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Photography Credit: Nathalie Crouch Photography
Above: Habiba Choudhury
Habiba Choudhury, Totty Pharmacy, London
Sustainability Champion Award Winner
When Habiba is not advising customers on the counter, she has spent much of her time researching, initiating and organising the pharmacy’s sustainability profile. “From the moment she joined our team, she has brought a quiet but powerful commitment to sustainability in pharmacy practice,” said her nominator, pharmacy owner and manager, Samson Akere.
Taking initiative
“One of Habiba’s key initiatives has been enrolling the pharmacy in Pencycle, a scheme that allows patients to return used pens for safe, environmentally responsible disposal,” said Samson. These pens, used regularly by patients for insulin and weight management injections, contribute to a huge amount of wastage.
“We saw the number of pens going to waste, and so we decided to join the scheme, and it is free for both [the pharmacy and the customer],” said Habiba. “She researched the programme, initiated the pharmacy’s sign-up, and is now developing a plan to train the wider team so we can confidently educate patients and encourage broader community participation,” said Samson. Also interested in respiratory health, Habiba looked into inhaler use in the pharmacy.
"Beyond that, Habiba is actively sourcing dummy inhaler training devices. Her reasoning is both clinical and sustainable: patients often use their inhalers incorrectly, and re-educating them requires demonstrating proper technique,” said Samson. “By introducing dummy devices, we eliminate the need to use, and waste, live medications in training, making our services safer and greener at the same time.”
The sustainable approach
“What makes Habiba’s approach to sustainability so impactful is her ability to think long-term. She’s not simply joining initiatives, she’s embedding them. Whether it’s looking at product alternatives, reducing unnecessary use of resources, or finding ways to recycle with intention, she brings sustainability into the day-to-day culture of the pharmacy, not just as an add-on,” said Samson.
“Her passion isn’t loud, but it’s deeply felt. She leads by example, always suggesting subtle ways we can reduce waste, communicate greener options to patients, and evolve the way we deliver healthcare with the environment in mind.”
Making services greener, safer for customers and the environment and spreading sustainability awareness is a key aspect in ensuring the longevity of these services in pharmacy, with Habiba’s efforts having shown that despite the pressures and time constraints felt in the pharmacy each day, sustainable practices are worth implementing.
“A brilliant example of what we can do to protect our environment and support our patients at the same time,” said judge Richard Dunne, head of Healthcare Capability at Boots UK, whilst judge Mike Holden, managing director of MH Associates, commented: “Great passion, commitment and work by Habiba.”
Dove Gibson, Paydens (Oaklands) Pharmacy, Hythe
Highly Commended
Dove, who used to be a carer, has always been keen on sustainable practices like recycling, being aware of creating excess waste, and knowing how to dispose of certain materials so as not to cause more damage to the environment.
Dove also uses her time spent on the counter to chat to customers about their medicines use. “I chat with customers and, where I can, encourage that medicines are used correctly and not wasted,” said Dove.
“I encourage patients to evaluate their repeats and ask them if they still need everything that is listed down. Sometimes, they will say to me that they don’t need that painkiller anymore or so on. I can then put that back on the shelf, because once medicine leaves the pharmacy, it can’t come back, and it has to be disposed of. I also remind and encourage patients to return their unused or expired medication.”
Another important conversation Dove has with patients is around their inhaler disposal. When customers are collecting inhalers for the first time, she makes sure to tell them about the recycling program, Rehale, that the pharmacy is a part of, making sure the customer knows where to drop off the inhalers, that it is free, and doesn’t require waiting in a line – eliminating any potential barriers to participating in the scheme.
“Dove demonstrates the value of individual conversations, patient education and the impact that can be had in the pharmacy. Fantastic to hear,” said judge Nicola Stockmann, APTUK president. “I think we are all little cogs in a big machine, and if we all do our bit, it will make a difference,” added Dove.
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