Hitma takes important sustainable step with launch of return and recycling service for the pharmaceutical industry
On Tuesday, September 2 2025, the festive opening of Hitma’s new return and recycling service took place. With this service, we help customers in the (bio)pharmaceutical industry make their processes more sustainable by significantly reducing the waste stream of single-use products. The official opening was performed by Jan Hazen, Alderman for Economic Affairs of the Municipality of Uithoorn. Under the watchful eye of Hitma Director Michiel Jansen, employees, and invited guests, he symbolically cut the “tubing ribbon” using a tubing cutter from Hitma’s assembly department.
From brainchild to groundbreaking initiative
What began as a brainchild from several employees has, with the help of students, interns, and colleagues, grown into an important step toward a circular pharmaceutical industry. As the first supplier in the Netherlands and Belgium, Hitma has taken the initiative to reduce the waste stream of single-use plastics.
Unused products past their expiration date are collected and given a second life at pharmaceutical startups and training facilities. This includes tubing, filters, clamps, connectors, bags, and bottles. Materials that can no longer be reused are carefully recycled into new products.
Festive opening
The opening was celebrated with a full program for colleagues, customers, partners, and other stakeholders, including former students who contributed to the development of the new service through research and internships.
In addition to Alderman Jan Hazen, representatives from the Municipality of Uithoorn included Eelkje van Egeraat (sustainability coordinator), Sander Joziasse (policy advisor circular economy), and Hans van der Linden (account manager for businesses).
During the program, Liesbeth Gebuijs (coordinator of the return and recycling service), Mitch van Nieuwkerk (strategic business developer), and Savanna Bosman (sustainability consultant) gave presentations on this initiative and other sustainable activities within Hitma. Visitors were also given a tour of the new sorting area, the associated warehouse, and the cleanrooms of UltraPure International, Hitma’s assembly partner.
The afternoon concluded with a networking reception featuring live music.
Do you want to be part of a circular pharmaceutical industry?
As a pharmaceutical producer, you sometimes don’t get the chance to use single-use products before their expiration date. We are happy to collect these products from you for sustainable reuse.
As a startup, you can make good use of these materials, for example in research and development processes. Read more here about returning or receiving unused single-use materials.
