Elephant Pharm

Elephant Pharm Unveils Groundbreaking Green Pharmacy Program

Teleosis Institute Helps Power First Eco-friendly Medicine Disposal and Pill Bottle Recycling Program 

BERKELEY, Calif. – November 13, 2008 – Elephant Pharm, the leading one-stop wellness store and complementary pharmacy, today announced the first, most comprehensive “green pharmacy.”  In partnership with the Teleosis Institute, Elephant Pharm is the first to offer a complete medicine bottle recycling and eco-friendly medicine disposal program. Elephant also offers the most ecologically sustainable way for consumers to recycle their medical sharps and needles, unwanted or expired medicines all in one place while protecting personal privacy.  Its Berkeley store even recycles mercury thermometers.

Unlike most medicine disposal programs that incinerate pills and medicine bottles together, Elephant Pharm collects the pills for incineration and recycles the bottles separately to significantly reduce negative environmental impact. The program provides a more environmentally sustainable alternative to throwing medicines and supplements in the trash or down the drain, which contaminates municipal waterways and landfills.

“Our free medicine disposal and bottle recycling services are great additions to our existing set of green business practices,” said Kathi Lentzsch, chief executive officer at Elephant Pharm. “As one of the most successful medicine disposal program in the country, we’ve collected and safely disposed over 3,000 pounds of medicines.  And in partnership with the Teleosis Institute and Shred-It, we recycle pill bottles in the most efficient, safe, and convenient method on the market today.”

Elephant Pharm recycles mixed plastics from medicine bottles and paper packaging in its stores’ drop-off bins. The bottles are collected, cleaned, shredded, and ground into a palletized form, which is processed into various plastic materials like plastic packaging, storage bins, or other bottles.  Shredding protects consumers’ private health information, which helps make the program more attractive to the community.

“Shredding and recycling the plastic bottles and paper packaging is not only better for the environment, but is also more cost-effective than incineration because the amount of waste is significantly reduced,” remarked James Dong, coordinator of the Green Pharmacy Program at Teleosis Institute. “We hope that the success of recycling and shredding at Elephant will set a new standard for medicine disposal programs nationwide. Elephant and Teleosis are committed to educating the public about the harmful effects of improper medicine disposal, and the economic and environmental benefits of recycling.”

Elephant Pharm customers can return unwanted or expired medicines at its stores in Walnut Creek, Berkeley, or San Rafael.  Customers can also recycle their medical sharps at its San Rafael or Walnut Creek stores.  Finally, to help support National Diabetes Month this November, customers who are concerned about diabetes can receive free glucometers at all of its stores.

For more information on safe medicine disposal, visit www.greenpharmacyprogram.com. Elephant Pharm customers are encouraged to download and fill out a medicine disposal form, and bring it to the pharmacy to drop off their unwanted medicines.  The form is available at www.elephantpharm.com/greenpharmacy and at all Elephant Pharmacy locations.

About Elephant Pharm

Elephant Pharm, the leading one-stop wellness store and complementary pharmacy, provides a vibrant alternative to typical chain drug stores. Founded in Berkeley, CA in 2002, Elephant acts as a bridge between conventional and alternative products and services, helping people make informed decisions about their health. In addition to traditional Rx and herbal pharmacies, customers will also find a selection of lifestyle products far beyond typical drugstore offerings, from natural and organic foods to healthy household supplies; from yoga gear to eco-friendly home accessories. The carefully selected team of wellness practitioners offers free, one-on-one consultations every day, and visiting experts lead hundreds of free classes and clinics every month. Elephant Pharm stores are natural community hubs dedicated to people seeking a good long life, well lived. The company has locations in Berkeley, San Rafael and Walnut Creek. For more information, visit www.elephantpharm.com.

About Teleosis

The Teleosis Institute is dedicated to reducing healthcare’s environmental footprint by developing effective, sustainable health care programs provided by professionals who serve as environmental health stewards. Teleosis believes in a health care system that conserves natural resources, promotes personal wellness, and begins with precaution. Founded in 2004, Teleosis set out to educate and empower health providers as leaders in the emerging field of sustainable medicine and to build a movement for positive social and environmental change. Programs include: Leadership Training in Green Health Care, Green Pharmacy Program, Symbiosis: The Journal of Ecologically Sustainable Medicine, Environmental Health Publications, and the Green Health Care Newsletter. The Teleosis Institute, located in Berkeley, CA, is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization and a certified Bay Area Green Business. For more information, visit www.teleosis.org.