Viatris: Innovative Packaging Solutions for Sustainable Medicine Delivery in 2023
Viatris is actively seeking methods to decrease the volume and variety of materials utilized in packaging while ensuring access to high-quality medicines and adhering to regulatory and quality standards globally.
In 2023, teams throughout the organization collaborated on several initiatives, including:
In 2023, teams throughout the organization collaborated on several initiatives, including:
- A reduction of paper usage by 90 metric tons at oral-solid dose manufacturing sites.
- The elimination of 2 metric tons of plastic and 5 metric tons of wood through bulk packaging optimization.
- The substitution of approximately 88 metric tons of plastic with polythene bags.
- An optimization of shrink bundle film that cut plastic usage by 18 metric tons.
- The advancement of efforts to replace leaflets in ARV bottle packs with QR codes, with a pilot study scheduled for 2024.
- The transition from polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE) based unit doses in line with the European Chemical Agency's proposed PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) directive.
We are also working to standardize bottle packaging artwork across various markets by utilizing common packaging in multiple languages, including quadrilingual packs where possible. This allows a single pack to feature one label and leaflet (in pad form) containing information in English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish, reducing the need for separate bottles for each language. This builds on our previous implementation of trilingual packs in 2022.
A similar shared pack initiative is being launched in Europe, streamlining our packaging and enhancing flexibility in our supply chain to distribute medicines where they are most needed. We remain dedicated to expanding this approach to more markets in Europe.
Looking to the future, we are considering the adoption of e-labeling in additional markets, implementing PCTFE mitigation in blister packaging across various regions, launching carton-less initiatives for technology transfer projects, and minimizing the layers of paper used in shipping boxes.
At our facility in Cairo, Egypt, we have begun utilizing empty supply carton boxes for the destruction of returned expired products instead of purchasing new ones. This change has resulted in an annual savings of four tons of carton boxes.
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