Analysis of environmental contribution studies of pharmaceutical companies in Turkey to reduce the negative health effects of climate change

Year 2025, Volume: 10 Issue: 6, 768 - 777

Tolgay Ercan

https://doi.org/10.35229/jaes.1710165

Abstract

The impact of global climate change on health negatively affects human life and well-being. The pharmaceutical industry needs to be among the sectors with low greenhouse gas emissions in mitigating the negative impact of climate change. Because reducing greenhouse gas emissions provides a net benefit for human health. Therefore, effective strategies of pharmaceutical companies that lead to greenhouse gas emission reductions are important today. The websites of pharmaceutical companies in Turkey were scanned, their activity reports and notifications were evaluated, and environmental policies aimed at reducing the negative impacts of climate change on human health were examined. In this context, the websites of pharmaceutical companies that entered the ISO 500 and ISO second 500 evaluations between 2009-2024 were included in the research. 15 domestic pharmaceutical companies were included in the research. According to the results of the research, it can be stated that pharmaceutical companies have environmentally friendly activities such as renewable energy use, electric vehicle use, waste management, recycling, emission reduction, technological innovation, water management, and air pollution prevention to reduce the negative effects of climate change on human health. When Greenhouse Gas Protocol evaluations are examined in greenhouse gas reduction strategies in terms of public health, it is seen that the majority of pharmaceutical companies have completed independent institution audits regarding Greenhouse Gas Protocol recommendations and made planned and systematic evaluations in scope 1, scope 2 and scope 3, and the aim of these evaluations includes environmental policies aimed at reaching net zero emissions in the future. In addition, pharmaceutical companies monitor the negative effects of climate change by creating professional staff on energy and climate management. Pharmaceutical companies also provide support by conducting awareness activities in society. The practices carried out by pharmaceutical companies are important in the context of the formation of environmental policies.

Keywords

climate change , drugs , pharmaceutical companies , human health.

Türkiye’deki Yerli İlaç Firmalarının İklim Değişikliğinin Yarattığı Olumsuz Sağlık Etkilerinin Azaltılmasına Yönelik Çevresel Katkı Çalışmalarının Analizi

Abstract

Küresel iklim değişikliğinin sağlık üzerindeki etkisi insan hayatını ve refahını olumsuz etkilemektedir. İlaç endüstrisinin iklim değişikliğinin yarattığı olumsuz etkisini hafifletmede düşük sera gazı emisyonuna sahip sektörler arasına girmesi gerekiyor. Çünkü sera gazı emisyonlarını azaltmak insan sağlığı için net fayda sağlamaktadır. Dolayısıyla ilaç firmalarının sera gazı emisyon azaltışına yol açan etkili stratejileri günümüzde önemli olmaktadır. Türkiye’deki ilaç firmalarının internet siteleri taranarak faaliyet raporları ve bildirimleri değerlendirilerek iklim değişikliğinin insan sağlığı üzerindeki olumsuz etkilerin azaltılmasına yönelik çevresel politikalar incelenmiştir. Bu bağlamda 2009-2024 yılları arasında İSO 500 ve İSO ikinci 500 değerlendirmesine giren ilaç firmaları esas alınarak internet siteleri araştırmaya dahil edilmiştir. Araştırmaya 15 yerli ilaç firması dahil edilmiştir. Araştırmanın sonuçlarına göre ilaç firmaları iklim değişikliğinin insan sağlığı üzerinde yaratacağı olumsuz etkilerin azaltılmasına yönelik yenilenebilir enerji kullanımı, elektrikli araç kullanımı, atık yönetimi, geri dönüşüm, emisyon azaltma, teknolojik yenilik, su yönetimi, hava kirliliğinin önlenmesi gibi çevre dostu faaliyetleri olduğu belirtilebilir. Toplum sağlığı açısından sera gazı azaltma stratejilerinde, Greenhouse Gas Protocol değerlendirmelerine bakıldığında ilaç firmalarının büyük kısmının Greenhouse Gas Protocol önerilerine yönelik bağımsız kuruluş denetimlerini tamamlayarak kapsam 1, kapsam 2 ve kapsam 3 planlı ve sistematik değerlendirmeler yaptıkları bu değerlendirmelerin amacının gelecekte net sıfır emisyona ulaşma hedefine yönelik çevre politikaları içerdiği görülmektedir. Ayrıca ilaç firmaları iklim değişikliğinin yarattığı olumsuz etkileri, enerji ve iklim yönetimi konusunda profesyonel kadro oluşturarak takip etmektedir. İlaç firmaları toplumda farkındalık çalışmaları yaparak da destek vermektedirler. İlaç firmalarının yaptığı uygulamalar çevre politikalarının oluşması bağlamında önemlidir.

Keywords

İklim değişikliği , ilaçlar , ilaç firması , insan sağlığı.

References

• AİFD (2024) Türkiye İlaç Sektörü Raporu, Şule Akbil, Direktör Züleyha Cebeci, Kıdemli Danışman, www.aifd.org.tr, (Access date: 28.09.2025). Alanka, D. (2024). Nitel bir araştırma yöntemi olarak içerik analizi: Teorik bir çerçeve. Kronotop İletişim Dergisi, 1(1), 64-84.
• Andersson, Ö., & Börjesson, P. (2021). The greenhouse gas emissions of an electrified vehicle combined with renewable fuels: Life cycle assessment and policy implications. Applied Energy, 289, 116621. DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.116621
• Badzinski, D. M., Woods, R. H., & Nelson, C. M. (2021). Content analysis. In The Routledge handbook of research methods in the study of religion (pp. 180- 193). Routledge. DOI: 10.4324/9781003222491-13
• Bartolo, N. S., Azzopardi, L. M., & Serracino-Inglott, A. (2021). Pharmaceuticals and the environment. Early human development, 155, 105218. DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2020.105218
• Belkhir, L., & Elmeligi, A. (2019). Carbon footprint of the global pharmaceutical industry and relative impact of its major players. Journal of Cleaner Production, 214, 185-194. DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.11.204
• Berrang-Ford, L., Ford, J.D., & Paterson, J. (2011). Are we adapting to climate change?. Global Environmental Change, 21(1), 25-33. DOI: 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2010.09.012
• Booth, A. (2022). Carbon footprint modelling of national health systems: Opportunities, challenges and recommendations. The International Journal of Health Planning and Management, 37(4), 1885- 1893. DOI: 10.1002/hpm.3447
• Booth, A., Jager, A., Faulkner, S.D., Winchester, C.C., & Shaw, S.E. (2023). Pharmaceutical company targets and strategies to address climate change: content analysis of public reports from 20 pharmaceutical companies. International journal of environmental research and public health, 20(4), 3206. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20043206
• Candra, O., Chammam, A., Alvarez, J. R. N., Muda, I., & Aybar, H. Ş. (2023). The impact of renewable energy sources on the sustainable development of the economy and greenhouse gas emissions. Sustainability, 15(3), 2104. DOI: 10.3390/su15032104
• Change, C. (2001). Climate change. Synthesis report. Change, C. (2022). Mitigating Climate Change. Working Group III contribution to the sixth assessment report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-92148-4
• Chen, Z., Lian, J. Z., Zhu, H., Zhang, J., Zhang, Y., Xiang, X., ... & Dong, B. (2024). Application of life cycle assessment in the pharmaceutical industry: a critical review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 142550. DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.142550
• Chen-Xu, J., Corda, M. O., Varga, O., & Viegas, S. (2024). Health burden and costs attributable to the carbon footprint of the health sector in the European Union. Environment International, 190, 108828. DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108828
• Chomać-Pierzecka, E. (2023). Pharmaceutical companies in the light of the idea of sustainable development- an analysis of selected aspects of sustainable management. Sustainability, 15(11), 8889. DOI: 10.3390/su15118889
• Chung, J.W., & Meltzer, D.O. (2009). Estimate of the carbon footprint of the US health care sector. Jama, 302(18), 1970-1972. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2009.1610
• Costello, A., Abbas, M., Allen, A., Ball, S., Bell, S., Bellamy, R., ... & Patterson, C. (2009). Managing the health effects of climate change: lancet and University College London Institute for Global Health Commission. The lancet, 373(9676), 1693- 1733.
• De Freitas Netto, S.V., Sobral, M.F.F., Ribeiro, A.R.B. et al. (2020). Concepts and forms of greenwashing: a systematic review. Environ. Sci. Eur., 32, 19. DOI: 10.1186/s12302-020-0300-3
• Delmas, M.A., & Burbano, V.C. (2011). The Drivers of Greenwashing. California Management Review, 54(1), 64-87. DOI:10.1525/cmr.2011.54.1.64
• Diken, G. (2020). Antropojenik iklim değişikliğinin balıkçılık ve su ürünleri üzerine etki ve yönetim stratejilerine genel bir bakış. J. Anatol. Env. Anim. Sci., 5(3), 295-303. DOI: 10.35229/jaes.718925
• Eckelman, M.J., & Sherman, J. (2016). Environmental impacts of the US health care system and effects on public health. PloSone, 11(6), e0157014. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0157014
• Eckelman, M.J., Sherman, J.D., & MacNeill, A.J. (2018). Life cycle environmental emissions and health damages from the Canadian healthcare system: an economic-environmental- epidemiological analysis. PLoS medicine, 15(7), e1002623. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002623
• Eskander, S. M., & Fankhauser, S. (2020). Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from national climate legislation. Nature Climate Change, 10(8), 750-756. DOI: 10.1038/s41558-020-0831-z
• Filonchyk, M., Peterson, M.P., Yan, H., Gusev, A., Zhang, L., He, Y., & Yang, S. (2024a). Greenhouse gas emissions and reduction strategies for the world's largest greenhouse gas emitters. Science of The Total Environment, 944, 173895. DOI: /10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173895
• Filonchyk, M., Peterson, M. P., Zhang, L., Hurynovich, V., & He, Y. (2024b). Greenhouse gases emissions and global climate change: Examining the influence of CO2, CH4, and N2O. Science of The Total Environment, 935, 173359. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173359
• Flammer, C. (2013). Corporate social responsibility and shareholder reaction: The environmental awareness of investors. Academy of Management journal, 56(3), 758-781. DOI: 10.5465/amj.2011.0744
• Gaetani, M., Uleryk, E., Halgren, C., & Maratta, C. (2024). The carbon footprint of critical care: a systematic review. Intensive care medicine, 50(5), 731-745. DOI: /10.1007/s00134-023-07307-1
• Gao, Z., Geng, Y., Wu, R., Chen, W., Wu, F., & Tian, X. (2019). Analysis of energy-related CO2 emissions in China's pharmaceutical industry and its driving forces. Journal of cleaner production, 223, 94-108. DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.03.092
• Gavurova, B., Rigelsky, M., & Ivankova, V. (2021). Greenhouse gas emissions and health in the countries of the European Union. Frontiers in Public Health, 9, 756652. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.756652
• Haines, A., McMichael, A. J., Smith, K. R., Roberts, I., Woodcock, J., Markandya, A., ... & Wilkinson, P. (2009). Public health benefits of strategies to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions: overview and implications for policy makers. The lancet, 374(9707), 2104-2114. DOI: 10.1016/S0140- 6736(09)61759-1
• Hu, X., Pierce, J.T., Taylor, T., & Morrissey, K. (2021). The carbon footprint of general anaesthetics: a case study in the UK. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 167, 105411. DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2021.105411
• IEİS 2025, www.ieis.org.tr (Access date: 28.09.2025). ISO (2024). https://www.iso500.org.tr/ (Access date: 02.05.2025)
• Jordaan, S. M., Romo-Rabago, E., McLeary, R., Reidy, L., Nazari, J., & Herremans, I. M. (2017). The role of energy technology innovation in reducing greenhouse gas emissions: A case study of Canada. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 78, 1397-1409. DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2017.05.162
• Kaur, H., Parascandalo, F., Krantzberg, G., Ko, E., Mathur, N., Gill, A. S., ... & Sergeant, M. (2025). Journey of a pill. Canadian Family Physician, 71(4), 263-269. DOI: 10.46747/cfp.7104263
• Keil, M. (2023). The greenhouse gas emissions of a German hospital-A case study of an easy-to-use approach based on financial data. Cleaner Environmental Systems, 11, 100140. DOI: 10.1016/j.cesys.2023.100140
• Korkmaz, M. (2024). Impacts of climate change: examining precipitation, temperature anomalies, and effects on water resources in Turkey. J. Anatol. Env. Anim. Sci., 9(4), 558-569. DOI: 10.35229/jaes.1508808
• Lenzen, M., Malik, A., Li, M., Fry, J., Weisz, H., Pichler, P. P., ... & Pencheon, D. (2020). The environmental footprint of health care: a global assessment. The Lancet Planetary Health, 4(7), e271-e279. DOI: 10.1016/S2542-5196(20)30121-2
• Li, Z., Khajepour, A., & Song, J. (2019). A comprehensive review of the key technologies for pure electric vehicles. Energy, 182, 824-839. DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2019.06.077
• Lima, M.A., Mendes, L.F.R., Mothé, G.A., Linhares, F.G., De Castro, M.P.P., Da Silva, M.G., & Sthel, M.S. (2020). Renewable energy in reducing greenhouse gas emissions: Reaching the goals of the Paris agreement in Brazil. Environmental Development, 33, 100504. DOI: 10.1016/j.envdev.2020.100504
• Malhotra, A., Mathur, A., Diddi, S., & Sagar, A.D. (2022). Building institutional capacity for addressing climate and sustainable development goals: Achieving energy efficiency in India. Climate Policy, 22(5), 652-670. DOI: 10.1080/14693062.2021.1984195
• Malik, A., Lenzen, M., McAlister, S., & McGain, F. (2018). The carbon footprint of Australian health care. The Lancet Planetary Health, 2(1), e27-e35.
• Meissen, R. E., & Eagan, P.D. (2008, May). Key GHG emission reduction strategies of climate leader companies. In 2008 IEEE International Symposium on Electronics and the Environment (pp. 1-6). IEEE. DOI: 10.1109/ISEE.2008.4562936
• Metin, O., & Ünal, Ş. (2022). İçerik analizi tekniği: İletişim bilimlerinde ve sosyolojide doktora tezlerinde kullanımı. Anadolu Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 22(Özel Sayı 2), 273-294. DOI: 10.18037/ausbd.1227356
• Myhrvold, N.P., & Caldeira, K. (2012). Greenhouse gases, climate change and the transition from coal to low-carbon electricity. Environmental Research Letters, 7(1), 014019. DOI: 10.1088/1748- 9326/7/1/014019
• Nagai, K. (2023). Movement toward Environmentally Friendly Pharmaceuticals in Japan. JMA journal, 6(4), 515-519. DOI: 10.31662/jmaj.2023-0026
• Nansai, K., Fry, J., Malik, A., Takayanagi, W., & Kondo, N. (2020). Carbon footprint of Japanese health care services from 2011 to 2015. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 152, 104525. DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2019.104525
• Okereke, M. (2021). How pharmaceutical industries can address the growing problem of climate change. The Journal of Climate Change and Health, 4, 100049. DOI:10.1016/j.joclim.2021.100049
• Pålsson, A. C., Belleza, E., Ryding, S. O., Örtlund, L., & Westberg, E. (2019). Environmental assessment model for pharmaceutical products-Environmental risks related to Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) and carbon footprint in a life cycle perspective.
• Parker, G., & Miller, F.A. (2024). Tackling Pharmaceutical Pollution Along the Product Lifecycle: Roles and Responsibilities for Producers, Regulators and Prescribers. Pharmacy, 12(6), 173. DOI: 10.3390/pharmacy12060173
• Piffoux, M., Le Tellier, A., Taillemite, Z., Ducrot, C., & Taillemite, S. (2024). Carbon footprint of oral medicines using hybrid life cycle assessment. Journal of Cleaner Production, 475, 143576. DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.143576
• Protocol, G. G. (2011). Greenhouse gas protocol. Sector Toolsets for Iron and Steel-Guidance Document, 1- 12.
• Ray, A., Sharma, S., & Sadasivam, B. (2021). Carbovigilance: curtailing the global pharmaceutical carbon footprint. Future Healthcare Journal, 8(3), e683-e685. DOI: 10.7861/fhj.2021- 0071
• Richie, C. (2022). Environmental sustainability and the carbon emissions of pharmaceuticals. Journal of Medical Ethics, 48(5), 334-337. DOI: 10.1136/medethics-2020-106842
• Rizan, C., Bhutta, M.F., Reed, M., & Lillywhite, R. (2021). The carbon footprint of waste streams in a UK hospital. Journal of Cleaner Production, 286, 125446. DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.125446
• Rodríguez‐Jiménez, L., Romero‐Martín, M., Spruell, T., Steley, Z., & Gómez‐Salgado, J. (2023). The carbon footprint of healthcare settings: a systematic review. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 79(8), 2830- 2844. DOI: 10.1111/jan.15671
• Sapuan, S.M., Ilyas, R.A., Asyraf, M.R.M., Sapuan, S.M., Ilyas, R.A., & Asyraf, M.R.M. (2022). Carbon footprint in healthcare. Safety and Health in Composite Industry, 115-137.
• Sullivan, R. (2009). The management of greenhouse gas emissions in large European companies. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 16(6), 301-309. DOI: 10.1002/csr.187
• TUİK (2025). www.tuik.gov.tr, (Access date: 02.05.2025) Wang, S., He, Y., & Song, M. (2021). Global value chains, technological progress, and environmental pollution: Inequality towards developing countries. Journal of Environmental Management, 277, 110999. DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110999
• Watts, N., Adger, W.N., Agnolucci, P., Blackstock, J., Byass, P., Cai, W., ... & Costello, A. (2015). Health and climate change: policy responses to protect public health. The lancet, 386(10006), 1861- 1914.
• Watts, N., Amann, M., Arnell, N., Ayeb-Karlsson, S., Beagley, J., Belesova, K., ... & Costello, A. (2021). The 2020 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: responding to converging crises. The lancet, 397(10269), 129-170. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)32290-X
• Wu, R. (2019). The carbon footprint of the Chinese health- care system: an environmentally extended input– output and structural path analysis study. The Lancet Planetary Health, 3(10), e413-e419.
• Xu, M., & Tan, R. (2022). How to reduce CO2 emissions in pharmaceutical industry of China: Evidence from total-factor carbon emissions performance. Journal of Cleaner Production, 337, 130505. DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.130505
• Yangil, F.M. (2015). Kurumsal sürdürülebilirlik kapsamında sürdürülebilirlik raporlarına yönelik içerik analizi: Türkiye’deki en büyük 100 sanayi işletmesi. İşletme Araştırmaları Dergisi, 7(3), 356- 376.
• Yıldız, H., Yüksel, A.Y., & Özdemir, Ü. (2021). Fosil Kaynak Tüketiminin Karbon Ayak İzine Etkisi: Türkiye’den Kanıtlar. J. Anatol. Env. Anim. Sci., 6(4), 467-474. DOI: 10.35229/jaes.865257
• Zheng, X., Streimikiene, D., Balezentis, T., Mardani, A., Cavallaro, F., & Liao, H. (2019). A review of greenhouse gas emission profiles, dynamics, and climate change mitigation efforts across the key climate change players. Journal of Cleaner Production, 234, 1113-1133. DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.06.140
• Zhou, Y., Chen, L., Peng, X., & Li, W. (2024). Impact of “environmental disclosure greenwashing”: a study from the perspective of heterogeneous environmental policies. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 1-34. DOI: 10.1007/s10668- 024-05714-y