The pharmaceutical industry requires a lot of packaging, meaning it requires new approaches to minimise its packaging’s environmental impact. Pharmaceutical packaging can often be challenging to create in this manner, however, as this needs to protect products, maintain their efficacy and keep them secure.
The world of sustainable pharmaceutical packaging is changing, with different products and services being created to help pharma businesses be more eco-friendly. While using sustainable packaging has its benefits, it also has some drawbacks. So, it’s important to also consider other parts of the supply chain when aiming to be kinder to the environment.
In this blog, we discuss how glass is recycled, how its reuse for pharma packaging benefits the environment and the importance of considering a sustainable supply chain.
Is Glass Recyclable?
One of the ways to make sure that packaging is sustainable is to use recyclable materials, preventing the need to use energy and resources in processing virgin materials.
Glass is one of the most popular materials that can be recycled and is highly reusable. In fact, it’s 100% recyclable and can be recycled without any loss of quality. This means it can go on to be reused to make glass packaging, such as glass bottle packaging, pharmacy glass jars, glass vials, and more. In addition, it can also simply be reused as people return their medication bottles to their pharmacy, for instance.
Why Is Glass Packaging Used in Pharmaceuticals?
Glass bottles and other glass products are common as packaging in the pharmaceutical industry. Glass bottles are convenient for pills and liquids, for example, helping to keep medications at the right temperature and providing solid packaging. In addition, its inertness ensures that its contents are kept safe for use, and its transparency allows for clear visibility of products.
How Is Glass Recycled?
Glass is one of the easiest things to recycle, using a fairly simple process. Recycling glass includes a number of steps, including:
- Sorting glass by colour and washing to ensure it’s clean
- Crushing and then melting the glass
- Moulding the glass into new products to be used again
Recycling glass is an excellent option for sustainability, as it can save energy, reduce pollution and protect the environment. However, the process does have some drawbacks to note. Recycling glass can be expensive, especially as it has to be sorted into different colours, and the high temperatures required to melt it can become energy-intensive.
What Are the New Developments in Sustainable Packaging?
Pharma companies that want to make their packaging more sustainable must consider various things. Several materials, due to their environmentally friendly composition, make excellent choices for sustainable packaging. These include PE or PET bottles made from sugarcane, recycled plastic, and biodegradable products.
As well as the choice of materials, reducing the amount of materials used also makes pharma packaging more sustainable. When you choose the right material and design, you can often reduce the amount of packaging that’s required and maintain a good level of protection and security.
Packaging that can be refilled and recycled is already widely in use. Many new developments are based on biodegradable packaging, like biodegradable plastics, and even edible packaging that includes starch, gelatin and other materials. Currently, techniques for creating packaging more sustainably are also a strong focus.
Despite many developments, sustainable packaging does provide challenges for the pharmaceutical industry, as there is a lack of evidence surrounding the origin of much of the materials. All new packaging materials must meet international regulations and standards to be considered suitable for use, which untraceable material origins can hinder.
What Is the Cost of Developing Sustainable Packaging Solutions?
Sustainable packaging can present some challenges, as its development can be expensive. Researching new materials and technologies requires funding, and new techniques are often initially expensive. It’s always important to take potential downsides into account when looking for eco-solutions for your business. It’s a careful balance when making changes to any business.
While sustainable packaging is a good way to reduce a company’s carbon footprint, it’s not the only way, and relying on it alone might not be the best choice. Therefore, ensuring your whole production process is sustainable, including your supply chain, is also key.
How Can a Sustainable Supply Chain Help?
The use of sustainable packaging materials is just one way that pharma companies can become more eco-friendly. Creating a sustainable supply chain also helps companies to go green and save money.
Some sustainable supply chain processes include ensuring the transport of products in an environmentally friendly way, for example, through rail and sea as opposed to by road and air.
In addition, it’s also beneficial to use sustainable manufacturing methods for both packaging and products. For example, methods like 3D printing for plastic bottles can be used to create packaging sustainably that requires less energy and helps to reduce waste, too.
What Is the Future of Sustainable Supply Chains in Pharma?
Many pharmaceutical companies have begun to take a more sustainable approach to their packaging. Big firms like Johnson & Johnson have made commitments to reducing their use of packaging and using sustainable solutions.
Many companies similarly create their own initiatives to push for better sustainability for their company, and some turn to services that can help them to achieve their goals through packaging and their supply chain. One campaign that is trying to encourage sustainability in the pharmaceutical industry is the SaferPharma campaign, which encourages pharma companies to focus on their environmental impact.
Recycling glass is just one of many ways that pharma packaging can be made more sustainable. However, using sustainable materials alongside considering the whole supply chain is vital for true sustainability.
Sustainable Pharmaceutical Packaging at Origin
At Origin, we specialise in producing sustainable solutions for our customers. We offer many glass packaging products that are fully recyclable to ensure your processes are sustainable. We also strive to innovate within our sustainable pharmaceutical packaging, continually looking for new ways to optimise our packaging for reduced environmental impact.
In addition, we also offer pharma supply chain management, ensuring that everything from your packaging’s design to its delivery is developed not only for efficiency and dependability, but for minimal impact on the environment too.
If you’re interested in enhancing your business’s sustainability, chat with our expert team today to find out more about how our packaging and extended services could benefit you.
