UAE – Unveiled as a constituent of Aster DM Healthcare’s Green Choices initiative in 2020, Aster Pharmacy emerged as a pioneering pharmacy retail chain in the UAE, spearheading zero-plastic endeavors to combat plastic pollution.
This initiative harmonizes with UAE’s Green Agenda 2023, striving to curtail the country’s emissions to less than 100 kilowatts-hours.
The noteworthy decision by Dubai to prohibit single-use plastic bags and products from January 1, 2024, signifies a pivotal step towards mitigating the adverse impact of plastic waste on the environment.
This aligns seamlessly with the global momentum towards sustainable business practices that prioritize the preservation of nature.
Aster Pharmacy, an integral part of the Aster DM Healthcare Group and a prominent retail chain in the GCC, attracts an annual footfall of 8.7 million individuals across its 230+ stores.
Over the past five years, in harmony with the UAE Government’s endeavors to combat plastic pollution, Aster Pharmacy has been dedicated to establishing eco-friendly stores, featuring interiors constructed from sustainable and recyclable materials.
The initiative to replace plastic bags with recyclable paper bags has been successfully implemented, with 7.4 million paper bags utilized annually to serve customers.
Dr. Azad Moopen, Founder and Chairman of Aster DM Healthcare, articulates, “Our commitment to sustainability is deeply ingrained in our corporate culture and is steered by our ESG framework.
“As an organization, we have seamlessly integrated 10 UN SDGs into our core operations, resulting in a substantial impact on sustainability and the environment over the last 5 years. In FY’23, with the assimilation of renewable energy, the company achieved a noteworthy reduction of 6,824 tCO2e in net greenhouse gas emissions.”
Recognized for its ESG endeavors, Aster holds the highest ESG ranking among listed healthcare companies in India and has earned a ‘Strong’ rating from CRISIL.
The organization’s waste recycling initiatives in the previous year included 76,555 kilograms of plastic waste, 446,977 kilograms of paper waste, and 5,506 kilograms of e-waste.
Waste management practices cover various categories such as biomedical, plastic, food, metals, paper, and cardboard. Aster prioritizes source segregation, facilitating efficient recycling of recyclable materials.
Mr. N.S Balasubramanium, CEO of Aster Retail GCC, elucidates, “At Aster, our efforts are consistently directed towards the adoption of innovative measures that not only preserve the health of our patients and customers but also enhance the environment in which they live.
“The complete transition to paper bags and integration of sustainable materials into our interiors are part of our efforts to ensure that we provide a sustainable environment that supports the health and well-being of our esteemed customers, in line with our mission to deliver good health and well-being in every neighborhood that we operate in.”
Aster DM Healthcare’s resolute commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility stands as a testament to its dedication to healthcare excellence while championing a cleaner, more sustainable future.
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