Aging population affecting packaging cost and sustainability
The aging population is driving manufacturers to develop packaging that is easier to open, while still remaining child-resistant, but this can increase costs and affect sustainability, according to a director.
Speaking to in-PharmaTechnologist at Pharmapack 2010, Derek Hindle, global innovation director at Global Closure Systems (GCS), explained that packaging must be easy to open for the elderly.
In this demographic visual impairment and lack of strength are issues. Packaging is becoming larger to compensate but this can increase costs and make the product less sustainable.
Life cycle assessments (LCA) can be performed to evaluate sustainability but this is a long, costly process, according to Hindle. Consequently, GCS calculates the carbon footprint of its closures to assess the impact design changes have on sustainability.
