depending on the form of application. The final entry into the environment's water bodies is additionally influenced by the type of wastewater treatment.

The improper disposal of (used) pharmaceuticals via the toilet and sink is still one of the largest avoidable ways in which pharmaceuticals enter the environment. This infographic therefore provides information on the correct disposal of leftover pharmaceuticals in Germany.

By using pharmaceuticals in an environmentally conscious manner, patients can help to minimize their release of pharmaceuticals into the environment. The core elements have been compiled in a checklist to provide quick and effective information on environmentally friendly patient behavior.