DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scp.2020.100262

Summary
Solving the environmental and sustainability challenges associated with drug development, manufacturing, distribution, use, and end-of-life requires comprehensive change in the mindset of healthcare professionals on all fronts. Besides current professionals, the faculty teachers and students have a critical role in facilitating the implementation of green principles and practices in educational programs, but no change occurs unless the need and the tools are properly established and their impact understood. This article describes the evolution of green pharmacy practice in the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Helsinki, following a previously published framework for change management. Furthermore, the article describes the dissemination of the principles and good practices into medical education.

Relevance for Complex Systems Knowledge
The use of a holistic approach was chosen to teach the green pharmacy principles ensuring that the sustainability view becomes an integral part of the didactic practices taking in consideration the entire drug lifecycle. The concepts of green pharmacy and its role in the sustainability were proposed not only in classes of pharmaceutical chemistry but also in other disciplines, such as pharmaceutical technology and industrial pharmacy.

Point of Strength
The key of the success of this initiative was the creation of the Generation Green task force, a group with enough power to lead the change and involving members from as many personnel or student groups as possible