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What’s a better way to take a break than to walk through nature? Sure, there is a lot to love about the latest technological advancements. They make your life easier, whether on the pharmacy floor or at home.
But even the fanciest bells and whistles pale compared to the great outdoors. The literal breath of fresh air can be a deciding factor between a good or bad day.
As much as mother nature can help us, however, it’s essential to take care of our planet. That’s what Earth Day is all about.
Suppose holidays mean to remind us of the important things in life. In that case, Earth Day reminds us to dedicate time to maintaining a healthy and safe environment for ourselves and the generations to come.
Whether you’re celebrating Earth Day behind your independent pharmacy counter or at the great outdoors, here are some ways you can make this year’s Earth Day an unforgettable one.
A single person’s ecological footprint is enough to cause environmental concern. Despite our very best intentions, we tend to generate huge waste.
In fact, the average American averaged 4.9 pounds of municipal solid waste each day in 2018, according to the University of Michigan Center for Sustainable Systems.
Of those 4.9 pounds, only 1.6 were recovered for recycling or composting.
That’s just one person, let alone an entire family — or even an independent pharmacy. Independent pharmacies — just like any retail area — generate a large amount of waste.
You likely sift through a mountain’s worth of prescription bottles, shipping boxes, and other shipping materials on a daily basis.
Another telltale sign that your independent pharmacy is generating too much waste is if you have to make multiple trips to the trash compactor in a single day.
Though you don’t mean for your independent pharmacy to generate so much waste, you still have a responsibility to minimize your small business’s ecological footprint.
Encourage your community physicians to send more prescriptions digitally than writing physical ones. This might be challenging in more rural or elderly communities but will help streamline how they send prescriptions to your independent pharmacy.
Electronic resources are your independent pharmacy’s best friend here. You and your patients should be able to access medication guides and other valuable resources electronically.
Though heaps of paperwork are an inevitable part of pharmacy life, take all the possible steps to minimize your independent pharmacy’s ecological footprint.
Word of mouth is an extremely effective marketing tool. As an independent pharmacist, you are a pillar of the community. Your patients trust you for valuable advice, sometimes for matters other than pharmacy.
Being a central part of your community, your word is your bond. Encourage your patients to use more sustainable products and properly recycle.
As we mentioned earlier, a single person’s ecological footprint is too big to sustain. Then you consider their family, friends, coworkers, etc. — you get a literal heaping pile of trash.
Though we still have a ways to go in achieving true sustainability, one step forward is a fantastic piece of progress.
Urge your patients to look into environmentally harmful ingredients. You can even talk to your store’s managers or wholesalers to try to sell more sustainable products.
Earth Day doesn’t begin or end with caged-free eggs, recycled paper, or even sustainable jeans — but it is a start. And in a time where we generate more trash than ever before, crossing the starting line is a victory in itself.
Something they probably don’t tell you in pharmacy school is that patient care goes far beyond your independent pharmacy’s shelves. Likewise, sustainability is an around-the-clock endeavor.
Just like how you tirelessly care for your patients, Earth Day encourages you to care for the world around you.
Though this blog is set to publish a few days before Earth Day, see if city officials or other groups are holding a community cleanup event.
They say it takes a village, and that’s certainly true when it comes to creating a healthier and more sustainable world.
If your community hasn’t already scheduled a community cleanup, no need to fret. Check out the “Great Global Cleanup Toolkit” page on the official Earth Day website to get started.
You can gather volunteers, select the right place and time, and organize your group to help a great — and essential — cause.
Earth Day is one of those holidays that’s always been around. Whether you made mud pies in elementary school or led your college’s sustainability movement, Earth Day has never been more important.
It is no secret that our planet’s health is less than stellar. Fortunately, you know a thing or two about improving the health of others. Take this Earth Day — and all the Earth Days to come — to learn about your ecological footprint and how you can shrink it.
In this case, it’s perfectly okay to go a size down. Do what you’ve always done as a healthcare professional: care for and educate others.
Whether you’re behind the independent pharmacy counter or in the great outdoors, take a deep breath (preferably of fresh air) as you embark on the journey to a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle.
