Laura Hughes sat down with Anoosheh Oskouian, CEO, Ship & Shore Environmental, to find out more about the organisation ahead of MD&M West.
Ship & Shore Environmental is a California-based, woman owned, business which specialises in air pollution capture and control systems for industrial applications. The organisation helps manufacturers meet Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) abatement challenges by providing customised, energy efficient air pollution abatement systems.
1. How do you feel regulatory challenges are influencing US medical packaging manufacturers to take pollution abatement seriously?
US regulatory agencies are becoming more stringent in terms of the air quality rules and regulations they are enforcing, especially when dealing with manufacturing companies. If companies reach their emissions limit then these agencies tend to fine companies or even restrict their permit to operate, which prohibits them from their potential production, and because of this, medical packaging manufacturers are beginning to realise that pollution abatement is not a nicety, it’s an absolute necessity.
2. Do you feel there is technology available for manufacturers to help them tackle environmental challenges associated with medical packaging?
Yes, especially with the increase of enforcement for manufacturers to meet environmental challenges, there is an increase in technology available to help these companies tackle these challenges. That is actually where Ship & Shore Environmental comes in, as we fabricate these pollution control technologies so that they are custom designed to fit each facility in the most cost-effective, thermal-efficient, and sustainable way possible. More importantly than technologies is planning ahead. It is in each medical device/packaging company’s best interest to plan from the beginning with environmental efforts in mind.
3. What do you think are the common trends for packaging around medical devices?
For this industry, finding the balance between quality, effective medical packaging and environmentally safe packaging is a common trend and challenge. Making sure that the packaging is clear, useful, and user-friendly is just as important as making sure the packaging is either reusable, recyclable, or properly disposed.
4. How do you see the use of plastic packaging within the medical sector changing in the future?
Plastic manufacturers are already starting to produce innovative ways of manufacturing plastics, packaging, etc. that involve less VOCs and other pollutants.
Ship & Shore will not be exhibiting this year, but Anoosheh will be walking the show.