ISC3 Webinar #2
Prescription for Change: Safe and Sustainable Chemistry in Global Pharmaceutical Systems
23 July 2026, 14:00 – 15:30 CEST
This webinar will explore GFC priorities and practical action across the pharmaceutical value chain. The session will examine environmental risks linked to pharmaceutical substances, identify key pollution hotspots and enabling conditions for change, and showcase how “benign by design” and safe and sustainable chemistry approaches can support innovation that protects health, reduces environmental impacts, and remains technically, economically, and regulatorily viable.
Resources and information
This session will:
- Support identification of major environmentally persistent pharmaceutical pollutants (EPPPs) hotspots;
- Demonstrate how “benign by design” can operationalize GFC targets by embedding safety, sustainability, and life-cycle thinking directly into the pharmaceutical sector;
- Identify gaps and enabling conditions (policy, incentives, tools, collaboration) needed to scale safe and sustainable pharmaceutical innovation globally;
- Expose real-world factors (performance, cost, regulatory compliance, environmental fate) to ground discussions in practical decision-making across the value chain;
- Showcase how companies translate design principles into measurable environmental and business outcomes.
Expected Learning Outcomes
- Improved understanding of why pharmaceuticals are a priority under the GFC and the need to take action throughout the entire life cycle;
- Strengthened ability to identify gaps and enabling conditions needed to scale safe and sustainable innovation in line with GFC objectives;
- Increased awareness of “benign by design” principles and how they can be applied in pharmaceutical development;
- Better understanding of key trade-offs in pharmaceutical innovation and their implications for decision-making;
- Enhanced knowledge of practical industry approaches to integrate safety and sustainability into R&D.
| Time (CET) | Session | Speakers |
|
2.00 PM 5 min |
Welcoming and introducing speakers | Delena Indar (UNITAR) |
|
2.05 PM 15 min
|
Global Policy Perspective: “Pharmaceuticals in the Environment and the GFC” The gap between end-of-pipe solutions and upstream prevention. Why pharmaceuticals are a priority concern under the GFC. GFC targets and implementation pathway (EPPP workstream and other initiatives). |
Stéphanie Laurelle/Fernando Gastón Iturburu (UNEP) |
|
2.20 PM 25 min |
Key Note: “Benign by Design: Rethinking Pharmaceuticals from the Molecule Up” Redesigning pharmaceuticals and materials: why, how? Opportunities and constraints. Performance vs. environmental fate vs. cost. From concept to application. |
Prof. Klaus Kümmerer (Leuphana University) |
|
2.45 PM 10 min |
Interactive activity |
All |
|
2.55 PM 15 min |
Moderated discussion and Open Q&A: From policy ambition to molecular design – what is still missing? |
Moderation: Delena Indar (UNITAR) |
|
3.10 PM 15 min |
Industry Case Study: “Establishing Sustainable Pharmaceuticals in India: Opportunities and Challenges” Scaling up industrial R&D and product development processes: tools, criteria, workflows, barriers, incentives, and lessons learned. Measurable outcomes (e.g., environmental performance, regulatory alignment, business implications). |
Mr. Nitesh Mehta |
|
3.25 PM 5 min |
Q&A | All |
| 3.30 PM | Final remarks | UNITAR & ISC3 |
Please use the link below to register for this event.
In case of any queries, feel free to reach out to iomc@unitar.org
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