Following the German Packaging Award, the WorldStar Global Packaging Award and the Swiss Packaging Award, the concept of Südpack Medica recyclable blister pack has now won the silver medal at the 35th edition of the Packaging Innovation Awards.
The sustainability of this polypropylene (PP) based tablet blister has been validated by a certified life cycle assessment carried out by Sphera.
This recyclable mono-material solution joins other Südpack Medica innovations, such as its new range of standard bags from the Coulmer plant, where the production area is currently being expanded and bag-making material with extremely low particle content is being produced in an ISO7 cleanroom environment.
Unlike conventional blister solutions, this packaging concept for orally administered solid medicines can be integrated into existing mechanical recycling streams, as it is primarily based on the polymer polypropylene. “PP inherently has a lower carbon footprint than composite materials such as aluminium and PET, making PharmaGuard stand out for its significantly reduced climate impact (in CO2-eq.) as well as its lower energy and water consumption,” he confirms. Thomas Freis, managing director of Südpack Medica.
Recognizing the importance of resource consumption in film production, its subsequent processing and various end-of-life (EoL) scenarios for the ecological footprint of packaging solutions, these factors were a central focus of the recent Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) verified to ISO 14040/44 by Sphera. The findings show that one square metre of PharmaGuard film, consisting of a 300 µm bottom film and a 90 µm top film, generates 1,54 kg CO2-eq. at all stages of the value chain, from production, printing and cutting to final processing and disposal.
Switching the German electricity mix to hydropower can reduce CO2-eq. emissions by more than 15%. The end-of-life assessment assumed an EU-standard recycling mix. If the material is mechanically recycled, emissions can be reduced by more than 20%. In the case of chemical recycling at the end of its life, CO2-eq. emissions remain virtually unchanged compared to the baseline. However, this method offers the advantage that chemically recycled films can be reused as raw material for the production of new blister packs, keeping them within the circular economy. The worst option is incineration, which is still widely practiced: if the material is burned instead of recycled, CO2-eq. emissions increase by more than 30%.
PharmaGuard stands out thanks to the high transparency of PP film, strong water vapor barrier, push-out performance, stable shrink properties and wide sealing range, all achieved without the need for additional coatings. material The PharmaGuard can also be processed on existing packaging machines with minimal adjustments and supports inline printing at high speeds. The uniform thickness distribution during thermoforming ensures a uniform barrier across the entire bottom film and thus high product protection. “With PharmaGuard, inconsistencies that affect packaging reliability are virtually eliminated,” emphasises Thomas Freis.
In addition, this blister concept is free of phthalates, vinyl, PFAS and halogens, making it safe for human health.
