By Tracy Renning
Reviewed and Edited by Brett Stadelmann
Whether in pill bottles or blister packs, medicinal packaging is essential for ensuring the safety and efficacy of a pharmaceutical product. However, this packaging also contributes to the over 500 million tons of packaging waste that ends up in landfills annually.
The lifecycle of medicinal packaging presents numerous environmental challenges, from the pharmacy to a landfill. To shed light on the subject and how it impacts you and the world, we’ve explored the problems associated with medicinal packaging, provided potential solutions, and suggested actions individuals and businesses can take to mitigate the impact.
Why Medicinal Packaging is Problematic
Medicinal packaging is problematic for numerous reasons, and these are the most prevalent:
Environmental Impact
Blister packs, plastic and glass bottles, and cardboard boxes generate substantial waste. The production, disposal, and potential for environmental contamination highlight significant concerns:
Resource Use and Manufacturing Emissions
The production of medicinal packaging involves extensive use of non-renewable resources such as petroleum-based plastics and metals. The extraction and processing of these materials emit large volumes of greenhouse gases and other pollutants.
For example, manufacturing processes for blister packs involve combining plastic and aluminum, which are resource-intensive and energy-consuming.
Waste Generation and Landfill Contribution
Most medicinal packaging ends up in landfills after use. Because these materials are often non-biodegradable, they contribute to the growing landfill crisis for decades or even longer.
Pharmaceuticals often come in small, non-recyclable packages designed for convenience and ease of use, and this further exacerbates waste issues.
Environmental Contamination
The improper or incorrect disposal of medicinal packaging, especially packaging that contains residual pharmaceuticals, can lead to the contamination of soil and water bodies. This poses risks to wildlife and ecosystems, disrupting biological processes and food chains and causing long-term damage and harm.
Health Impacts
The improper disposal and recycling of medicinal packaging also have a direct impact on your health.
Many packaging materials, such as PVC and certain plastics, release toxic chemicals when they degrade or are incinerated. These chemicals can enter the human food chain and cause health issues such as cancer, endocrine disruption, and other chronic diseases.
Additionally, medicinal packaging that contains residual antibiotics can contribute to the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance. When these substances enter the environment, they can promote the development of drug-resistant bacteria that pose significant public health risks as treatment options become limited.
The Different Types of Waste in Pharmacies
The lifecycle and natural breakdown of medicinal packaging materials like paper, plastic, pill packages, and bottles differ greatly due to their different compositions and environmental impacts.
Understanding these differences is crucial for assessing their environmental footprint and potential for recycling or disposal.
Here’s how long different packaging takes to break down and how it contributes to the waste problem.
Paper Packaging
Breakdown Time: 2 to 6 weeks
In medicinal packaging, paper packaging is often used for outer boxes and informational inserts. This type of packaging is one of the most environmentally friendly options as it’s made from wood pulp and is biodegradable and recyclable.
In a natural environment, paper can decompose within 2 to 6 weeks, depending on factors like exposure to moisture and microbial activity. When recycled, paper packaging can also be reprocessed to produce new paper products, significantly reducing the need for virgin materials and minimizing environmental impact.
Plastic Packaging
Lifecycle: 100 to 500 years
Due to its durability and versatility, plastic is widely used in medicinal packaging, such as bottles, blister packs, and caps. However, its environmental impact is severe, especially compared to paper, due to its long decomposition time.
Common plastics, like polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), take hundreds of years to break down naturally. This lengthy process is due to the stable polymer chains that resist degradation by microorganisms. In landfills, plastic can last for centuries, contributing to pollution. While recycling programs exist, not all types of plastic are easily recyclable, and the process can be energy-intensive. Plus, not everyone knows how to recycle correctly, which can impact the efficacy of recycling initiatives.
Blister Packs
Lifecycle: Up to 500 years
Pill blister packs combine plastic (usually PVC) and aluminum. The composite nature of this medicinal packaging makes it challenging to recycle.
The plastic used in blister packs can take up to 500 years to decompose, while the aluminum foil, although recyclable, often ends up in landfills where it can take centuries to break down. Material separation is complicated and resource-intensive and is also not widely practiced, so this packaging has a large environmental footprint.
Glass Bottles
Lifecycle: Undetermined, potentially millions of years
Glass bottles made from silica, soda ash, and limestone are stable materials that don’t degrade easily.
In natural conditions, glass can last for thousands to millions of years without breaking down. However, glass is highly recyclable and can be reprocessed indefinitely without losing its quality or durability, making it an environmentally preferable option.
Aluminum Foil
Lifecycle: 80 to 200 years
Used in blister packs, packaging seals, and some medicinal bottles, aluminum foil is more durable than paper. However, it takes a significant time to break down, and it can contribute to landfills for several lifetimes. There is, however, a positive side to this material. Aluminum is one of the most recyclable materials, as it can be recycled repeatedly without degradation.
Recycling aluminum also saves up to 95% of the energy required to produce it from raw materials, making it a valuable resource. The key here, however, is that it must be recycled correctly,and not all recycling programs accept aluminum foil. This means that even when consumers think they are doing the right thing, the aluminum foil may still end up in a landfill.
Composite Materials
Lifecycle: Varies
Composite materials that combine various substances like plastic and aluminum are used in specialized medicinal packaging. Due to the complexity of the composition, the breakdown time for these materials varies widely and often extends beyond 500 years.
Recycling composite materials is difficult as it requires separation and specialized processes, which are not always available.
How To Reduce the Environmental Impact of Medicinal Packaging
Because of the varying decomposition times and recyclability of different materials, medicinal packaging has a major negative impact on the environment. Fortunately, there are several steps businesses and consumers can take to reduce this impact as much as possible:
Use Innovative Materials
Companies should invest in research and development of sustainable packaging solutions. This includes exploring new materials and packaging alternatives, designing for recyclability, and minimizing packaging size.
One of the most promising solutions lies in the development and adoption of sustainable materials for packaging.Biodegradable and compostable plastics made from natural materials such as cornstarch, cellulose, and polylactic acid (PLA) offer an alternative to traditional plastics. These materials break down more easily in the environment, reducing long-term pollution.
Many leading drug and supplement companies are switching to biodegradable packaging. This not only helps ecologically but it also encourages consumers to support brands that prioritize sustainability.
Use Recyclable and Reusable Packaging
Increasing the use of easily recyclable materials, such as certain types of plastics, glass, and aluminum, can significantly reduce waste. Additionally, reusable packaging systems, where feasible, can decrease the demand for single-use packaging.
If you want to reduce your environmental footprint, buy medications only in recyclable or biodegradable packaging whenever possible. It’s also a good idea to support brands that prioritize sustainability, as this can drive industry-wide change, as other brands will follow the consumer’s lead.
Improve Recycling Systems and Awareness
Enhancing the efficacy and effectiveness of recycling programs is crucial for a greener planet.
Developing better recycling infrastructure to handle medicinal packaging, including specialized facilities for complex materials like blister packs, can improve recycling rates and help to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in already overflowing landfills.
However, improved recycling systems won’t have a major impact unless everyone knows about them, how they work, and what can be recycled. This is where consumer education comes in.
Educating consumers about proper disposal and recycling practices for medicinal packaging can help ensure that more materials are recycled correctly and improve participation in recycling programs. Public awareness campaigns and in-store informational displays can also play a vital role here.
As a consumer, you can ensure you follow local guidelines for disposing of medicinal packaging and unused medicines. Many communities have designated drop-off points or take-back programs for safe disposal, so look for these.
Implementing Policies and Regulations
Local governments can play an instrumental role in sustainability and saving the planet by implementing policies and regulations that drive significant change in the industry.
For example, implementing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policies requires manufacturers to take responsibility for the entire lifecycle of their products, including their disposal and recycling. If governments implement EPR for pharmaceutical companies, this can incentivize the creation of more sustainable packaging with a reduced environmental footprint.
Bans and restrictions can also help, particularly when they apply to the use of particularly harmful materials, such as PVC. This can push the industry towards safer alternatives, especially if fines are imposed for those who don’t meet the criteria. Additionally, regulations mandating the use of recyclable or biodegradable materials can also make a substantial impact overall.
Pushing For More Sustainable Medicinal Packaging
The lifecycle of medicinal packaging from pharmacy to pollution is a complex issue that we need to pay attention to. By understanding the environmental and health impacts, exploring innovative solutions, and taking actionable steps, we can all contribute to a more sustainable future.
Use this guide to minimize your waste footprint, support brands that are using more sustainable medicinal packaging, and spread the word about how everyone can make a difference, one pill bottle or blister pack at a time.