Packaging - whether from medical products, MedTech or any where else - is only one element of a whole lifecycle of the product itself. Circularity such as packaging takeback schemes or reverse logistic chains is vital. Certainly, that which cannot be returned for a second life should be reusable for an alternate function and if not, then ideally be single material and 100% recyclable (both technically and practically recyclable).
For example, if an electronic device is produced and packaged safely to avoid damage during logistics, then return of the packaging for use by the manufacturer for the delivery of the subsequent electronic device makes sense. As an example, 'we' reuse a supermarket trolley many times through return and reuse.
If the packaging cannot be returned, can it be reused by the recipient - but this can't just be a passing of the buck by the manufacturer.
If, at the end of the life of the packaging, it needs to be recycled, single materials are far easier to recycle.
One difficulty with the newer bio based (and other products) is that they can easily be mixed with the 'traditional' items which contaminates the waste stream meaning it becomes neither recyclable nor biodegradable. Think plastic cups or food containers - an oil based plastic may be indistinguishable from a bio based/ starch polymer making correct waste segregation essential.
Multilayer laminate packaging that replaces an oil based polymer with a bio based polymer will run into exactly the same issues.
Personally, I think all (Medtech) packaging manufacturers should be encouraged (even mandated) to sit down with waste experts and circular economy experts during the design phase - ie design for life for both product and packaging- Design for Life roadmap - GOV.UK.
A longer article with the views of others is available at MMI058 2026 Vol.1 :: 92
Please log in or sign up to comment.