Blister pack recycling process
Blooms The Chemist has reached a landmark sustainability milestone, with 25 million blister packs collected and recycled through its partnership with Pharmacycle, Australia’s only end-to-end blister pack recycling program.
As the first pharmacy chain in Australia to join the program, Blooms helped make blister pack recycling accessible to communities nationwide through their pharmacy network. That early commitment to sustainability has now resulted in 25 million blister packs being diverted from landfill.
Blister packs cannot be recycled through standard household kerbside systems, which has historically made them difficult for Australians to recycle responsibly. Since launching the program in 2022, Blooms The Chemist customers have embraced the opportunity to return their empty blister packs in store, making blister pack recycling part of their regular pharmacy visit.
Blooms The Chemist Sustainability Manager Annabel White said the milestone reflects the company’s broader purpose.
“Our partnership with Pharmacycle and program sponsors reflects Blooms The Chemist’s commitment to responsible business practices. We collaborate across industries to reduce waste and drive meaningful change,” said White.
“Every blister pack recycled helps create a healthier planet and in turn supports healthier communities. This reflects our purpose to build a future where everyone everywhere has access to good health and wellbeing. The 25-million milestone is a testament to our people and the communities we serve who have supported the program since launch. We’re only just getting started.”
Pharmacycle’s Head of Strategy, Jason Rijnbeek, was involved in launching the partnership with Blooms The Chemist in 2022. He said the chain’s willingness to be first set a new standard for the industry.
“No pharmacy chain had done this before Blooms,” said Rijnbeek. “They saw the problem, understood what they could do about it and committed without waiting to see who else would move first. That kind of trailblazing is rare, and it made a genuine difference to how quickly blister pack recycling became accessible in Australia.”
Visit your nearest participating Blooms The Chemist store or find your closest drop-off location via the Pharmacycle website.
About Blooms The Chemist
Blooms The Chemist is one of Australia’s most trusted community pharmacy networks, with over 100 independently owned and operated stores nationwide. For over 40 years, the network has been committed to putting people first, delivering personalised care and better health outcomes for Australian families and communities.
About Pharmacycle
Pharmacycle is Australia’s only complete blister pack recycling program, designed to address the unique recycling challenges of blister pack waste. Its end-to-end system, spanning nationwide collection, advanced material separation, and local processing, ensures recovered materials are reprocessed here in Australia. Through partnerships and a focus on practical and transparent sustainability, Pharmacycle helps businesses, communities, and individuals recycle blister packs with confidence.
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