Hitma takes important sustainable step with the launch of a return and recycling service

Uithoorn, September 2, 2025 – On Sustainable Tuesday, Hitma in Uithoorn celebrated the grand opening of its new return and recycling service. With this service, Hitma helps customers in the pharmaceutical industry make their processes more sustainable by significantly reducing the waste stream of single-use products.

The official opening ceremony was performed by Jan Hazen, Alderman for Economic Affairs for the municipality of Uithoorn. Under the watchful eye of Hitma director Michiel Jansen, employees, and 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 of a few employees has, with the help of students, interns, and colleagues, grown into a significant step towards a circular pharmaceutical industry. Hitma is the first supplier in the Netherlands and Belgium to take the initiative to reduce the waste stream of single-use plastics.

Unused products that have passed their expiration date are collected and given a second life at pharmaceutical startups and training facilities, among others. Materials that are no longer usable are carefully recycled into new products.

Festive opening
The opening was celebrated with an extensive program for colleagues, customers, partners and other stakeholders, including alumni who contributed to the development of the new service through research and internships.

In addition to Alderman Hazen, Eelkje van Egeraat (sustainability coordinator), Sander Joziasse (circular economy policy advisor) and Hans van der Linden (business account manager) were also present on behalf of the municipality of Uithoorn.

During the program, Liesbeth Gebuijs, coordinator of the returns and recycling service, Mitch van Nieuwkerk, strategic business developer, and Savanna Bosman, sustainability consultant at Hitma, gave presentations on this initiative and other sustainable activities within the company. Visitors also toured the new sorting area and associated warehouse, and were shown the cleanrooms of UltraPure International, Hitma's assembly partner.

The afternoon concluded with a networking reception with live music.