PharmaGuard shines: SÜDPACK’s recyclable blister concept wins Silver at Packaging Innovation Awards

A fourth accolade for PharmaGuard^®: Following the German Packaging Award, the WorldStar Global Packaging Award, and the Swiss Packaging Award, SÜDPACK MEDICA’s recyclable blister concept has now won “Silver” at the 35th Packaging Innovation Awards. This polypropylene (PP)-based tablet blister, whose sustainability has been validated via a certified Life Cycle Assessment conducted by Sphera, will be showcased at Pharmapack in Paris, at Booth J41.

At the pharmaceutical industry’s first trade fair of 2025, SÜDPACK MEDICA anticipates strong interest in its sustainable packaging solutions. The star of the show will undoubtedly be PharmaGuard. This recyclable mono-material solution, which recently impressed the esteemed jury at the Packaging Innovation Awards with its design, performance, and sustainability, represents a significant step towards climate protection in the pharmaceutical industry and a major contribution to the circular economy. In addition, SÜDPACK MEDICA will showcase its new standard pouch range from the Coulmer plant, where the production area is currently being expanded, and extremely low-particle pouch-making material is produced in an ISO7 cleanroom environment.

Greater confidence in decision-making thanks to certified sustainability

Unlike conventional blister solutions, this innovative packaging concept for solid orally administered medications 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 like aluminum and PET, making PharmaGuard stand out with its significantly reduced climate impact (in CO₂-eq.) as well as lower energy and water consumption,” confirms Thomas Freis, Managing Director of SÜDPACK MEDICA.

Recognizing the significance of resource consumption in film production, further processing, and various end-of-life (EoL) scenarios for the ecological footprint of packaging solutions, these factors were a central focus of the recent ISO 14040/44-verified Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) conducted by Sphera. The findings show that one square meter of PharmaGuard film, consisting of a 300-µm bottom film and a 90-µm top film, generates 1.54 kg of CO₂-eq. across all stages of the value chain – from production, printing, and slitting to final processing and disposal.

Switching from the German electricity mix to hydropower can reduce CO₂-eq. emissions by more than 15 per cent. The EoL assessment assumed a standard EU recycling mix. If the material is mechanically recycled, emissions can be reduced by more than 20 per cent. In the case of end-of-life chemical recycling, CO₂-eq. emissions remain virtually unchanged compared to the baseline. However, this method offers the advantage that chemically recycled films can be reused as a raw material for new blister production, keeping them within the circular economy. The worst option is incineration, which is still widely practiced: If the material is burned rather than recycled, CO₂-eq. emissions increase by over 30 per cent.

PharmaGuard – Exceptional processing and product safety

PharmaGuard stands out thanks to the PP film’s high transparency, strong water-vapour barrier, excellent push-through performance, stable shrink properties, and wide sealing range – all achieved without the need for additional coatings. The material can also be processed on existing packaging machines with minimal adjustments, and supports inline printing at high speeds. Its uniform thickness distribution during thermoforming ensures a consistent barrier across the entire bottom web – and therefore high product protection. “Inconsistencies affecting packaging reliability are virtually eliminated with PharmaGuard,” emphasizes Thomas Freis.

Moreover, this blister concept is free from phthalates, vinyl, PFAS, and halogens, making it safe for human health. Another reason for pharmaceutical companies to choose PharmaGuard is the absence of nitrosamines.

Informative workshop at Pharmapack

At the upcoming industry event in Paris, Jürgen Bodenmüller from SÜDPACK MEDICA will present this innovative blister concept during a workshop titled “Recycle-Ready PP Solution for Primary Pharma Packaging”. This insightful journey into the sustainable future of the pharmaceutical and packaging industries will get underway on Jan. 22, 2025, from 10:30 to 11:10 a.m. in Room 725 and 726.

About SÜDPACK MEDICA AG
SÜDPACK MEDICA AG is headquartered in Baar (CH) and is one of the leading suppliers of sterile packaging solutions in Europe, as well as a pioneering partner for the global medical, pharmaceutical, and diagnostics industries. The company is part of the SÜDPACK company group and was founded in 1989. The core competency of SÜDPACK MEDICA is the development of plastic-based packaging solutions for sterile goods. The product and performance range of SÜDPACK MEDICA extends from standard solutions to tailor-made, customer-specific packaging concepts. It includes the production of coextruded flexible and rigid films, which are used as base and lidding films, and of pre-made pouch solutions for a wide variety of products. SÜDPACK MEDICA also benefits from the SÜDPACK Group’s longstanding leadership in technology and innovation in the coextrusion of polymer-based film solutions.

The production of SÜDPACK MEDICA products is performed at four sites in France, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands. These sites are equipped with the latest plant technology and manufacture to the highest standards of quality and hygiene, including the capacity to operate under cleanroom conditions.

For optimal support and collaboration with their customers around the world, SÜDPACK MEDICA relies on a specialist team working in quality, sales, development and application technology, one that has longstanding expertise in polymers and process engineering and in the market for sterile packaging. This makes SÜDPACK MEDICA a competent solutions partner for their customers when it comes to the implementation of packaging solutions, including those with the most demanding requirements.

SÜDPACK is committed to sustainable development and fulfills its responsibility as an employer and towards society, the environment and its customers. With its own site for processing biopolymers and its own compounding facilities, the SÜDPACK Group is also among the trailblazers in the production of forward-looking, sustainable and recyclable packaging concepts.