The challenge
Medicine waste and its improper disposal is a global challenge. Improper medicine disposal leads to soil, air and especially marine pollution.
Every year in Greece, more than 40,000,000 boxes of medicines, which are worth over €1,000,000,000 expire in homes and are thrown away, polluting the aquatic environment and/or contributing to climate change.
Substances, such as paracetamol, have been found in rivers in Greece, which cannot be removed through biological treatment.
Exposure to pharmaceutical substances can harm ecosystems when they enter the environment, leading to higher death rates in aquatic species and alterations in their physiology, behavior, or reproductive patterns.
In addition to environmental contamination, pharmaceutical pollution affects public health, as active substances are returned to the human body through the food chain, such as fish.
The solution
The CPF supports GIVEMED in the MEDforSEA project, building and strengthening the formation of positive behavior practices that contribute to marine conservation and biodiversity.
Brilliantly crossing two diverse challenges : a) the environmental challenge of surplus medicine contamination in Cycladic aquatic life, and b) the limited access to medicines for close to 22% of the Greek population, MEDforSEA presents a unique solution for the Cyclades.
More specifically, it aims to educate and mobilize the local communities on the islands of Tinos and Naxos for the proper management of surplus medicines to protect the environment.
The method chosen to achieve this change is to reach the community through its youngest and most promising members, children.
Through the information and sensitization of school communities, local communities will change their habits towards the sustainable practice of donating unused medicine.
Project deliverables
GIVEMED in collaboration with KEPEA of Syros, and the support of CPF, will develop specially tailored educational material for primary schools in the islands of Cyclades.
The educational materials will be used to carry out four (4) training sessions and calls to action in the communities of Tinos and Naxos, while they will also serve as a basis for future educational initiatives.
About the Grantee:
GIVEMED is a non-profit organization aiming to facilitate access to medicines for all. People can donate medicine they no longer need to their network of social pharmacies, nursing homes and other public benefit entities.
Please learn more about our valuable grantee and partner on their website.
What you can do
- Check here where you can dispose of unused medicine, reducing healthcare waste that contributes 4.4% to global net emissions.
- Contact us to express your interest in the project on behalf of your school or community.
- Stand by CPF to continue supporting unique projects