Climate change is not only an environmental crisis but also a significant public health issue. In response, Superdrug is working with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) to implement the Greener Pharmacy Toolkit, an initiative developed with NHS England and backed by the Greener NHS programme. This collaboration aims to embed sustainability into pharmacy practice across the UK.
Since May 2025, Superdrug pharmacy teams have been using the toolkit to enhance their sustainability efforts and deepen their understanding of public health. To date, 156 Superdrug pharmacies are up to 87% complete, with the goal of all branches achieving this level by the end of 2025. As part of its Bronze accreditation, the pharmacy promotes medicine waste reduction through routine staff-patient conversations, visible posters and leaflets, and reminder messages on labels, bags, SMS, and online platforms. These consistent touchpoints raise awareness and help reduce unnecessary waste. A dedicated Greener Pharmacy Guide was created to make implementation of the toolkit straightforward, and teams have found it user-friendly, with clear instructions and practical resources. It offers a structured approach to sustainable pharmacy practices while ensuring patient-centred and cost-effective service delivery.
For pharmacies achieving Bronze status through the toolkit, day-to-day operations have been strengthened by enhancing existing practices. These include appointing a sustainability lead, adopting simple yet effective measures such as reducing waste and promoting active travel, integrating sustainability into pharmacy policies, and taking foundational steps to conserve energy and resources. However, a standout benefit has been the comprehensive staff training. Team members now have a firmer grasp of public health and the social factors affecting well-being, giving them the confidence to engage more meaningfully with customers on health-related topics.
A core focus of the toolkit is environmental responsibility. Pharmacies play a vital role in reducing their ecological footprint by addressing issues such as pharmaceutical waste and antibiotic disposal. Medicines that have not been disposed of correctly and unused medipackaging can harm ecosystems and water systems, while improper antibiotic disposal contributes to antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
'Doing Good Feels Super' is one of Superdrug’s core strategic pillars. The company currently recycles about 80% of its operational waste through its distribution centres and has sent no waste to landfill since 2010, our aim is to recycle 95% of the operational waste by 2030.
A standout initiative is Superdrug's partnership with TerraCycle, which launched the UK's first national recycling scheme for medicine blister packs, a material typically difficult to recycle due to its mixed composition. Branded as Little Packs, Big Impact, this programme demonstrates innovation in tackling pharmacy waste.
Additionally, Superdrug, together with sister brand Savers, has raised £15 million for Marie Curie since 2013, reflecting its strong social responsibility ethos.
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) values are fully integrated into Superdrug's strategy. The Greener Pharmacy Toolkit is a clear example of how Superdrug puts these principles into action, for the benefit of people, communities, and the planet.
Find out more and sign up to the Greener Pharmacy Toolkit.
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