When people think about sustainability, paper usually gets a bad rap. But in healthcare, the story is more complicated. Surprisingly, printed prescription information – when done right – can actually reduce waste and make the system more efficient.
Here’s why: pharmaceutical manufacturers already print Patient Medication Information (PMI) at scale. Their industrial operations are designed for efficiency, using less paper per unit, reducing waste, and often recycling materials. Compare that to the FDA’s proposed approach, which would push printing onto thousands of local pharmacies. That would mean more printers, more toner, more energy use, and a lot more waste. Think about it: is it really “greener” to have 20,000 pharmacies running their own small printers than to let one efficient system do the job? The answer is clear.
Printed PMI also cuts down on duplication. Instead of multiple printouts or constant digital access powered by energy-hungry servers, each prescription comes with one professional, durable sheet patients can rely on. Fewer copies. Less redundancy. Smarter use of resources.
That’s why the bipartisan Patients’ Right to Know Their Medication Act makes sense for both patients and the planet. By requiring manufacturers to provide printed PMI, we get a solution that’s more sustainable, more consistent, and most importantly – accessible to everyone.
Sometimes the greener choice is also the simplest one. And in this case, keeping clear, printed instructions in the hands of patients is a win for health and for sustainability.
Protect patients and the planet – support the Patients’ Right to Know Their Medication Act today. Stay up to date here.