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Novo Nordisk Launches Safe Pharmaceuticals Disposal Initiative For Employees

By TheCSRUniverse Team Published 21 Sep 2024

Bengaluru, Sep 21, 2024: Global healthcare company Novo Nordisk Global Business Services (GBS) has launched a sustainable initiative aimed at promoting safe and responsible disposal of pharmaceutical products.

Launched internally for employees in partnership with Connect and Heal Foundation, Eco Med Safe program is designed to minimise environmental impact and enhance public health by safely disposing unused or expired medicines.

“Through this program, we aim to address the significant environmental risks posed by improper disposal of medications. The safe removal of expired or unused pharmaceuticals prevents contamination of water systems and soil, protecting both ecosystems, human and animal health. This initiative is also likely to contribute to mitigating the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria which is a growing global concern linked to the presence of antibiotics in the environment,” said Dr Prasanna Kumar T S, Vice President, Global Safety, Novo Nordisk Global Business Services.

"Building on our Circular for Zero environmental strategy, we view the Sustainable Development Goals (good health & sustainable communities) as a great opportunity to enhance our sustainability efforts. The Eco Med Safe program presents an innovative educational platform, promoting responsible medication disposal practices and significantly reducing environmental risks. Education is essential for achieving success in this endeavour, and we are enthusiastic about partnering with other companies and the broader healthcare community. Together, we can better understand the impacts of improper disposal of unused medicines and support voluntary community collection programs," said John Dawber, Corporate Vice President & Managing Director, Novo Nordisk Global Business Services.