Organised by Novo Nordisk A/S
Chair
Mr Niels Otterstrøm Jensen, programme lead and facilitator, Denmark
Introduction
In this “Lunch and Learn” you will hear about how the world’s first cross industry take-back programme for injection pens was developed in a unique partnership between Novo Nordisk, the Danish Pharmacy Association, the pharma distributors Nomeco and TMJ, Danish patient organisations and the waste handler company NG Nordic.
The presentation will include an overview of how the programme has evolved from being a Novo Nordisk lead programme to becoming an industry solution across a number of pharmaceutical companies in Denmark.
Novo Nordisk is today promoting take-back solutions in seven different countries including DK, UK, France, Italy, Germany, Brazil and Japan with the ambition to progress the local take-back programmes into industry solutions that will include medical devices waste from the majority of pharma companies.
The session will include best practice sharing from representatives from the Danish Pharmaceutical Association, the pharma distributor Nomeco, and the waste handler company NG Nordic and all panelists will be ready to answer questions and engage in a dialogue with the attendants.
Programme:
| 13:00 – 13:05 | Chair introduction |
| Mr Niels Otterstrøm Jensen, programme lead and facilitator, Denmark | |
| 13:05 – 13:25 | Launching the first take-back programme for injection pens |
| Mr Niels Otterstrøm Jensen, programme lead and facilitator, Denmark | |
| 13:25 – 13:50 | Panel debate and best practise sharing |
| Ms Helle Jacobsgaard, Danish Pharmacy Association, Denmark | |
| Mr Henrik Kaastrup, Nomeco A/S, Denmark | |
| Mr Thomas Mørk, Zirq Solutions, Denmark | |
| 13:50 – 14:00 | Closing |
Learning objectives:
1. Understand how a take-back programme is initiated across different stakeholders in the health care sector including:
a. Who are the stakeholders
b. What do they need to do
c. What resources are needed
2. Understand what a take-back programme for pharmaceutical products looks like in practice and what environmental impact savings it can deliver
3. Learn about what challenges and benefits the different stakeholders including pharmacists and pharmacy associations may encounter when entering into a take-back programme
Take home messages:
1. Millions of people with chronic diseases rely on medical injection pens, but once used,
many end up in landfills or are incinerated—wasting valuable materials that could be recycled.
2. To address this issue, Novo Nordisk launched returpen™ in 2020 in collaboration with the Danish Pharmacy association, patient organisations, distributors and a waste handling company.
3. A return solution for medical waste has been created where pharmacies collect used injection pens and pharma distributors deliver them to a waste handling company that recycles the materials for new purposes.
4. Thereby reducing environmental impact by decreasing reliance on virgin fossil-based plastics and promoting a circular economy through sustainable recycling practices.
5. This collaboration has since been expanded to include pharma peers in Denmark
6. Under the overarching name ReMed™ Novo Nordisk is today driving take-back programmes in seven countries including DK; UK; France; Germany; Italy; Brazil; Japan.
7. Since its launch in 2020, ReMedTM has collected over five million pens.
8. We are continuously working to increase return rates and invite users of our products to join us in reducing plastic waste by returning their injection pens after use.
