CEO Corner: Creating a Sustainable Future

In late December, the Deterra® Drug Deactivation and Disposal System received a 2021 SEAL Business Sustainability Award, which celebrates companies’ leadership, transparency and commitment to sustainable business practices.

Deterra was honored in the Sustainable Product category, which recognizes innovative and impactful products that are built to create a more sustainable future.

A commitment to the environment is a central part of our mission, but it extends beyond making sure that unused drugs don’t contaminate our landfills or water systems.

We believe every business has a responsibility to take proactive steps to address climate change and pollution in whatever way they can. We designed Deterra as an alternative to flushing or throwing medications in the trash—both of which allow active drugs to enter our water and soil—but we knew we could do more to reduce our carbon footprint and make Deterra the safest drug deactivation and disposal choice for the environment.

In 2020, we launched new plant-based pouches that are USDA Certified, 50% or more bio-based, and that have earned the I’m green™ plastic certification from Braskem.

In addition to the pouch itself, we wanted to ensure that Deterra is environmentally sound throughout its entire product life cycle. This includes our pouches being manufactured in a factory built to LEED® Silver sustainable building guidelines on equipment powered by 100% wind-generated electrical energy. We also use a special printing process to reduce ink consumption and waste production.

Drug misuse prevention starts with proper disposal, and so does protecting our environment. As we strive to reach our goal to deactivate 1 billion unwanted pills by 2023, we continue our focus on reducing the negative environmental impact of improperly disposed of medications.

Want to help prevent medication misuse and preserve our natural resources? You can purchase Deterra Pouches online for personal use, or contact our team and tell us how we can make environmentally sound at-home drug deactivation part of your workplace, clinic, or community prevention efforts.

***