Most household blister packs end up in landfill because they cannot be recycled through standard kerbside systems.
Consumer health company Haleon, the maker of Panadol, has partnered with Pharmacycle in Australia to tackle the issue with a new recycling initiative.
The program introduces a household recycling satchel that allows consumers to collect empty blister packs from any brand and return them via Australia Post using a prepaid label.
Pharmacycle then applies a specialised process to separate the plastic and aluminium so the materials can be reused.
Nagraj Iyer, MD at Haleon, said the partnership was designed to make recycling more accessible.
“Sustainability is an ongoing priority for us at Haleon, and we’re committed to playing our part by supporting practical, accessible solutions that fit into people’s everyday lives,” Iyer said.
Pharmacycle operates the country’s only end-to-end blister pack recycling program, managing nationwide collection, advanced material separation, and local reprocessing. All recovered materials are processed within Australia.
GM Michael Klapsogiannis said the initiative demonstrates the need for improved recycling systems.
“It’s encouraging to see leading consumer healthcare companies like Haleon taking action to support broader change, and we’re proud to partner with a team that shares our commitment to improving how waste is managed in Australia,” he added.
“Together, we’re continuing to close the gap on this common but complex waste issue and making it easier for Australians to be part of the solution.”
