Latest news with #CabinetHealth
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Cabinet Health disrupts healthcare with ‘sustainable pharmacy'
(KTAL/KMSS) — With nearly 5 billion prescriptions filled annually in the U.S., most plastic pill bottles end up in landfills due to limited recyclability, contributing to microplastic pollution linked to a host of health issues, such as cognitive decline and inflammation. One company is advocating for sustainable alternatives to eliminate single-use plastics in the healthcare industry. Cabinet Health, which markets itself as a 'sustainable pharmacy' offering over-the-counter medications (excluding controlled substances) in reusable, stackable glass containers. How microplastics affect human health Co-founded by Chinese-American Russell Gong and Indian-American Achal Patel. Gong is a specialist in sustainable products and an active U.S. infantry soldier who worked on legislation regarding the first plastic bag taxes and on building the Cabinet. 'I think the first thing is ultimately this is about a health care issue, not just about a packaging issue, that the more that our health care products and the way that we treat patients, the more that it's better for the environment is inevitably better,' says Gong. Patel is a third-generational pharmaceutical entrepreneur whose grandfather built one of the first sets of medicine factories in India. Together, they combined their knowledge of medicine and sustainability to create Cabinet Health. Since co-founders Achal Patel and Gong's appearance on Shark Tank, their refillable system has been sold nationwide at Target and Amazon; however, Gong says, they are still working on closing the gap between healthcare and sustainability. 'It really makes it a health care issue, is that today there's so much plastic in our environment that we're starting to consume it. So, we consume upwards of a credit card's worth of microplastics every single week, which is crazy to me. And that plastic is showing up in our bloodstream and even our brains as more and more medical science shows that it's also creating a lot of health care issues,' says Cabinet Health Pharmacy co-founder Russell Gong. The company is a Certified B Corporation and has developed the first reusable packaging system for over-the-counter medicines. 'If there's one thing that I would tell a general audience about sustainable healthcare, it's just to start paying attention to what is sustainable healthcare, start being curious about what is going into our bodies, the healthcare that we're receiving, and wanting and demanding more,' said Gong. The Source: gifting sustainably, everything local As of February 2025, Cabinet Health no longer offers its subscription, focusing instead on more impactful ways to reduce plastic in the healthcare industry. He encourages individuals to pay attention to what they put into their bodies while demanding that healthcare leaders do the same. 'It's really incumbent upon us as health care leaders to help patients make that choice that doesn't have to make a compromise. And so, again, I think most of our focus and efforts should be about how we win the leadership battles that change the system so that patients, when they are taking care of their husbands and their children and their mothers, they don't have to choose,' says Gong. Gong says they are 'following the plastic' and launched Powered by Cabinet. This business program encourages healthcare companies to develop sustainable products and services by leveraging their years of research, insights, and tools. 'We don't believe that there should be a choice between a patient's personal health and the choice for their environment and their loved ones. And that's really what we're looking to encourage, is that the science exists. It's just a matter of 'Are we innovative and creative enough to apply it?'' says Gong, Where to dispose of prescription drugs locally? Did you know you can donate used prescription bottles? Matthew 25 Ministries is an international humanitarian and disaster relief organization that collects empty pill bottles to send to developing countries where medical supplies are in short supply. They accept empty, clean prescription and over-the-counter pill bottles of varying sizes. However, there is a downside to donating them because you need to ship the bottles to their drop-off location in Blue Ash, Ohio. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Engineers develop revolutionary replacement for ubiquitous pharmacy item — and it could hit shelves soon
Parcel Health, a pharmaceutical packaging company dedicated to protecting people and preserving the planet, has invented a paper-based prescription medication bottle. According to Yanko Design, the new prescription bottles, called Tully Tubes, are made mostly of 100% sustainably sourced paper. Each year, roughly 194 billion prescription bottles are used, according to Cabinet Health. Most are not recycled. Instead, they head to landfills, where they contribute to air, water, and soil pollution. Parcel Health's new approach to prescription bottles uses a paper base made with certified, sustainably sourced paper and curbside recyclable materials. It's approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and is the first of its kind to be approved for use in the pharmaceutical industry. Of course, a flimsy paper bottle isn't acceptable for important medications. That's why Tully Tubes are resistant to water, humidity, and heat. They use a three-layer construction to protect bottle contents from the elements, while a food-safe and compostable coating further safeguards pills from water. The child-safe bottle caps are made of post-consumer recycled plastic. The bottle cap and seal can be easily disconnected from the paper base, making it easy to recycle the plastic parts and compost the paper. These bottles are also more customizable for companies, as it's more affordable to add fun designs to paper than to plastic — making for a welcome change from the standard orange container. Tully Tubes perform as well as plastic bottles but don't strain the environment as much. The use of recycled plastic gives this material a second life and keeps it out of landfills for longer. Meanwhile, replacing the plastic body with paper substantially cuts down on plastic waste — means less dirty fuel mining for plastic creation, a process that significantly contributes to air and water pollution. All of these factors mean the pharmaceutical industry can keep serving consumers while reducing the opportunities for microplastics to enter our water, air, and soil — further helping to improve our health. Eco-friendly initiatives like this from brands can dramatically reduce pollution, curbing the planet's overheating and reducing the presence of harmful contaminants. When you think about a product's packaging, which of these factors is more important to you? The way it looks The information it provides The waste it produces I don't think about packaging at all Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. While Tully Tubes won't replace all those plastic bottles overnight, this invention is a wonderful step in the right direction. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
