Pharmaceutical packaging must meet many demanding requirements: safety, compliance, usability, and product integrity. However, the issue of sustainability has, until recently, not received the same level of attention.
This is concerning as the pharmaceutical industry emits approximately 55% more greenhouse gas in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2) than the automotive sector.
With growing awareness of the ecological crisis, companies and consumers are becoming more proactive in adopting measures promoting environmental preservation. The lack of emphasis on sustainability in pharmaceutical packaging has become an increasingly pressing issue.
Although packaging accounts for a relatively small portion of the pharmaceutical industry's carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, the industry is fully committed to sustainability and exploring solutions promoting a circular economy. Suppliers are expected to develop packaging innovations that prioritize the environment.
The industry closely monitors several key trends to guide design and engineering efforts. Among the most promising eco-friendly solutions is the ForestPackage, a blister packaging product that offers both recyclable and sustainable solutions.
With initiatives like these, the pharmaceutical industry is paving the way toward a future in which sustainable packaging is the norm.
Sustainable Packaging Materials For Pharmaceutical Products
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a key sustainability directive to reduce and eliminate plastic waste: packaging must be made as recyclable as possible. As a result, the industry is gravitating toward a range of sustainable materials, such as:
- Biodegradable substrates that can be naturally broken down by microorganisms, leaving no harmful residue behind to decay in landfills and emit carbon dioxide.
- Bioderived plastics that are produced using renewable agricultural sources rather than non-renewable fossil fuels.
These sustainable options represent a significant step forward in promoting environmentally responsible practices within the packaging industry.
Using recycled materials is a sustainable option that promotes a circular economy and reduces carbon footprints by keeping materials within the recycling stream. Popular examples of recyclable plastics, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE), can be repeatedly recycled.
Another approach is to use mono-material constructions, which rely on a single sustainable material for the entire package. This approach makes the package fully recyclable and reduces energy consumption during production processes.
Factors That Impact Packaging Decisions In The Pharmaceutical Industry
Sustainable materials may be at the forefront of pharmaceutical packaging design, but recent trends have shown that other factors are also critical:
Proper-sizing:
Precise package sizing can yield significant benefits, such as enhanced product protection, reduced waste, and a reduced carbon footprint by minimizing excess materials in production.
Convenient and Compliant:Optimal patient outcomes rely on proper medication use, and packaging is necessary for facilitating adherence. Packaging solutions that promote accurate dosage and usage are particularly important for self-administered medications. In addition, packaging must be accessible to seniors while providing child-resistant protection.
Tamper-evidence:
Ensuring tamper-evidence in packaging is a crucial consideration, as it directly impacts the health and safety of end-users. Whether the packaging solution is traditional or sustainable, it must provide peace of mind to consumers. Modern design trends are increasingly incorporating tamper-evident features into packaging systems.
Blister packaging is a prime example of a design that incorporates tamper evidence. As medications often need to be pushed out of the package, breaking through the package lidding provides an inherent tamper-evident feature.
Sustainable and Greener Future
In recent years, certain industries, such as cosmetics and food, have made significant strides in adopting innovative sustainable packaging practices. However, the pharmaceutical industry faces a more significant challenge due to the nature of its products.
The primary purpose of pharmaceutical packaging is to safeguard the medicines it contains. Biological contaminants, temperature, humidity, light, and oxygen can all adversely affect pharmaceutical products.
All packaging must protect adequately from these external factors to ensure the products remain safe and effective. This makes it more challenging for the pharmaceutical industry to adopt sustainable packaging practices without compromising the safety and efficacy of their products.
Solutions and Innovations in Pharmaceutical Packaging Design
Incorporating safety features such as child-resistant mechanisms, anti-counterfeit technologies, dosage systems, and labeling into pharmaceutical packaging can hinder recycling efforts and contribute to waste.
The advancements in 3D visualization and
printing techniques are also revolutionizing the pharmaceutical industry's design of both primary and secondary packaging.
These techniques allow for faster and more cost-effective testing of packaging concepts, reducing material wastage and development costs. This enables companies to reject inadequate ideas before making significant investments.
Revolutionizing Pharmaceutical Packaging With Inbuilt Product Features
Pharmaceutical companies are exploring new methods to reduce waste and improve efficiency in the quest for more sustainable packaging practices. One such trend involves incorporating key product features directly into primary and secondary packaging during the initial manufacturing stage rather than adding multiple features later in the supply chain.
Benefits of building key product features directly into packaging:
- Waste reduction from unnecessary labeling and safety leaflets applied separately onto finished packaging products.
- Streamlining of processes.
- Reduction of carbon footprint.
Incorporating QR codes into bottles, containers, blister packaging, and other packaging materials enables manufacturers to provide critical information to users while minimizing excess materials. This approach enhances patient safety requirements without compromising sustainability goals.
Balancing Sustainability and Functionality in Pharma Packaging
In light of the damaging impact of plastic waste on the environment and public health, there is a growing emphasis on finding sustainable alternatives for pharma packaging.
Despite this, plastic remains the most popular choice for packaging due to the need for high-level protection against various external factors such as shock, puncturing, vibration, tearing, and changes in heat and humidity.
To address this challenge, research is underway to develop biodegradable plastics and recyclable bioplastics for mass application in pharmaceutical packaging. Astellas Pharma recently made headlines by adopting sugarcane-derived blister packaging, a world first for biomass-based plastic for blister packages.
The blister packaging comprises 50 percent plant-based materials, offering the same level of protection and functionality as traditional plastic packaging while being more sustainable.
As technologies continue to advance and consumers increasingly demand sustainable alternatives, biomass-based materials may become more prevalent.
Final Thoughts
The pharmaceutical industry has achieved significant milestones in medicine but still struggles with packaging design. When patients can't comprehend the package, it can lead to incorrect medication intake. In the future, pharmaceutical companies must improve the packaging to make it safer and more efficient for everyone.
ForestPackage offers high-quality packaging services for pharmaceutical products that are safe, eco-friendly, and compliant with industry regulations. Protect your products and the environment with ForestPackage's sustainable packaging solutions. Contact us to learn more about our services and how we can help your business thrive.
