TekniPlex Healthcare, a provider of critical solutions using advanced materials for life science applications, has partnered with Alpek Polyester to introduce pharmaceutical-grade polyethylene terephthalate (PET) blister film containing significant recycled content. 
 
Suitable for a wide array of primary packaging applications, 30% of the PET blister film is manufactured using post-consumer recycled (PCR) monomers. When combined with TekniPlex’s polyester lidding, Teknilid Push, the film plus lidding blister system is also recyclable. 
 
To create the film, post-consumer plastic waste undergoes a depolymerization process via chemical recycling, which reduces it back to monomers. After repolymerization to PET, the result is a recycled resin that is essentially new material. The end product from Alpek’s polymer reactor is a sheet in master reel made according to the melt-to-sheet process.
 
The new blister film meets pharmaceutical requirements for PET as outlined in the European Pharmacopoeia Section 3.1.15, and United States Pharmacopoeia Section 661.1. 
 
The new PET blister film with PCR content aims to allow pharma companies to stay ahead of pending sustainability legislation likely to affect packaging in all industries. The EU’s forthcoming Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation likely will impose recyclability deadlines on all industries and PCR content baselines for various sectors. 
 
“This is the first time pharmaceutical companies have the option to incorporate a blister pack that is fully recyclable and, at the same time, contains a significant portion of recycled material – all while still meeting stringent pharmaceutical quality standards for product protection and consumer safety,” said Melissa Green, Head of Global Marketing for TekniPlex Healthcare. “We anticipate high demand for this new, more sustainable film, as it meets ever-growing calls for elevated eco-friendliness in packaging across all sectors, including pharma.”