First-of-its-Kind Blister Packaging with Improved Environmental Footprint by Liveo Research Launch

Bayer has established a first-of-its-kind product in the healthcare enterprise, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) blister packaging, on its famous brand, Aleve.

Realized in collaboration with pharma packaging specialist Liveo Research, this creative solution reduces the carbon footprint of the packaging by 38% and marks a stride in environmental stewardship by eliminating the usage of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in their portfolio.

Blister packaging, widely used in over-the-counter products, has long posed a challenge to environmental sustainability due to its multilayer plastic and aluminum composition, making it hard to sort and recycle. Established first in the Netherlands in the coming years, the company aims to substitute all its blister packaging with more sustainable alternatives.

With the blastoff of this new blister packaging, Bayer is:

• Reducing the per-unit carbon footprint of this packaging by 38%
• It decreases factors contributing to biodiversity loss by using 78% less water and 53% less land (per unit).
• Lightweighting the package by 18% (per unit, in comparison to current packaging, based on third-party verified LCA) compared with the current packaging

The market launch results from many years of extensive preparation and cooperation between Bayer and Liveo Research experts.

“Our goal is to transform our packaging to deliver remarkable experiences to our consumers while minimizing our environmental impact and ultimately creating circular solutions,” said Chris Padain, Vice President and Global Head of Design, Packaging, Product Experience & Sustainability for Bayer’s Consumer Health division. “With its improved carbon footprint and decreased impact on water use and land, we’re proud of this step forward in our journey towards environmental sustainability.”

“With the introduction of our PET One-Material Blister into Bayer’s Aleve product range, we’ve proven that more sustainable blister packaging is possible on a large, global scale. Waste and CO2 can already be saved today,” said Dr. Carsten Heldmann, CEO of Liveo Research. “As a specialized pharmaceutical packaging company, we will continue to support this industry in delivering its sustainability targets while complying with the strict regulatory requirements.”

PET is a widely used recyclable plastic in other industries. While transitioning over-the-counter medicine packaging from PVC to PET is a step forward in sustainable packaging, change within the recycling industry is required to ensure innovations like this become part of the circular economy. Bayer is working across the sector in partnership with the Global Self-Care Federation and the Blister Pack Collective and recently joined The Recycling Partnership to accelerate progress and create systemic change. This includes driving research on new ways to package non-prescription medicines and design circular packaging solutions while maintaining product efficacy, quality, and safety, as well as working with partners across the value chain to innovate packaging solutions and improve recycling infrastructure.