The Handok production plant was re-designated a green company on September 2, 2022 by the Wonju Regional Environmental Agency, marking eight consecutive years this has occurred. Handok is the first and longest-running green company (formerly “environment-friendly company”) in the domestic pharmaceutical industry under the jurisdiction of the Wonju Regional Environmental Agency. It was designated a green company the first time in 2000, and with this most recent re-designation, will have maintained its green company status for a total of 25 years and 6 months by September 1, 2025.

Companies receive “green company” designations through strict screening and evaluation of business site eco-friendliness and for contributing significantly to improving the environment, such as making significant reductions in environmental pollutants and reducing the use of energy and other resources. The Handok production plant, located in Eumseong, Chungcheongbuk-do, is a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical production facility equipped with a world-class cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practice) quality management system, and is a leader in eco-friendly management. Since the 1990s, its policies have resulted in an integrated HSE (Health, Safety, Environment) system and a variety of environmental improvement activities around reducing resource consumption and pollution.

The Handok production plant was evaluated highly as a green company for 22 years continuously striving to protect the environment, and for its excellent overall environmental management. It has rigorously managed water pollutants to less than 1/10 the legal limits, and maintains a high waste recycling rate of over 60%. Although it is not subject to greenhouse gas (GHG) management requirements, it has built its own GHG inventory system able to measure the location and amount of such emissions.

In addition, Handok is expanding its use of eco-friendly packaging. Outsert, which attaches instructions to the bottle, is used to reduce packaging and carton boxes are no longer used for Ketotop Original 40 sheets and 10 sheets. The Ketotop inner box is made of recycled paper (at least 80%), while a perforated line in the plastic packaging of Ready Q, a hangover remedy, makes it easy to separate the waste for recycling.

Handok acquired ISO14001 (Environmental Management System) certification in 2002 and KOSHA/OHSAS18001 (Safety and Health Management System) certification in 2004 at the same time. It also completed the deliberation for transitioning to ISO45001 (Safety and Health Management System) in 2020 and continues to be recognized as a leader in health, safety and the environment.