SÜDPACK Medica to lead panel discussion on sustainable blister packaging

The pharmaceutical and healthcare industries are moving toward a more sustainable future – a shift clearly reflected in the Pharma Sustainability Days. Following its successful debut in 2024, the high-profile conference will be held for a second time from June 4–5 in Geneva. SÜDPACK Medica will once again be part of the event. The film and packaging manufacturer, which recently achieved Platinum status in the EcoVadis Sustainability Rating thanks to its multifaceted sustainability initiatives, will moderate the panel discussion “Blister Packaging: Advancing toward sustainable solutions” on the first day of the event. SÜDPACK Medica will also showcase its trailblazing sustainable solutions, which are setting new standards in the industry, at booth B2. 

PharmaGuard®, the advanced PP mono-material blister solution for oral solid doses, is a compelling example of how SÜDPACK Medica is addressing both current and future requirements in the global pharmaceutical industry. As the sector works to reconcile ambitious sustainability goals – including reducing carbon emissions and ensuring closed-loop recycling of plastics – with stringent regulatory demands, such as the cGMP requirements for pharmaceutical packaging, there is a growing need for solutions that unite high functionality, quality, and traceability with enhanced environmental performance.

In an engaging panel discussion at 4:00 p.m. on June 4 ... 

... participants will hear from Business Development Director Jürgen Bodenmüller, who will explain how SÜDPACK Medica is advancing circularity in the industry, overcoming regulatory barriers in the development and production of sustainable plastic film solutions, and paving the way toward a more sustainable future. Key areas of focus include optimizing extrusion technologies and capabilities – a prerequisite for producing recyclable mono-materials used in blister packaging concepts such as PharmaGuard® and NutriGuard®. In line with its internal mechanical material management strategy, SÜDPACK is also strengthening its focus on post-industrial recycling through regranulation. At the same time, as the majority stakeholder in carboliq GmbH, the company is pioneering new approaches in chemical recycling – aiming to recover valuable liquid resources from post-consumer plastic fractions. During the 4:40 p.m. session, carboliq Managing Director Dr. Harald Klein will explain the benefits of chemical recycling as a complementary technology to mechanical recycling – specifically in meeting recycling targets for contact-sensitive food and pharmaceutical packaging.

Highly relevant for participants

LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) is also likely to be a key topic of interest at the Pharma Sustainability Days. In both the panel discussion and at booth B2, SÜDPACK’s packaging experts will explain how they use their EcoTrace® LCA service when developing new solutions – and how they apply it as a fact-based decision-making tool to support optimal product selection from a sustainability standpoint. In the case of PharmaGuard®, for example, the analysis revealed that this PP-based blister concept not only boasts a recyclability rate of over 90%, but also significantly outperforms aluminum/PET composite materials in terms of climate impact (CO₂-eq), as well as energy and water consumption. 

If we want to make the entire packaging ecosystem more environmentally responsible – and improve acceptance of plastic as an important and often indispensable material – we must approach sustainability consistently and, above all, holistically, across the entire value chain and through to end-of-life,” emphasizes Jürgen Bodenmüller. A look at the Geneva event’s program – with its 61 sessions, 67 speakers, and 800 delegates – makes one thing clear: the LCA topic has firmly arrived in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. But it also reveals an ongoing need for awareness and action. As a longstanding partner, innovation and technology leader, and driver of progress, SÜDPACK Medica will be on hand to provide answers.