The World Health Organization has made recommendations for the proper disposal of medical packaging, and while regulations limit the ability of drugmakers to use recycled materials in packaging, some are using modern methods and materials to reduce waste by reducing the weight of packaging, writes chemist Michael Greenwood. Other steps toward sustainable packaging in the pharma industry include switching to different solvents, fine-tuning small runs to reduce energy and water consumption, and optimizing the supply chain, Greenwood writes.