Practices and pharmacists in Scotland are to work together to try to reduce the environmental impact of prescribing, it has been announced.

The Royal College of GPs in the country and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society have teamed up for the project, which will seek to tackle wasteful packaging and wastage of medicines. They were joined yesterday by the Scottish chief medical officer Professor Sir Gregor Smith as they discussed how to develop “sustainable prescribing”.

Medicines are responsible for 25% of carbon emissions in the NHS, they say. NHS Scotland has promised to reach zero carbon by 2040. Development work is to be led by Dr James Morton, the RCGP’s Scottish clinician representative for climate and sustainability.

RCGP joint Scottish chair Dr David Shackles said: “Today’s roundtable demonstrates a real appetite and energy from clinicians and prescribers looking for innovative steps towards sustainability. Our speakers and attendees brought a variety of perspectives on change- from decision making at the top of government, academia forging new paths, and clinicians making incremental changes in their daily work.

“Working collaboratively is the only way to achieve a net zero NHS by 2040. Our health is inextricably linked to the health of the planet – so we strive to embed green principles and actions into high quality patient care.”

RPS Scottish director Laura Wilson said: “If Scotland’s NHS is to achieve net zero, it is absolutely vital that medicines are used more sustainably.”