Highlights
- A much-needed initiative developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic – recycling and reuse of hand sanitiser containers.
- Working in partnership to reduce plastic waste, carbon footprint and use of raw materials.
- Supporting customers across the NHS supply chain.
- Supporting individuals living within deprived areas to gain work experience and employment.
- In line with Green Recovery principles they are providing jobs, benefiting local communities and targeting support to where it is needed.
Greenock-based Redeem Exchange is an initiative developed through Trade Right International, a Social Business operating to reduce social issues within Scotland, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the NHS’ increased needs for PPE. Its aim is to reduce PET and HDPE plastics waste by providing an alternative method of sourcing the bottles and closures needed for NHS hand sanitiser through a collect, wash and refill service.
The start of the COVID-19 pandemic led to a national and worldwide shortage of valuable hand sanitiser, together with the required bottles and closures in which to provide it for circulation within NHS services.
An extensive number of hand sanitiser bottles are used within NHS services, deemed as single-use components, and thrown away when they are empty. However, these can be reused, their lifecycle can be lengthened substantially, creating less waste and a higher, more guaranteed frequency of supply.
By introducing a service where the bottles are “redeemed”, the same bottles can then be “exchanged”, refilled with a high quality, medically approved hand sanitiser, and returned to circulation, ensuring NHS staff and other healthcare employees continue to work in a safe, protected environment. By introducing this “circular economy”, they are also supporting the environmental drive to reduce single-use plastics and non-biodegradable waste going to landfill; Redeem Exchange reported that nearly 25,000 bottles a year go to landfill in Inverclyde alone.
With support gained from the Scottish Government and Zero Waste Scotland, whilst working in partnership with NHS National Services Scotland Procurement, as at October 2020, Redeem Exchange was located in 23 facilities within the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board, as well as supporting Health and Social Care Partnership care facilities. The intention was then to roll out across all remaining health boards in Scotland as well as other sectors, as their process can be easily adapted to suit any environment where hand sanitiser is used.
Redeem Exchange has key values embedded in their daily activities, including being able to work and operate in a Fair, Ethical and Sustainable way. They support individuals living within the deprived areas of Scotland to gain valuable work experience and employment. Redeem Exchange are confident that they trade, operate and source ethically, and support their customers to reduce both their carbon footprint and plastic waste. As a not for profit organisation, they are invested in supporting those who need it most.
Redeem Exchange demonstrates how organisations can support the Scottish Government’s integrated Health and Social Care Strategy at a local level, whilst improving its sustainability through a shared, collaborative practice, and by introducing a circular economy to reduce plastic waste entering landfill.