The wave of change forcing sustainability into every aspect of human life has finally reached the pharmaceutical industry. As concerns rise about climate change and the impact of non-biodegradable materials like plastic, stakeholders are facing increasing calls for more sustainable practices.
A significant amount of pharmaceutical packaging is made of plastic, so the industry cannot escape the pressure anymore. The push for eco-friendly packaging, such as paper-based pill bottles, is increasing, making stakeholders more interested in sustainable options. In this article, we’ll look at the factors driving this revolution, the challenges against adoption, and the brands leading the pack.
The Environmental Impact of Traditional Plastic Pill Bottles
Before we get into why pharmaceutical companies are adopting paper-based pill bottles, we should first examine the effect of the traditional option. For a long time, plastic bottles have been the norm. Now, there is a demand for sustainable pharmaceutical packaging to combat the damage non-biodegradable materials like plastics are doing to the environment.
Plastic is a common packaging material, so many industries are going through changes to eliminate it. However, if you want to focus on the pharmaceutical sector, the concerns driving the push to eliminate plastic include:
- Non-Biodegradability: Plastic bottles often end up in oceans or landfills as they take hundreds of years to decompose. When they end up in places like oceans, they pose threats to the lifeforms in the water, raising more ecological concerns.
- Recycling Challenges: Plastic pill bottles are mostly difficult to recycle due to their mixed materials, size, and residual medication traces. Being single-use options puts more pressure on pharma companies than in areas where they can be recycled.
- High Carbon Footprint: The production and disposal of plastic pill bottles generate significant greenhouse gas emissions.
Why the Pharmaceutical Industry is Adopting Paper-Based Pill Bottles
Considering the impact of plastic bottles on the environment, you should already see why pharmaceutical companies are exploring eco-friendly pill containers. If you are not sure of all there is to it, we will tell you the key factors driving this revolution.
Sustainability Approach to Operations
Most pharmaceutical companies are taking sustainable approaches to their operations, and the adoption of eco-friendly materials is a start for many. Some are adopting sustainability as part of their corporate social responsibility and recognize that plastic-free medicine bottles give them a better reputation in this age of eco-consciousness.
Regulatory Considerations
Pharmaceutical companies must comply with strict regulations when making pill bottles. Advancements in paper packaging technology allow them to meet these standards while reducing the strain on the environment.
Material Advancements
Advancements in technology are making biodegradable materials like paper more durable and suitable for meeting regulatory standards for medications. In addition, these materials are often sourced from responsibly managed forests, making them ideal for an eco-conscious brand.
Consumer Reception
Increasing awareness about sustainability is driving consumers to demand more eco-friendly services from businesses they patronize. While this is less prominent in the healthcare industry, some people are still demanding biodegradable medication packaging as part of their commitment to sustainability.
Challenges Facing the Adoption of Paper-Based Pill Bottles
The revolution towards green healthcare packaging is gaining ground by the day. However, pharmaceutical companies still face some challenges in adopting paper-based pill bottles. Some of these are:
- Durability: Paper is not as strong as plastic for packaging, requiring reinforcement to ensure regulatory safety standards are met.
- Cost: Shifting from plastic pill bottles to paper-based alternatives requires a huge financial investment in infrastructure and staffing. This cost might be too high for small and mid-sized companies, affecting their sustainability goals.
- Scalability: Transitioning from large-scale production of plastic to paper-based pill bottles involves many processes to ensure the new containers meet regulatory standards. Many companies struggle to balance this with the need to maintain sustainability.
Major Brands Pioneering the Revolution
Due to some of the challenges we discussed in the previous section, the adoption of paper-based pill bottles is slow and has yet to gain significant ground. However, some companies are at the forefront, directing the future of pharmaceutical packaging with their sustainable approaches. Notable ones include:
Pharmaceutical Companies
Some pharmaceutical companies have committed to sustainable packaging of their products, starting with the use of paper-based bottles. These include global powerhouses like AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson.
Retail
The focus is mainly on pharmaceutical companies, but they are not the only ones helping the industry reduce its carbon footprint. Retailers like CVS and Walgreens are using recyclable prescription packaging for over-the-counter medications. This often ignored contribution makes a significant difference, as most previously used single-use plastics.
Conclusion
The push for paper-based pill bottles reflects the need to reduce the carbon footprint of one of the largest industries in the world. Greater adoption of eco-friendly materials will enable stakeholders in the sector to reduce waste and evolve other aspects of their operations to reflect sustainability goals.
