TERRYWHITE Chemmart (TWC)and Sanofi have reinforced their commitment to the safe and eco-friendly disposal of unwanted medications through the Return of Unwanted Medicines (RUM) project.
Now in its 25th year, RUM has disposed of over 12.5 million kilograms of medicinal waste, helping to protect the environment.
TerryWhite Chemmart doubled the number of RUM bins collected across its network, increasing from 1,500 in 2023 to 3,129 in 2024.
This boost came during their annual RUM awareness campaign, which runs from late Aug to mid-Sep, but their commitment to safe medication disposal continues year-round.
Recently, Sanofi's leadership, including Liz Selby, Country Lead and Head of Pharma, and Mike Zhang, General Manager Vaccines, met with leaders from TerryWhite Chemmart, including Executive General Manager, Nick Munroe and Acting Chief Pharmacist, Krystel Tresillian, to discuss ongoing initiatives for the RUM project.
"Together with Sanofi, we are committed to reminding Australians of the importance of disposing of their unwanted medications safely," Munroe said.
"By bringing expired or unused medicines to their local TerryWhite Chemmart pharmacy, Australians can help reduce environmental harm and eliminate the risks associated with improper storage and disposal," he commented.
"This partnership aligns with Sanofi's commitment to addressing climate change by minimising the environmental impact of our products and operations, including eco-design of packaging, decarbonisation, and waste reduction efforts," added Selby.
Toni Riley, Program Director of the RUM project, reflected on the collaboration, and stated, "this partnership between TerryWhite Chemmart, Sanofi, and RUM is unprecedented in its scope".
"It allows us to connect with Australians throughout the lifecycle of their medicines.
"The missing piece of the puzzle is ensuring that individuals with out-of-date or unwanted medications in their homes take action by using our free and convenient service." JG
Pictured: Munroe, Selby, Tresillian, and Zhang.
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