Insulin pen upcycling program launched in Thailand

Global healthcare company Sanofi-Aventis, SCG Chemicals, a leader in the integrated chemical business for sustainability, CirPlas Tech, an expert in total plastic waste solutions, along with hospitals and partners from public and private sectors and related organizations, jointly launched the "Sanofi Planet Care Upcycling Program: Giving a New Life to Used Insulin Pens" in Thailand.

This initiative promotes the proper and hygienic recycling of used insulin pens and encourages the "Check, Remove, Dispose" behavior. Drop off areas in six pilot hospitals are set up for users to dispose their used insulin pens.

An insulin pen upcycling program is launched in Thailand, with drop off areas set up in six pilot hospitals.

Of over 5.2 million people living with diabetes in Thailand, more than 800,000 use Sanofi’s insulin pens annually, generating approximately 17 tons of plastic waste.

Used insulin pens are one of the medical wastes that are generated in large quantities, of which only 13% are currently collected and disposed of properly. The remaining nearly 90% contribute to environmental pollution, causing contamination in the soil and water sources.

With the initiative, used insulin pens in Thailand will be collected and properly recycled. SCG Chemicals leverages its expertise in green polymer innovation to recycle the plastic from used insulin pens into new products using advanced recycling technology.

Cirplas, a start-up focuses on one-stop service solutions for plastic waste, support the logistics part of collecting and sorting used insulin peens before sending to the recycling process.

This initiative aligns with the Ministry of Public Health's roadmap for municipal waste management to develop the environment and enhance public health safety. It has also contributed in driving Thailand towards carbon neutrality by 2050 and in achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2065.