Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part J (2025)

The pharmacy industry, as vital as it is for public health, carries a high environmental price tag through multistep chemical syntheses, high solvent consumption, and the production of hazardous waste. The Environmental Factor (E-factor) measures this inefficiency, tending to uncover waste-to-product ratios of 25–100 kg per kilogram of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API).
 Green chemistry and engineering concepts, such as catalysis, biocatalysis, intensification of processes, reduction in solvents, and lifecycle analysis, have come to reduce environmental impact without compromising product performance. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) campaigns, government policies, and research-government partnerships have helped the implementation of green practices in drug production in India. This overview consolidates recent literature on green pharmacy manufacturing, assesses waste minimisation strategies, examines technological advancements such as AI and IoT to enhance resource optimisation, and accentuates the pharmacists' role in minimising pharmaceutical waste. Inclusion of green chemistry across the supply chain, along with policy and technology interventions, offers a route to sustainable and eco-friendly pharmaceutical production.