Bayer has released a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) blister, a pioneer in the healthcare industry, for its brand Aleve. Developed in collaboration with Liveo Research, a specialist in pharmaceutical packaging, this innovative solution reduces carbon footprint of this packaging by 38% and represents a step forward in environmental management eliminate the use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC)Blister packaging, widely used in over-the-counter products, has long posed a challenge to environmental sustainability due to its multi-layered composition of plastic and aluminum, making it difficult to sort and recycle. With its initial launch in the Netherlands, the company aims to replace all of its blister packaging with more sustainable alternatives in the coming years.
With the launch of this new blister, Bayer achieves: reducing the carbon footprint per unit of this packaging by 38%, reducing the factors that contribute to biodiversity loss by using 78% less water and 53% less land (per unit) and lightening the packaging by 18% (per unit), compared to the current packaging.
The market launch is the result of many years of intensive preparation and cooperation between experts from Bayer and Liveo Research.
“Our goal is to transform our packaging to deliver exceptional experiences to our consumers, while minimizing our environmental impact and creating circular solutions,” he said. Chris Padain, Vice President and Global Head of Design, Packaging, Product Experience, and Sustainability for Bayer's Consumer Health division. "With the improved carbon footprint and decreased impact on water and land use, we are proud of this step forward on our journey toward environmental sustainability."
"With the introduction of our mono-material PET blister pack into Bayer's Aleve product range, we have demonstrated that more sustainable blister packs are possible on a large, global scale. Reducing waste and CO₂ emissions is now possible." us "same," says the Dr. Carsten Heldmann, CEO of Liveo Research. “As a company specializing in pharmaceutical packaging, we will continue to support this industry in achieving its sustainability goals while meeting strict regulatory requirements.”
PET is a widely used recyclable plastic in other industries. While the transition from PVC to PET in over-the-counter medicine packaging represents a breakthrough in sustainable packaging, a shift in the recycling industry is required to ensure innovations like this are integrated into the circular economy. Bayer is working across the industry in collaboration with the World Self-Care Federation and the Blister Collective, and recently joined The Recycling Partnership, to accelerate progress and create systemic change. This includes driving research into new ways to package over-the-counter medicines and designing circular packaging solutions while maintaining product efficacy, quality, and safety, as well as collaborating with partners across the value chain to innovate packaging solutions and improve recycling infrastructure.
