GSK Malaysia launches second phase of #GiveBack campaign in conjunction with World Environment Day, championing responsible disposal of medical waste

• GSK’s #GiveBack campaign helps to reduce landfill waste and prevent unused medications and greenhouse gases from contaminating the environment
• Extended collaboration with partners Alpro Pharmacy, AM PM Pharmacy, BIG Pharmacy, CARiNG Pharmacy Group, FirstCare Pharmacy, Health Lane Family Pharmacy, Mega Kulim Pharmacy, Park@city Pharmacy & Medical Supplies, Straits Pharmacy and Sunway Multicare Pharmacy, supported by the Malaysian Pharmacists Society (MPS), increases collection points for greater convenience
• Used asthma inhalers and medicine blister packs may be dropped off at over 600 collection points nationwide for proper disposal

GSK Malaysia is taking the lead in promoting responsible disposal of medical waste with the second phase of its nationwide #GiveBack campaign, launched in conjunction with World Environment Day. The campaign is a nationwide Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) effort to collect used, expired or unwanted asthma inhalers and medicine blister packaging for proper and safe disposal, and it features expanded partnerships that broaden its reach and increase the number of collection points for greater ease and participation.

From left to right: Jessica Peggy Riekert from Team Dream Team, Taylor’s University,Asrizal Razali, Programme Director of The Design School, Taylor’s University, David Lin, Director, Communications, Government Affairs, & Strategic Customer Solutions, GSK Malaysia & Brunei, Dr Jonathan Pan, Vice President & General Manager of GSK Malaysia & Brunei, Professor Amrahi Buang, President of Malaysian Pharmacists Society, Ph Lim En Ni, Chief Pharmacist, Alpro Pharmacy, Ricky Lim, General Manager, Sunway Multicare Pharmacy, Loo Jooi Leng, Marketing & CSR Director, CARiNG Pharmacy, Loh Hey King, Director, Health Lane Pharmacy, Lee Meng Chuan, Chief Executive Officer, BIG Pharmacy

Dr Jonathan Pan, Vice President & General Manager of GSK Malaysia & Brunei said: “As part of our commitment to global sustainability, GSK is dedicated to achieving net zero impact on climate and net positive impact on nature by 2030. Our #GiveBack campaign supports these goals by offering the Malaysian public a convenient way to dispose of their used inhalers and leftover medicine blister packs responsibly, lessening their impact to our environment. In June of last year, we started the pilot phase with our first campaign partner BIG Pharmacy and now with additional partner pharmacies and healthcare groups, we look forward to the expansion of this programme and participation of the Malaysian public in #GiveBack.”

Dr Jonathan Pan, Vice President & General Manager of GSK Malaysia & Brunei giving a welcome speech during the launch of GSK Malaysia’s #GiveBack Campaign Phase 2 recently.

Globally, healthcare systems contribute around 5.9 million tonnes of solid waste to landfills ^[1] and over 4% of carbon emissions ^[2]. Among these are pressurised asthma inhalers which are often discarded before they are completely empty. The inhalers contain propellants which are greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. Each inhaler releases greenhouse gases that can fill 300 balloons ^[3][4], and when combined with any leftover medication, can combust or seep into the environment ^[5]. Therefore, proper disposal of these unwanted waste materials is crucial. Furthermore, blister packaging commonly used in medication storage contributes to landfill waste, and unfinished medications in these blister packs pose a danger of leaching into the ground or waterways. ^[6]

From left to right: Jessica Peggy Riekert from Team Dream Team and Asrizal Razali, Programme Director of The Design School, Taylor’s University; Dr Jonathan Pan, Vice President & General Manager of GSK Malaysia & Brunei and David Lin, Director, Communications, Government Affairs, & Strategic Customer Solutions, GSK Malaysia & Brunei revealing the art installation made of used inhalers and medicine blister packs to create awareness about the impact of medical waste on the environment during the launch of the GSK #GiveBack Campaign Phase 2 recently.

Professor Amrahi Buang, President of the Malaysian Pharmacists Society (MPS) said: “GSK’s #GiveBack campaign is aligned with the Ministry of Health Malaysia’s ‘Returning Medicines’ campaign, and we urge all Malaysians to support this effort by bringing their used or unfinished asthma inhalers and blister packs to any of the collection points for proper disposal. In our line of work, we need to balance the necessity of dispensing medication that is securely packaged while acknowledging its impact on the environment and doing what we can to reduce our carbon footprint.”

To further engage the public, GSK has creatively commissioned an art installation using discarded blister packs and asthma inhalers. The installation, designed by students from The Design School at Taylor’s University, highlights the importance of proper medical waste disposal and its impact on the environment while also providing an opportunity for the next generation to get involved in environmental advocacy. The installation will be displayed during the GSK #GiveBack Roving Truck roadshow at high-traffic venues across the Klang Valley, stoking greater awareness and increased interest in sustainability.

The #GiveBack campaign will continue accepting used or unwanted asthma inhalers and medicine blister packs at any of the GSK #GiveBack bins located in partner pharmacies and hospitals/clinics nationwide. During the Roving Truck roadshow from 17 – 26 June 2023, the public can also drop off their medical waste. For more information about the campaign, please visit your nearby pharmacy/hospital or log on to The Design School @ Taylor’s University’s Instagram (www.instagram.com/taylorsdesignschool). Let’s all join hands in supporting this campaign and contribute to a sustainable future.

[1] Kenny C, Priyadarshini A. Review of Current Healthcare Waste Management Methods and Their Effect on Global Health Healthcare [Online]. 2021;9(3):284. Available from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7999172/ [Accessed: 27th March 2023]
[2] Metzke, R.Here’s how healthcare can reduce its carbon footprint [Online] World Economic Forum; 2022. Available from: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/10/cop27-how-healthcare-can-reduce-carbon-footprint/ [Accessed: 23rd March 2023]
[3] Time. How One Commonly Used Asthma Inhaler is Damaging the Planet. https://time.com/5717676/asthma-inhalers-and-climate/ [Accessed: 27th March 2023]
[4] Weighing CO2 in Balloons https://blogs.bath.ac.uk/csct/wp-content/uploads/sites/43/2014/06/weighing-CO2-in-balloons.pdf [Accessed: 27th March 2023]
[5] MedPro Disposal. How To Dispose Of Expired Inhalers. https://www.medprodisposal.com/what-do-with-old-inhalers/ [Accessed: 27th March 2023]
[6] MyHealth. Handling Unused Medicines. http://www.myhealth.gov.my/en/handling-unused-medicines/ [Accessed: 3rd April 2023]