Green and Sustainable Pharmacology: Integrating Environmental Responsibility into Drug Discovery, Development, and Practice

Authors: Shivam Dubey

DOI: 10.18231/j.ijcaap.13328.1761800153

Keywords: green pharmacology, sustainable chemistry, ecopharmacovigilance, lifecycle assessment, green analytical chemistry, eco-directed prescribing, pharmaceuticals in the environment

Abstract: Pharmaceuticals are indispensable for modern healthcare, yet their development, production, use, and disposal have unintended consequences for ecosystems and public health. The persistence of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in the environment, their contribution to antimicrobial resistance, and the carbon and chemical footprint of manufacturing processes are increasingly recognized as critical sustainability challenges. Green and sustainable pharmacology has emerged as an interdisciplinary paradigm that integrates green chemistry principles, sustainable manufacturing, eco-directed prescribing, green analytical chemistry, and ecopharmacovigilance (EPV) to minimize environmental impacts across the entire pharmaceutical life cycle. This review synthesizes recent advances in green chemistry approaches for drug synthesis, greenness assessment metrics for analytical procedures, sustainable supply-chain strategies, EPV frameworks, and eco-directed pharmacy practice. Industry initiatives, policy drivers, and One Health perspectives are also considered. Key barriers include economic trade-offs, regulatory gaps, and risks of greenwashing. Practical recommendations are provided for researchers, prescribers, pharmacists, regulators, and industry stakeholders. Looking forward, digital technologies, artificial intelligence, predictive ecotoxicology, and circular-economy models are expected to accelerate the integration of sustainability principles into pharmacology. Green pharmacology represents not only an ethical imperative but also an opportunity to align healthcare innovation with global sustainability goals.