Packaging has always remained a mode of safeguarding medicine and presenting it to the consumer in the most acceptable form. However, over the years, besides keeping patient’s health as a main priority, packaging solution providers have also started making it eco-friendly. This drive towards eco friendliness has given rise to the concept of biodegradable packaging. Biodegradable packaging does not compromise with the appeal or quality standards of packaging but it does help in safeguarding health of the consumer, as well as of the ecosystem.
Better than traditional
Traditionally plastic has remained an important constituent of pharma packaging. Though it has served the purpose of safeguarding medicines very well, plastic’s non-recyclable nature has always made it a centre of criticism by industry experts and environmentalists. Medicines worth a few billion rupees are being consumed every year in India. Such a huge medicine intake also generates large amount of packaging waste. Unfortunately, in India such wastes are not properly disposed off. This scenario has made biodegradable packaging a welcome change in the pharma packaging sector.
 “For years now, the packaging industry is cognizant of the environmental impact of plastics and has been searching for a solution to reduce carbon footprint and increase sustainability quotient.”Anand Khare GM-Innovation, ACG-Pharmapack |
Anand Khare, GM-Innovation, ACG-Pharmapack, says, “For years now, the packaging industry is cognizant of the environmental impacts of plastics and has been searching for a solution to reduce carbon footprint and increase sustainability quotient. The industry has been struggling for quite a few years now to find the right packaging solution, which is not just eco-friendly but also ensures that the contents are safe for consumption.”
ACG Worldwide, through its group company, ACG Pharmapack, has made a breakthrough and successfully managed to find the missing piece of the sustainable packaging puzzle. Khare adds, “We offer unique biodegradable pharmaceutical-grade calendered PVC films, Bio-D. As compared to normal films that take thousands of years to degrade, Bio-D renders itself biodegradable at an enhanced rate when exposed to active biological landfill environments. This is called as anaerobic biodegradation, wherein oxygen is not needed to promote the process. When buried in active biological landfills, the films attract moisture and thereby micro organism. Micro organisms feed on the polymeric chain and break them down releasing carbon dioxide and methane in the process. Methane can be further harnessed as an alternative source of energy, which is US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognised landfill energy source.”
Bio-D’s biodegradability has been confirmed using ASTM D5511 testing method and the test results have been validated by an US-based independent third-party laboratory. Bio-D films are also FDA & CONEG-compliant for direct food contact application and conform with US Federal Trade Commission’s “Green Guides.” These films have also passed the global migration and toxicity tests.
 “The entire world is now following green technology that is made available and plastics in packaging applications will be replaced to a greater extent, wherever possible and applicable.”Shrikant Athavale Chief Executive Officer, Prathith Consultants |
Shrikant Athavale, Chief Executive Officer, Prathith Consultants, Pune, has developed a patented biodegradable water repellent coating for paper. This technology has been developed indigenously with locally available raw materials. It can be applied in the food industry as well as in the pharma industry. Athavale lists the benefits of biodegradable packaging, “The bio degradable packaging, is recyclable, reusable, repulpable and hence highly eco-friendly.” He adds, “Biodegradable technology can be coated by brush , brush roller , gravure / kiss coating / Myer Bar or can be sprayed.”
Quality comes at a cost?
Developing new technology needs a lot of investment in terms of money and manpower. Biodegradable packaging may benefit the environment but it shouldn’t make a consumer spend more on product.
“Although the price point of biodegradable films is slightly higher than equivalent non-biodegradable films, it only reflects the superior value addition that these films provide. Increasing number of pharma and consumer packaged goods companies are now environmentally conscious with corporate-driven sustainability agendas and tend to focus on the value addition rather than price per unit of packaging. Trends show that technological advances may have a favourable influence on costs in years to come,” opines Khare.
The mentality of most Indian consumers is such that they might choose a less effective or slow acting product to avoid high price. So, if biodegradable packaging makes a product even a morelittle expensive, it would be a challenge for the manufacturers to convince Indian consumers to buy it.
The sole purpose of biodegradable packaging is to ‘degrade’ in a best natural manner/process once it has served its duty. But it does not necessarily mean that its quality standards would be compromised in comparison with plastic packaging. According to experts, biodegradable packaging does meet all the expectations and would never alter the product’s shelf life.
“The shelf life of the product is certainly extended, similar to the existing packings with plastic coatings,” says Athavale.
“Biodegradable films do not compromise on the intended application and usage condition, and retain the sturdiness, physical and mechanical properties exhibited by normal polymeric films,” informs Khare. He explains, “ACG’s Bio-D range of biodegradable films can be processed using the same processing parameters and can be printed on in the same manner. Besides being available in various customisable thicknesses, the biodegradable films have the same shelf life as normal films.”
A welcoming move
Biodegradable packaging is a comparatively new concept. Every company wants to go green, however, for the time being the pharma industry somehow lags its counterparts in other industrial sectors while adopting such innovative form of packaging. But though slow, there is a consistent rise in the usage of biodegradable packaging in the pharma industry.
While speaking about his patented coating, Athavale says, “This is a fairly new development and the awareness amongst the packaging material manufacturers is ever increasing. The demand for such coatings is already on a very high priority in developed countries. These coatings will be very handy and useful for applications where the packed goods, or products need to be stored under cold conditions, or freezing conditions, in cold storages.”
According to Khare, products like Bio-D films provide a sustainable packaging option enhancing brand recognition and promoting company’s green initiatives. It reduces the environmental impact while protecting the product and the planet. He feels that being driven by consumer’s interest, the FMCG industry adopted green packaging, particularly biodegradable packaging films quite a while back. Considering this, even the pharma industry has shown notable interest in sustainable packaging solutions.
Positive predictions
Athavale predicts, “The entire world is now using the available green technology and plastics in packaging applications will be replaced to a greater extent, wherever possible and applicable.”
Researchers are mulling different ways to find an alternative to plastic. Biodegradable packaging will redefine the standards of packaging in the pharma industry and will also make it a key contributor to the well being of the society.
Khare signs off on a positive note saying, “Packaging has evolved a lot in the past few years and will continue to do so in the coming years. Today, besides investing in developing new products and product extensions, businesses are forced to consider investing in newer, better, and eco-friendly packaging materials and technologies. Pharma packaging is on the verge of innovative rapid growth given the needs of the product, cost and patient convenience when taken into consideration to build brand identity. As awareness about environmental concerns grows so will the adoption of biodegradable packaging.”
