Pharmaceutical Technology Europe - November 2010 - (Page 12)

Is pharma doing enough to reduce the environmental impact of packaging? Generally, the pharma industry isn’t doing enough to reduce the environmental impact of its packaging materials, but there are various historic reasons for this and pharma is well aware that its products lag behind in the environmental stakes compared with other industries. In an industry that requires the most exacting health and safety standards, other design priorities, such as tamper-evidence, child-resistance or shelf-life, will always take precedence. The nature of pharmaceutical products means that the majority of the containers used are disposable and only suitable for one use. Plastics dominate as the main type of material because of performance, durability and lightweight, but these are not easily recyclable. Whilst post consumer recycled (PCR) plastic packaging has proved popular in, for example, the cosmetics sector, it is much more difficult to get this approved by the FDA. However, this is an ongoing issue and as new chemistry data is presented and new knowledge acquired, the FDA’s guidance may change. The bureaucracy that inhibits even simple changes to pharmaceutical packaging is also a major issue; any licensed drug or medicine that undergoes a change to its packaging container, closure or labelling, must be re-registered. This is often an expense and inconvenience that few manufacturers are prepared to bear. transport because they are collapsible. With any new environmentally-friendly packaging solution, the main hurdle in the conservative pharma industry is persuading manufacturers to take a leap of faith and try it out. Environmental benefits will never be a major priority in this sector’s choice of packaging material, but it is nonetheless one of several compelling reasons why new solutions should be considered. PTE Based on a contribution by Jon Wear, Sales Director at Johnsen & Jorgensen. To read the full version of this article, go to www.pharmtech.com/wear www.jjpack.com Jon Wear Environmentally-friendly packaging Although plastics remain prevalent, we’ve also noticed that apothecary-style glass containers are making something of a comeback. Glass, of course, remains a more widely and easily recyclable material than its more popular plastic successor. Several manufacturers have also started to consider flexible pouch packaging as a convenient and more environmentally-friendly way of packaging pharmaceuticals. When compared to their predecessors (e.g., metal cans, solid plastic pots/ bottles and lids), the pouches not only use less material but also use less 1 CONTENTS 12 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT 3 EMERGING MARKETS 13 LEAK DETECTION 7 ANTI-COUNTERFEITING 14 ROBOTICS 11 INNOVATION 15 TOP TECHNOLOGIES http://www.pharmtech.com/wear http://www.jjpack.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pharmaceutical Technology Europe - November 2010

Pharmaceutical Technology Europe - November 2010
Table of Contents
Pharmaceutical Technology Europe Poll Assesses the Most Important Feature of Pharmaceutical Secondary Packaging
Emerging Markets
Counterfeiting
Green Packaging and Processes
Innovation
Is Pharma Doing Enough to Reduce the Environmental Impact of Packaging?
Leak Detection of Pharma Packaging
Should Your Implement Robotics in Your Packaging Operations?
Twelve Latest Technologies Showcased

Pharmaceutical Technology Europe - November 2010