Blooms The Chemist, collaborating with Pharmacycle, has recycled more than 10 million blister packs since launching its in-store collection program in November 2022. Through this initiative, the national pharmacy chain has recovered over 15,000 kilograms of aluminium and plastic from these packs.
With support from sponsors Gaviscon, Nurofen, and Strepsils, Blooms The Chemist became the first national pharmacy company in Australia to introduce blister pack collection boxes across all its 115 stores.
The blister packs are recycled by Pharmacycle at its Silverwater, NSW site.
Some of the top contributors to this recycling effort included Blooms The Chemist Erina (NSW), which recycled 624.21 kilograms of medicine packaging, followed by Blooms The Chemist Stud Park (VIC). Other stores were Blooms The Chemist Forestville (NSW), Blooms The Chemist Springwood (NSW), and Blooms The Chemist Castle Plaza (SA).
Pamela Bishop, chief strategy and innovation officer at Blooms The Chemist, said, “Thanks to our collaboration with Pharmacycle and the passion of our network pharmacies, we have been able to reach this milestone and help our customers contribute to a more sustainable future.”
Ursi Kernan, Pharmacycle’s account manager for Blooms The Chemist, added, “Plastic packaging comprises 81.1 percent of Australia’s litter. This joint initiative with Blooms The Chemist is helping to deliver end-to-end recycling solutions for the community and achieve better outcomes for the planet.”
Customers can join the initiative by dropping off their used blister packs at any Blooms The Chemist location.
