The NHS Long-Term Plan sets out a commitment to reduce NHS carbon emissions by 51% by 2025, and ultimately to become the world’s first Net-Zero health service. Good-quality data comparing the environmental impact of different types of inhalers is essential if patients and prescribers are to make informed decisions about their choice of inhalers in relation to their potential contribution to climate change.
The purpose of this bulletin is to review the current evidence on the relative contribution of the end-of-life disposal stage to the overall environmental impact of inhalers, and to highlight interventions which could reduce the environmental impact at end of use.