Sustainable packaging in regulated industries

SUSTAINABILITY is no longer a side conversation in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries; it’s very much in focus. With global attention on climate change, supply chain emissions, and plastic waste, companies are being held accountable not just for what they produce, but also for how they package it. And in a sector where product safety, stability, and compliance are paramount, that’s a tricky balancing act.

- Manish Jain

Traditionally, pharmaceutical packaging hasn’t been designed with recyclability or reusability in mind. Its purpose has always been clear: to protect the product and keep it viable until the moment it’s used. And that's understandable.

When you're handling temperature-sensitive biologics or moisture-prone formulations, packaging becomes part of the drug delivery system itself. But times are changing. With increasing regulatory pressure and growing public awareness, there’s a real need to rethink how packaging serves both the product and the planet.

Changing regulatory landscape

In Europe, regulatory shifts are happening quickly. The proposed Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) aims to reduce per capita packaging waste by 15 percent by 2040. It promotes the use of recyclable and reusable packaging and expands Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) requirements to hold manufacturers accountable for the full lifecycle of their packaging. These are not just guidelines. They are binding mandates, and failing to meet them could carry serious consequences.

India is moving forward as well. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) now requires producers to register and report their plastic packaging usage. Under the updated EPR framework, companies are responsible for everything from the design and sourcing of their packaging to post-consumer collection and recycling.