AGNIESZKA VAN BATAVIA
Vice President Sustainability Pharma, Constantia Flexibles, Vienna, Austria

Abstract

In the discourse around sustainable packaging, the focus often narrows to recyclability and end-of-life considerations. While these aspects are crucial, they represent only a fraction of the complexities inherent in achieving truly sustainable packaging solutions, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry. This article explores the broader perspective necessary for sustainable innovation in pharma packaging, emphasizing the need for system thinking to navigate the multifaceted challenges and align with ambitious sustainability strategies.

The multifaceted challenges in pharma packaging
Pharma companies face an array of challenges that extend beyond recycling. Upcoming legal requirements, stringent greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets, and the demand for high technical performance complicate the landscape. Although certain pharmaceutical and medical packaging has been exempted from mandatory recyclability and recycle content in plastics requirement, the European Union’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulations (PPWR) still mandates significant recycling and waste reduction targets that pharma companies must meet (1). Simultaneously, they must ensure medicine packaging maintains safety and efficacy of their products and does not compromise patient compliance.

The importance of system thinking
System thinking offers a fresh and comprehensive approach to tackling the complexities of sustainable packaging by looking at the entire packaging ecosystem and how each part of the packaging lifecycle interconnects. This method examines the intricate interactions between different packaging system elements, covering aspects like functionalit ...