Pharma: Trends you need to know about

Trends you need to know about

By Paul Jenkins, Managing Director, ThePackHub

The pharma and healthcare industry continues to deliver many new packaging innovations despite the turmoil of the pandemic.

OVID-19 has created disruption, uncertainty and change for all involved in the pharma and healthcare packaging industry. The global pandemic has undoubtedly impacted every part of the packaging supply chain with consumers changing their shopping behaviour, as we experienced an increased shift to e-commerce channels. Despite this turmoil, improving sustainability in pharma and healthcare packaging continues to be of significant focus and is a substantial part of the packaging trends coming through the pipeline. Most brands, retailers and packaging suppliers are working on stretching targets as part of the UK Plastic Pact to achieve 100% recyclable, reusable or compostable packaging by 2025. With just over four years to go, the pace of change is accelerating despite the disruptions mentioned above. In addition, pending plastic tax obligations due for implementation in April next year encourage plastic packaging use with at least 30% recycled content. This is having an impact on the types of pharma and healthcare innovations that are being developed. However, the initiatives are not all focused on the environment.

Finding alternatives to plastic Reducing the impact of plastic is showing little sign of slowing down. Both plastic reduction and elimination have been strong themes for pharma and healthcare packaging, as they have across all categories. Switching out of plastic can be difficult for operators due to its inexpensive nature, its versatility and practicality. It offers security and protection in the pharma sector as well. An example of this is from Tikkun Olam Makers (also known as TOM), which has designed a board-based alternative to plastic that fulfils FDA guidelines for water and light barriers, and also as important, child resistance. The child-proof design works through the lid that has tabs that clip into the main body of the container, which can then only be opened by squeezing the pack in pre-defined areas. Once the packs are empty, they can be disposed of alongside the biodegradable label in conventional composting.

Another example in this area is from an Australian start-up, which has developed a paper-based alternative to replace plastic for pharmaceutical blister packs. The paper is derived from plant waste. Varden has introduced the new solution called Paperseal and received funding from Horizon Ventures to accelerate expansion. A bespoke machine has been

designed that gets around the challenges of forming 3D shapes using paper.

Recyclable solutions Recycling initiatives will continue to gain traction. With the majority of brands and retailers working towards targets to improve the recyclability of their packaging, we are inevitably seeing many new initiatives come to market. Recycling is multi-faceted. It is the introduction of recyclable solutions – either through the switching from other materials or making the material easier to recycle (through the introduction of mono materials for example). It is also about the introduction of recycled content in packaging.

Vericool is the inventor of the world’s first recyclable/ biodegradable cooler. The business has adapted its expertise to develop a sustainable thermal solution for shipping COVID-19 vaccines. The initiative is both recyclable and compostable. The shipping solution will eliminate the potential need for millions of unrecyclable EPS coolers during the global rollout of vaccines. Another recyclable initiative has been introduced by Amcor. The blister pack has been a significant and well-established format for the safe packaging of pharmaceutical products for many years. However, the format has traditionally been difficult to recycle. Amcor has developed a new solution to combat this. Amsky is a recent initiative that has the potential to make healthcare packaging much more sustainable. It removes PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) from blister packaging, allowing it to be recycled more easily.

Smarter packaging Intelligent packaging is making strides. Although both the environment and sustainability is very much the primary focus for pharma and healthcare brands, there are still requirements unique to this sector coming through the innovation pipeline. Smart packaging is being used increasingly often to track and trace items, especially those of high value. Avery Dennison has collaborated with US supply chain specialists SUKU and Swiss chip maker EM Electronic to create a new smart technology method of tracing products and goods through the supply chain. Avery Dennison Smartrac’s RAINFC Belt DF tags based on EM Microelectronic’s em|echo-V IC (integrated circuit) allow for products to be traced through the innovative use of long-range, dual-frequency transponders, which accurately identify products and their condition.

Another example is from Woonsocket, Rhode Islandheadquartered pharmacy chain CVS Pharmacy with nearly 10,000 outlets across the US. The business has developed a new feature for its already-established consumer app to help the visually-impaired understand important information on packaging.

A new RFID label will enable prescription details to be heard through the app, allowing patients with visual impairments and those who cannot read standard print labels to get vital product information. Spoken Rx is the first in-app prescription reader application to be developed by a national retail pharmacy. The first stage rollout will see 1,500 CVS Pharmacy outlets prepared to fix the RFID labels to prescription vials. Sustainability will continue to be the focus for the second half of 2021 and beyond as operators continue to implement their stretching environmentallyfocused targets.