Sustainability In Processing And Packaging Technology; Technological Solutions For Ecological Challenges

The article analyses current ways of the pharma industry to make for more sustainable packaging and manufacturing processes, from utilising biodegradable plastics and fibre-based packaging to integrating energy-saving process equipment into their manufacturing lines. Further, the article takes a deep dive into how connected industry solutions can help reduce and optimize energy consumption.

- Dr. Ing. Carsten Weiß

Increasing urbanization, smaller household sizes and an ageing population are fundamentally changing the expectations for food and pharmaceutical packaging. At the same time, there is a growing need for more sustainable packaging solutions and processes. But according to Carsten Weiß, Vice President Engineering at Bosch Packaging Technology, no single company can rise to this challenge alone. In order to develop packaging concepts that are both truly sustainable and appealing to consumers, manufacturers, material and packaging suppliers, as well as mechanical engineering and waste management companies need to join forces.

In the majority of industrialized nations, the “Supersize Me” mentality is now a thing of the past. Given the demographic change and more responsible consumer behavior, the current trend is toward smaller portions. This can also be seen in the growing demand for convenience and on-the-go products. In many growth markets, small portions are also the number one choice due to consumers’ limited financial resources. As a result, packaging sizes are becoming smaller, yet the number of individual packages is constantly on the rise. Although the sense of environmental responsibility among the general public is improving, every year more than eight million metric tons of plastic litter find their way into the ocean, due in part to insufficiently established or poorly implemented waste disposal processes. According to figures from the UN, this amounts to roughly one garbage-truck load per minute. In parallel, more and more effort is being put into the development of sustainable packaging and environmentally friendlier manufacturing processes.