SIGRE is celebrating its 25th anniversary as the largest environmental alliance in the pharmaceutical sector in Spain and an international benchmark in environmental sustainability, the circular economy and the protection of public health.

During a briefing breakfast held today in Madrid, SIGRE’s leading representatives took stock of a quarter of a century of activity and presented some of the data illustrating the system’s evolution since its inception. This evolution has garnered public support, leading to a more than 5% increase in medicine recycling by 2025, reaching 110 grams of empty or partially used medicine packaging per inhabitant.

Currently, medicines are already recycled in three out of every four Spanish households; 90% of the public consider it harmful to throw them in the bin or down the drain; and 99% of the population have at least one SIGRE collection point in their local area.

“SIGRE was established 25 years ago on the initiative of the pharmaceutical sector itself, as a pioneering, responsible and voluntary response to a challenge that remains as relevant as ever today: ensuring that leftover medicines and their packaging are managed safely to safeguard public health and protect the environment,” said Juan Yermo, Director General of Farmaindustria and President of SIGRE.

A collective model for the pharmaceutical sector

SIGRE now involves 397 pharmaceutical companies, 142 pharmaceutical distribution warehouses and more than 22,200 pharmacies. This extensive network has enabled the consolidation of a local, safe and effective system, in which every player in the pharmaceutical sector plays an essential role: the industry drives and funds the system, distribution ensures reverse logistics and traceability, and pharmacies act as collection points and provide advice to the public.

In the words of Miguel Vega, SIGRE’s Director General, “this initiative is not merely a waste collection system; it is the pharmaceutical sector’s largest collaborative project in the field of the circular economy and an example demonstrating that sustainability goals can only be achieved through partnerships that bring together the work carried out by each of the stakeholders involved”.

The system has evolved under the One Health approach, which recognises the connection between human, animal and environmental health. In this regard, SIGRE points out that the responsible use of medicines does not end when treatment finishes, but when the waste is correctly disposed of at the SIGRE Point in the pharmacy.

Pharmacies: key to consolidating medicine recycling

During the press conference, Jesús Aguilar, president of the General Council of Pharmaceutical Associations and vice-president of SIGRE, highlighted the role of pharmacies as the most visible face of the system to the public.

“The widespread presence, accessibility and professionalism of pharmacies have been decisive in making the use of the SIGRE Point an increasingly established habit among Spaniards. And this is crucial because recycling medicines is not just an environmental issue; it is directly linked to the responsible use of medicines and patient safety,” he emphasised.

Currently, nine out of ten pharmacists encourage the public to deposit empty packaging and leftover medicines at the SIGRE Point. Furthermore, 80% of the public express pride in the high percentage of Spanish households that recycle medicines.

Reverse logistics: 1,400 tonnes less CO₂ each year

Pharmaceutical distribution has been one of SIGRE’s cornerstones since its inception. In fact, the Federation of Pharmaceutical Distributors (FEDIFAR) was involved in its development, designing an efficient, viable logistics operation tailored to the realities of the pharmaceutical sector: the reverse logistics model, which integrates the management of medicine waste into the existing logistics network, avoiding the creation of parallel structures.

This system utilises the distribution routes for medicines to pharmacies to collect waste deposited by the public at SIGRE Points, reducing the environmental impact of transport. Thanks to this logistics model, the emission of 1,400 tonnes of CO₂ into the atmosphere is avoided each year.

“Reverse logistics is one of SIGRE’s great strengths, because sustainability is not an add-on to the system, but rather an integral part of how it operates,” explained Matilde Sánchez Reyes, president of FEDIFAR and vice-president of SIGRE, who added that its integration into the daily logistics of pharmaceutical wholesalers “may explain why SIGRE remains a benchmark today”.

Eco-design: over 3,500 initiatives since 2000

One of SIGRE’s most significant achievements over the past 25 years has been the promotion of eco-design in pharmaceutical packaging. Since 2000, pharmaceutical companies have implemented over 3,500 eco-design initiatives, resulting in a reduction of more than 25%in the average weight of pharmaceutical packaging.

Every year, around 500 million units of medicines — one in three — are placed on the market with some form of environmental improvement in their packaging. For example, the latest Packaging Prevention Plan, implemented from 2021 to 2023, enabled the introduction of 749 eco-design measures, with an estimated saving of over 2,800 tonnes of raw materials.

But the pharmaceutical industry’s commitment to environmental sustainability continues. The new 2024–2028 Business Plan for Prevention and Eco-design covers 92% of the units of medicine packaging sold and accounts for 90% by weight of the materials placed on the market by the sector, envisaging the implementation of 1,000 new prevention and eco-design initiatives over the coming years.

Cumulative environmental impact

Over the past 25 years, SIGRE’s activities have prevented the felling of 246,000 trees—the equivalent of 16 El Retiro parks in Madrid—as well as the emission of 100,000 tonnes of CO₂ into the atmosphere. It has also contributed to savings of 460 million litres of water, 485 million kWh of energy and 80 million litres of oil.

Furthermore, SIGRE’s medicinal waste sorting plant has incorporated artificial intelligence and robotics to improve material separation. Thanks to these advances, by 2025, 70.59% of the packaging materials deposited at the SIGRE collection point were recovered for recycling.

A new phase from 2025

Since January 2025, SIGRE has expanded its activities to include the management of pharmaceutical packaging waste generated in laboratories, healthcare centres and pharmaceutical sector facilities throughout Spain.

This expansion marks a new phase for the organisation, which aims to respond to a more demanding regulatory environment and move towards a more comprehensive view of the medicine lifecycle.

“We cannot simply stick to a model that has worked well; we must strengthen it, expand it and adapt it to new challenges. We want SIGRE to remain a benchmark for sustainability, innovation and sectoral collaboration,” said Miguel Vega.

International recognition

The SIGRE model has been recognised by organisations such as the OECD, the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Global Compact Spain and the National Plan against Antibiotic Resistance, for its contribution to the proper management of medicine waste and the prevention of environmental and health risks.

To mark its 25th anniversary, SIGRE wished to thank the pharmaceutical industry, distributors, pharmacies, public authorities and the general public for their involvement in this initiative. This collaboration has made it possible to consolidate a waste management model that protects both people’s health and the health of the planet.