Increasing the Circularity of Packaging along Pharmaceuticals Value Chain

Hanna Salmenperä, Sari Kauppi, Helena Dahlbo and Päivi Fjäder
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Hanna Salmenperä: Centre for Sustainable Consumption and Production, Finnish Environment Institute, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
Sari Kauppi: Programme for Sustainable Circular Economy, Finnish Environment Institute, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
Helena Dahlbo: Centre for Sustainable Consumption and Production, Finnish Environment Institute, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
Päivi Fjäder: Centre for Sustainable Consumption and Production, Finnish Environment Institute, 00790 Helsinki, Finland

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 8, 1-17

Abstract: Pharmaceutical packaging is a complex group of products, the main purpose of which is to protect the medicine and forward information. Pharmaceutical packaging waste is generated and accumulated along the various phases and practices of the value chain. In general, the amount of packaging has been growing during the increasing political pressure to reduce waste and to increase the circulation of materials. The goals and solutions are expected to be found in the circular economy; however, the literature on circular pharmaceutical packaging is lacking. This study explores the key factors when promoting the circularity of pharmaceutical packaging along its value chain. This was conducted by reviewing the legislation, elaborating the value chain and analysing the data from focus group discussions with stakeholders. The results show that various barriers, such as legislation, a lack of information or interaction between stakeholders, but also rigid practices, block product design for circularity. In the developing circularity of packaging, the causal links along the value chain must be understood. Chemical recycling technologies are expected to resolve the challenges of maintaining clean cycles. Further studies are needed to demonstrate the environmental benefits of increasing circularity along the value chain of pharmaceutical packaging.

Keywords: pharmaceutical packaging; packaging waste; circular economy; barriers; value chain; stakeholders (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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