As the world grows increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of packaging, the pharmaceutical industry is under pressure to catch up with other sectors in its sustainability efforts. Packaging, particularly in oral solid dose (OSD) products, has become a focal point for change. But what are the driving forces behind this shift? And how are companies in pharma adapting to meet the growing demand for greener options? In this article Pieter Dirk Wassenaar, Business Manager Pharma at Cremer, sheds light on the growing focus on sustainability within the pharmaceutical sector.
What’s driving sustainability in pharma packaging?
“Customers and regulators are pushing the pharmaceutical industry to close the sustainability gap, especially when it comes to reducing plastic waste in packaging,” he explains.
While pharma companies have made considerable progress in areas like energy efficiency, renewable energy use, and reducing carbon footprints through optimized supply chains, packaging remains a significant point of scrutiny. This is because packaging doesn’t just end up in production or warehouses — it directly impacts customers and healthcare professionals. As a result, packaging is often where sustainability efforts are most visible, and where improvements are urgently needed.
What are the biggest opportunities for greener pharma packaging?
“For machine manufacturers like us, the shift toward sustainable packaging largely depends on the innovations emerging from material science. We rely on material innovations to make packaging not only eco-friendly but also machinable. It’s crucial for us as equipment providers to ensure that packaging materials are production-ready,” explains Wassenaar.
However, equipment manufacturers are also making significant contributions to sustainability. “We focus on creating machines that consume less energy and have longer lifespans. This ‘sustainable addition by subtraction’ means fewer materials end up in landfills, such as plastics and metals,” Wassenaar continues.
Another key opportunity is for equipment manufacturers to ensure their machines are adaptable to new, eco-friendly materials. This includes substrates designed with recyclability in mind, which might be less production-friendly but offer significant environmental benefits.
What are the biggest challenges in sustainable packaging?
Despite the clear opportunities, the pharmaceutical sector faces several challenges on its journey toward sustainable packaging. Historically, the focus has been on materials. “Conventional plastics were easy to work with — they sealed well and were simple to tamper-proof. But when incorporating sustainability-minded substrates, such as paperboard-based pill bottles, maintaining the same functionality becomes tricky,” says Wassenaar.
These challenges are compounded by the complex regulatory environment. Packaging in the pharmaceutical industry is required to meet a variety of safety standards, including child resistance, moisture and oxygen sensitivity, and tamper resistance. Finding materials that meet these stringent requirements while also being sustainable and cost-effective remains one of the industry’s greatest hurdles.
Innovations driving the shift toward sustainability
Despite these challenges, several innovations are helping drive the shift to more sustainable packaging. Wassenaar mentions a recent project where Cremer assisted a customer in transitioning to carton bottles. “We helped the customer overcome issues related to the lightweight nature of the bottles, ensuring they weren’t scratched during the filling process. This was a significant step toward using more eco-friendly packaging materials,” he says.
How are pharma companies adapting to the push for sustainability?
Pharma companies are starting to move away from traditional packaging approaches, driven in part by regulatory changes, especially in Europe. “We’re seeing more flexibility in how pharma companies approach packaging, especially with the regulatory push for recycled resin content. This is encouraging the healthcare sector to explore alternatives already successful in other industries,” Wassenaar observes.
As machinery manufacturers, Cremer’s role in this evolving landscape is focused on reducing energy consumption and ensuring that equipment can handle next-generation packaging materials designed to be more recyclable, lightweight, and eco-friendly.
Conclusion
The pharmaceutical industry is undoubtedly moving towards more sustainable packaging, but this shift requires continuous innovation. By focusing on material science, energy-efficient machinery, and a willingness to adapt to new materials, pharmaceutical companies and equipment manufacturers can work together to close the sustainability gap. While the journey is complex and filled with challenges, the push for greener packaging solutions is gaining momentum, and the future looks promising for a more sustainable pharma industry.