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Health and Pharmaceuticals

About this sector

The pharmaceuticals industry develops, manufactures and sells a variety of products for the medical diagnosis, cure, treatment, and prevention of human and animal disease. Continuing scientific research and technological advances over the past century or so have seen such products becoming increasingly available for a wide range of diseases, allowing the eradication or control of previously life-threatening diseases and contributing to improved quality of life and increased life expectancy.

Impacts

  • Over-harvesting of wild species containing medically active compounds.
  • Habitat change and degradation from the cultivation of important species.
  • Soil, water and air pollution from manufacture processes.
  • Consumer disposal and excretion of products.

Opportunities/Risks

  • Lost opportunities: at current plant and animal extinction rates the Earth is losing one major drug every two years.
  • New product development: bioprospecting is an industry that could be worth US$500 million by 2050.
  • Consumer demand: increasing trends in alternative medicines, in particular herbal therapies, creates an opportunity for sustainable and ethical harvesting of species which can also impact reputation, and lead to brand differentiation.

Case Studies


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Biodiversity and Access to Affordable medicines

Biodiversity and Access to Affordable medicines

Recognizing the importance of medicinal plants offers a unique opportunity to link biodiversity, health and sustainable development. Biodiversity is the source of primary health care for the majority of the world’s population. The research and development of medicinal plants is thus a way to safeguard and advance health care, which is essential for much of the population. Moreover, the ethical sourcing of medicinal plants can play an important role in the conservation and sustainable use of these species and their ecosystems, as well as provide a significant avenue for local sustainable development.


Tools and Mechanisms


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Union for Ethical BioTrade (UEBT)

Union for Ethical BioTrade (UEBT)

http://www.ethicalbiotrade.org/

The Union for Ethical Biotrade is a non-profit association that promotes the “Sourcing with Respect” of ingredients that come from native biodiversity. Members commit to gradually ensuring that their sourcing practices promote the conservation of biodiversity, respect traditional knowledge and assure the equitable sharing of benefits all along the supply chain. As part of its strategic plan the UEBT targets key economic sectors such as the cosmetics, health, and beauty industry, and to a lesser extent the food industry.
ACS Green Chemistry Institute

ACS Green Chemistry Institute

http://portal.acs.org/portal/acs/corg/content?_nfp...

The mission of the ACS Green Chemistry Institute® (ACS GCI) is to enable and catalyze the implementation of green chemistry and engineering principles into all aspects of the global chemical enterprise.
Business for a better world

Business for a better world

http://www.bsr.org/

Business for a better world helps companies integrate ecosystem services into corporate decision making, risk assessment, and supply chain management processes. It has produced an analysis of the environmental markets and is investigating ecosystem services assessment tools.
European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations

European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations

http://www.efpia.org/

EFPIA represents the pharmaceutical industry operating in Europe through its direct membership of national assoiations and leading pharmaceutical companies. It has also published case studies for good business practice related to bioprospecting.
International Cooperative Biodiversity Groups (ICBG)

International Cooperative Biodiversity Groups (ICBG)

http://www.icbg.org/

The ICBG program aims to integrate improvement of human health through drug discovery, creation of incentives for conservation of biodiversity, and promotion of scientific research and sustainable economic activity that focus on environment, health, equity, and democracy. The Biodiversity Program of the ICBG awards bio-prospecting projects that include efforts to survey biodiversity, preserve traditional medicine practices, ensure sustainable harvesting, and promote long-term funding for biodiversity conservation in the host countries.

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Health and Pharmaceuticals

Case studies
Tools and Mechanisms