Discussing environmental sustainability has become a priority for all productive sectors. The pharmaceutical packaging industry must comply with strict regulations on the use of materials for primary and secondary packaging. These regulations are designed to protect public health and ensure the safe delivery of medicines to consumers. Despite regulatory restrictions, companies can adopt a number of initiatives to promote eco-sustainability principles. These range from analysing materials used in the production process to evaluating greenhouse gas emissions, making interventions in packaging design, and committing to social and ethical issues on a global scale.

Adopting a holistic approach to the environmental impact of business activities enables the identification of solutions and strategies that can genuinely achieve sustainable packaging, while ensuring compliance with regulations and the safety of the final product.

Certified recyclable materials

The regulations governing pharmaceutical packaging are particularly stringent, and it is not always possible to guarantee the use of biodegradable packaging or reusable containers, as is already the case in other economic sectors. However, pharmaceutical companies can meet the challenges of eco-sustainability by investing in more recyclable innovative materials, such as bioplastics or plant fibres.

The search for new designs should include single-material packaging and improved communication on disposal instructions, as already required by environmental labelling regulations. This will facilitate the separation of packaging components during recycling.

Another best practice is the reduction of packaging weight and size, which positively impacts the entire logistics chain by saving materials and storage space.

In a sector where regulations are strictly observed, the key differentiating factor is the sourcing of materials from responsibly managed sources. It is crucial to ensure the economic and ethical sustainability in the management of the forests from where the paper used in pharmaceutical packaging is obtained, as this paper is derived from wood cellulose. Eurpack sources its cellulose from wood obtained from FSC- or PEFC-certified forests, two of the most prominent sustainability certifications in the market.

The FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) is a non-profit organisation that promotes responsible forest management worldwide. By applying this certification mark on the packaging, the company attests to the origin of the wood and paper from forests that are protected against deforestation and soil degradation.

Similarly, the PEFC certification, “Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes,” indicates that the wood used to produce the paper comes from forests and woodlands managed responsibly, thereby safeguarding the integrity of the land and the well-being of local populations.

Reducing the carbon footprint

All production processes have an impact on the environment. As a sustainable pharmaceutical company, it is crucial to consider the significance of the carbon footprint, which estimates the carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions associated with a product and its production process.

There are two international standards for assessing a company’s carbon footprint: the GHG Protocol, issued by the WRI (World Resources Institute) and the WBCSD (World Business Council for Sustainable Development), and the ISO 14064-1 standard.

Both standards place great emphasis on the importance of reporting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions produced directly by the organisation and those indirectly generated in the production of electricity or thermal energy. In addition, the standards stipulate that other indirect emissions not related to electricity and thermal consumption can be calculated on a voluntary basis.

The ISO 14064-1 standard provides tools and strategies to monitor, quantify and communicate the amount of GHG emitted by a company’s activities in order to implement carbon management policies. The standard emphasises the importance of communicating a company’s environmental sustainability commitment to its stakeholders.

For Eurpack, it is essential to control and clearly communicate its carbon footprint to partners in order to effectively approach sustainability. The company’s organisational and product carbon footprint, assessed in line with the ISO 14064-1 standard over a number of years, has enabled significant improvements in many of its production processes. For instance, modifications have been made to box sizes and, in certain instances, the components within them. One such modification is the switch from PET material to cardboard for trays, which has the effect of reducing the environmental impact of activities.

Sustainable initiatives

A company’s commitment to sustainability is not only demonstrated by the product itself. A company’s relationship with the wider world is a key indicator of its dedication to sustainability, not just in environmental terms.

It is common practice for pharmaceutical companies to collaborate with partners dedicated to promoting globally important ethical and social values. This can enhance the company’s reputation, attract new partners and strengthen existing partnerships. This includes supporting environmental, social, and economic initiatives that extend beyond the company’s core business. These may involve activities such as protecting the planet’s health, respecting workers and supporting vulnerable populations.

Even if the effects of ethical sustainability are more difficult to quantify, they are nevertheless an evident and direct indication of a company’s willingness to embrace sustainability from diverse perspectives.

Eurpack‘s repeated achievement of the gold standard from EcoVadis is a testament to the company’s unwavering commitment to pursuing sustainability principles. Eurpack’s suppliers assess the company’s performance in relation to corporate social responsibility, with a particular focus on environmental impact, labour practices, human rights and sustainable procurement.

Another clear example is the reforestation project in which Eurpack participates. Given the importance the company places on the source of the cellulose from which its packaging production process begins, the organisation has been committed for years, together with Treedom, to planting several trees annually in critical areas of the world to combat deforestation in many critical regions.