An understanding of the importance of green engineering in the design of pharmaceutical syntheses will provide for a more sustainable manufacturing platform in the future. Case studies sponsored by EPA and major pharmaceutical companies have evaluated greener designs for solvent recovery which reduce the overall solvent consumption solvent, associated waste, process energy, and life cycle emissions. These studies have evaluated greener separation processes and greener solvents using both LCA and economic metrics. Software has been developed to guide decision making and optimize processes based on these desired outcomes. When integrated correctly, solvent recovery is a viable option to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of drug synthesis. Life cycle analysis of pharmaceutical manufacturing routes involving solvents such as acetonitrile, isopropanol, methanol, tetrahydrofuran, and methyltetrahydrofuran have been conducted. This paper will review the approaches taken to determine the optimal application of greener technologies to minimize emissions and make pharmaceutical manufacturing more sustainable.