Bormioli Pharma and Chiesi Pioneering Sustainable Pharma Packaging With Carbon Capture PET

Bormioli Pharma has announced a collaboration with Chiesi, a global biopharmaceutical company focused on research and innovation, to produce Carbon Capture PET bottles. These bottles will be utilized for packaging a medication designed to prevent and treat both seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis, as well as vasomotor rhinitis.

This initiative represents a groundbreaking first, as Carbon Capture PET bottles are now being used for pharmaceutical applications, combining environmental sustainability with enhanced safety for patients. Notably, these bottles reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 21.9% compared to standard PET, while the levels of extractables remain consistent with those found in traditional PET materials.

The production of Carbon Capture PET involves capturing carbon emissions, which are converted into BioMEG—the essential component for creating PET—through a fermentation process. This innovative material is not only recyclable but also offers the same mechanical and physical properties as conventional PET.

The EcoPositive product line has achieved a remarkable +304% growth in volume for low-impact plastic containers compared to the baseline set in 2021. It is well on its way to fulfilling the ambitious “50-in-5” corporate strategy, which targets 50% sustainable materials in its sold products by 2025. As of 2023, sustainable materials accounted for 45% of sales, and this figure is projected to rise to nearly 47% in the first half of 2024.

This significant advancement in sustainability within the pharmaceutical sector is supported by an innovative supply chain that leverages the expertise of two global leaders in sustainable solutions. LanzaTech Global (Nasdaq: LNZA), a pioneering carbon recycling company, employs technology that captures and recycles carbon emissions into CarbonSmart™ MEG. Meanwhile, Plastipak, a leader in cutting-edge packaging and recycling solutions based in Piedmont, Italy, produces Carbon Capture PET.

Andrea Lodetti, CEO of Bormioli Pharma, mentioned, “The agreement we've reached with Chiesi to supply one of their products with Carbon Capture PET bottles demonstrates both the performance and safety of these containers, as well as the growing commitment of the pharma industry towards sustainability. For Bormioli Pharma, this is another significant recognition of the high-quality standards achieved by our packaging solutions. As of today, almost half of our sales are made up of products manufactured with low-impact materials, thanks to the development of one of the widest sustainable packaging offerings available in the pharma industry, EcoPositive, which comprises over 3,000 items in glass or plastic.”