Going Green with your Inhalers
Your little action can have a big impact on our environment
This page provides some education around managing your respiratory condition and reducing the carbon footprint of your inhaler treatment.
Climate change and health
The climate crisis is also a health crisis. It affects our wellbeing in many ways — from worsening air quality to increasing the risk of extreme weather events. At the same time, healthcare itself contributes to climate change through the emissions it produces.
NHS Wales is working towards becoming carbon net zero by 2030. To reach this goal, we need to reduce emissions from various sources, including inhalers, and support environmental projects to offset any remaining impact. By choosing more eco-friendly inhalers, you can support towards a healthier planet.
Attending your review is an important part of keeping your asthma or COPD well managed. Regular check-ins with healthcare professionals can help ensure your treatment is working effectively and give you the chance to discuss any changes in your symptoms.
Good control of your condition not only helps you feel better and reduces the risk of flare-ups — it also benefits the environment.
If you use separate preventer and reliever inhalers and find yourself reaching for your reliever inhaler three or more times a week, or if you've experienced an asthma attack or a worsening of symptoms, regardless of your inhaler regime, it may be a sign that your condition isn’t fully under control.
Please book an appointment with your healthcare practitioner to review your treatment and ensure you’re getting the best support for your condition.
You can also monitor your symptoms using the Asthma Hub or COPD Hub apps, which are designed to support you in managing your condition between appointments.
Go here to access the Asthma hub app.
Go here to access the COPD hub app.
There are several types of inhalers available to help manage asthma and COPD. The most important thing is finding one that suits your needs and that you can use confidently and correctly.
Dry powder inhalers
Dry powder inhalers (DPIs) are breath-actuated, meaning the medicine is released when you breathe in. They don’t contain propellant gases, making them a more environmentally friendly option.
To use a DPI effectively, you need to breathe in quickly and deeply. Most people find DPIs easier to use than traditional inhalers, but they may not be suitable for young children or older adults who struggle to take a deep breath.
DPIs contain dry powder only, with no added propellants or carriers, which makes them safer for the environment. Your healthcare practitioner can assess whether a DPI is right for you. There are many types available, so it may take time to find the one that works best.
Soft mist inhalers
Soft mist inhalers (SMIs) release a slow-moving mist, which helps the medicine reach your lungs more effectively. You don’t need to breathe in deeply, just a slow, gentle breath is enough.
SMIs offer several helpful features:
· They change colour when nearly empty
· They lock once the medicine is finished
· They can often be refilled with medication cartridges
SMIs are a convenient and effective option for many patients, although only a limited number of medicines are currently available in this type of inhaler.
Pressurised metered dose inhalers
Pressurised metered dose inhalers (pMDIs) use a pressurised canister to deliver medicine. They require a slow, steady breath and should be used with a spacer device to help the medicine reach your lungs properly.
pMDIs contain propellant gases, which in most cases are powerful greenhouse gases. These contribute to climate change and are estimated to account for 3.5% of the NHS’s total carbon footprint.
Your healthcare practitioner will work with you to find the inhaler that best suits your condition and that you are able to use effectively. If you're interested in exploring a more environmentally friendly option, be sure to mention this at your next review.
Using your inhaler correctly is essential for keeping your asthma or COPD well controlled. Poor technique can mean the medicine doesn’t reach your lungs properly, which may lead to worsening symptoms, and can also result in more frequent inhaler use, increasing your impact on the environment.
The videos linked below show how to use different types of inhalers and are a great way to check your technique at home.
Go here for a video from Asthma and Lung UK containing useful tips to use your inhaler
If you're unsure whether you're using your inhaler correctly, or if you have any concerns, speak to your healthcare practitioner. They can review your technique and offer support to help you get the most from your treatment.
It’s important to only order inhalers when you need them - this helps reduce waste and protect the environment.
The NHS in Wales spends over £74 million on inhalers each year. Wasted inhalers not only cost money, but they also have an environmental impact, especially those containing powerful greenhouse gases.
By ordering responsibly, you’re helping the NHS and the planet.
When your inhaler is finished, take it back to your local pharmacy for safe disposal. Pharmacies can dispose of inhalers in a way that’s better for the environment.
If inhalers are thrown away with household rubbish, they end up in landfill - where they can continue to release harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Inhalers can’t be recycled in your household waste, so returning them to the pharmacy is the best option.
Rydym yn croesawu gohebiaeth a galwadau ffôn yn y Gymraeg neu'r Saesneg. Atebir gohebiaeth Gymraeg yn y Gymraeg, ac ni fydd hyn yn arwain at oedi. Mae’r dudalen hon ar gael yn Gymraeg drwy bwyso’r botwm ar y dde ar frig y dudalen.
We welcome correspondence and telephone calls in Welsh or English. Welsh language correspondence will be replied to in Welsh, and this will not lead to a delay. This page is available in Welsh by clicking ‘Cymraeg’ at the top right of this page.