Dong-A Pharmaceutical to run drug disposal program
![Korean Pharmaceutical Association, Dong-A Pharmaceutical and Yongma Logis join hands for a project to collect unused medication. [DONG-A SOCIO HOLDINGS]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2021/10/28/a665a97f-b0a3-49e0-926b-fe2b66e92c89.jpg)
Korean Pharmaceutical Association, Dong-A Pharmaceutical and Yongma Logis join hands for a project to collect unused medication. [DONG-A SOCIO HOLDINGS]
The goal of the MOU is to promote public health and to protect the environment by collecting unused drugs discarded in households.
Dong-A Pharmaceutical will oversee business operation and administrative support for the project in collaboration with local government and local branches of KPA, while Yongma Logis manages the logistic system to collect, store and transport discarded medication. Collected medication will be incinerated, Dong-A Socio Holdings explained.
KPA plans to promote the project and encourage the local pharmacist to actively participate, so that the unused medication can be collected via pharmacies.
Dong-A and Yongma also signed an MOU with Dangjin city government to cooperate on the unused medication disposal program.
The estimated amount of discarded medication in Korea was 4,690 tons in 2018, and the number will only grow as the Korean society is rapidly graying. For Korean society is predicted to become super-aged by 2025 and the estimated number amounts to 6,700 tons, the importance of unused medication disposal system will continue to increase.
Moreover, Dong-A Socio Holdings announced it will replace 360 units of its company cars to eco-friendly vehicle by 2024. Some 70 percent of corporate cars at Dong-A Pharmaceutical and Dong-A ST are hybrids as of now, and Dong-A Socio Holdings aims to bring in electric vehicles as well.
In addition, Dong-A Socio Holdings is striving to create an environmentally friendly corporate culture by zero plastic campaign, the company stated.
“Unused medication discarded with other household waste severely contaminates the environment and causes harm to human through drinking water and food ingredient,” an official at Dong-A Socio Holdings said.
“We will continue to expand the unused drug disposal project in more regions, to promote public health and prevent environmental pollution.”
By Shin Ha-nee [shin.hanee@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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