Medical Plastics News spoke to Jared O’Connell, general manager, healthcare packaging, Honeywell to discuss the news of the new Aclar Impact Estimator.
Could you please tell us about the new impact estimator tool?
Honeywell
Honeywell developed its Aclar Impact Estimator tool to help suppliers calculate the potential reduction in packaging material, weight, waste and carbon dioxide emissions they can achieve with a change in packaging material.
When it comes to selecting packaging materials, patient safety is the top priority for suppliers in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors, but sustainability is another factor being added on top of an existing list of requirements, which creates a challenge for companies trying to find packaging solutions that meet all of these needs.
According to a recent report from IQVIA, figures from the NHS in England and France suggest the contribution from the manufacturing of medicines ranges between 25–33% of their total healthcare system greenhouse gas emissions respectively. One way to decrease these effects is to minimise the impact of drug waste with the use of a high barrier packaging that can help extend shelf life and maintain the efficacy of medicines.
Furthermore, using an ultra-high moisture barrier blister packaging such as Honeywell Aclar films, versus cold form foil (CFF), can also help increase efficiency in the supply chain, because it offers the opportunity for smaller pack sizes and therefore reduces the amount of packaging material being used. With a smaller pack size, reduction in material and weight will lead to smaller secondary packaging, smaller crate sizes and ultimately help reduce the environmental impact of transporting the medications.
Could you tell us more about Honeywell Aclar films?
Aclar is a premium, high-barrier packaging solution that is designed to protect drugs with high moisture sensitivity. It is used in combination with polymer substrates like polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polypropylene (PP), which are polyvinyl chloride (PVC)-free materials. Aclar’s lamination and thermoforming properties allow for a high pill density in a package, reducing the total package size and therefore the total packaging material used.
Using thermoformed Aclar blisters can reduce pack size and secondary packaging by 50% on average compared to the same material packaged in CFF. With a higher density of pills per package, suppliers using Aclar can directly reduce raw material usage and waste, as well as total packaging weight, which can help lower transportation-related environmental impact.
How does the impact estimator tool work?
Honeywell’s Aclar Impact Estimator helps pharmaceutical companies understand the potential reductions in packaging waste and carbon footprint when switching to Aclar packaging materials.
The tool was validated by a third-party life cycle assessment expert and was developed using data on Aclar’s total cost of ownership, market data, as well as data provided by customers about the real uses of Aclar and CFF. Potential reductions are generated based on customisable elements including capsule size, annual packages per year and method of transport. Data from the tool can be used to calculate the potential cost savings, including warehousing expenses and transportation costs, as well as capital expenditures.
Honeywell experts are available to help pharmaceutical companies review their goals and determine how Aclar can help meet their needs.
What’s the importance of such an impact estimator tool?
The pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors are looking to advance their sustainability journeys without compromising patient safety or product efficacy. One aspect that can be put into focus now is reduction to help increase efficiency. Tools like Honeywell’s Aclar Impact Estimator can support the industry’s transition to more sustainable practices by demonstrating the tangible impact that waste reduction savings can provide. Packaging solutions like Aclar are ready-now to help.
The Aclar Portfolio carbon footprint has improved by 50% since 2012. Honeywell has active projects underway at our sites to reduce Aclar carbon footprint by an additional 20% by 2025.