Winner
Take AIR Inhaler Recycling Scheme
Summary of work
73 million inhalers are used in the UK annually (with nearly all disposed of in municipal waste sites and landfills) releasing harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere that are several thousand times more likely to induce global warming than CO2.
Chiesi Ltd (Chiesi), in partnership with University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and Leicestershire and Rutland Local Pharmaceutical Committee, created and funded Take AIR (Action for Inhaler Recycling) – the first and only scheme to allow people to recycle their empty, unwanted, or out-of-date inhalers through the post. The scheme launched across community pharmacies in February 2021 as a 12-month proof-of-concept scheme in Leicestershire – later extended by a further 12-months and rolled-out to hospitals in the area following demand from NHS stakeholders.
M+F Health supported the launch and evolution of the scheme by creating its branding and identity and raising awareness through stakeholder engagement and a media outreach programme, generating extensive coverage. From launch to February 2023, over 50,000 inhalers have been returned and nearly two-thirds of Leicestershire pharmacies participate. Chiesi has since worked with M+F to create an implementation toolkit, where learnings and results can be used to help create local and national NHS-run multi-stakeholder recycling schemes.
Testimonials and Judges’ comments
The Take AIR Inhaler Recycling Scheme had strong objectives and really great research. Its outcomes and outputs were robust on an important topic. It was well executed, tight and had ramifications beyond the work itself. Basically, it ticked all the boxes!
