What Actions Can Community Pharmacy Colleagues Make?

As patient-facing health workers, community pharmacy colleagues have a particularly important role in making the healthcare system more sustainable. Here are some actions community pharmacy colleagues can take to respond to the climate crisis:

• Educate yourself and others about the climate crisis and its effect on health

• Check whether your employer has a Sustainability Plan or Green Plan

• Become a Climate Champion

• Talk to customers and their families about ways they can improve their health which also have a positive impact on the environment

• Encourage colleagues and customers to use active travel when appropriate for them

• Encourage colleagues and customers to increase their consumption of whole grains, nuts, seeds, plant-based protein, fruits and vegetables whilst reducing red meat and processed food consumption

• Encourage colleagues and customers to increase their use of green spaces

• Replace single-use resources with recyclable or multi-use consumables where appropriate

• Be energy conscious in the workplace and switch off electrical appliances when not in use

• Optimise recycling in the workplace - e.g. recycling of inhalers, insulin pens, weighloss injection pens