A study warns that less than 10% of plastic packaging is recycled

Consalud.es

Sustainability has moved beyond being merely a reputational issue to become a structural factor in competitiveness within the pharmaceutical industry. According to academic research on sustainability in pharmaceutical packaging carried out at EAN University, the current model is environmentally unsustainable and faces a regulatory lag that could affect the sector’s international standing.

The pharmaceutical industry has historically built its packaging system on an unquestionable principle: ensuring the stability, traceability and safety of medicines. This has led to the widespread use of materials such as PVC, high- and low-density polyethylene, and multi-layer PVC/aluminium blister packs, which are highly effective at providing protection but complex to recycle.

The report states that around 280,000 tonnes of plastic packaging for pharmaceutical and cosmetic use are produced, of which less than 10% is effectively recycled. Most of it ends up in landfill sites, incinerators or informal waste management systems.

This situation is exacerbated by the sustained growth in the consumption of medicines, driven by an ageing population and an increase in chronic diseases, which proportionally increases the volume of waste associated with the sector.

Regulatory vacuum and competitive risk

Unlike the European Union, which has already set mandatory plastic recycling targets, most countries do not have regulations requiring the pharmaceutical sector to switch to recyclable, reusable or biodegradable packaging.

The analysis warns that this lag not only poses an environmental risk, but also represents a structural competitive disadvantage. In markets with stricter ESG requirements, companies unable to demonstrate environmental traceability and compliance with eco-design standards will face technical barriers to entry and higher adaptation costs.

Circular economy

The document proposes a transition based on three strategic pillars: eco-design and material reduction, the gradual replacement of materials with biopolymers, and reverse logistics and extended producer responsibility.

The study emphasises that any alternative must be assessed using Life Cycle Assessment and Life Cycle Cost methodologies, incorporating economic and environmental variables. It is not merely a question of reducing CO2 emissions, but of ensuring financial viability and consumer acceptance.

Costs, technological barriers and perception of risk

One of the most significant findings is that the main barrier is not technological, but economic and regulatory. The initial investment in technology for sterilisation, traceability and the reconditioning of reusable packaging represents a financial challenge for laboratories, particularly domestic ones. Furthermore, a regulatory hurdle remains: any change to packaging materials may require new stability studies, technical validations and regulatory approvals, which increases both time and costs.

From a reputational perspective, the research shows that sustainability is beginning to be perceived as a strategic risk factor. In an environment where consumers and healthcare systems demand greater environmental responsibility, the pharmaceutical industry could face increasing scrutiny if it fails to adapt its production model.

A transition that requires cross-sectoral coordination

The study concludes that this transformation does not depend solely on the industry. It requires effective coordination between companies, regulators, academia and consumers. For governments, it represents an opportunity to strengthen circular economy measures aligned with SDG 12; for the industry, it means improving its market position; and for the healthcare system, it means maintaining patient safety without passing on the environmental cost to future generations.

Sustainability in pharmaceutical packaging is therefore not a marginal trend, but a redefinition of the business model. The challenge lies in ensuring that the protection of medicines and the protection of the planet cease to be conflicting objectives and become part of the same responsible innovation strategy.