SÜDPACK MEDICA, in collaboration with IMA, is setting a new standard for sustainability in pharmaceutical packaging with its groundbreaking PharmaGuard® solution—a recyclable, polypropylene (PP)-based blister film that offers the same efficiency, protection, and reliability as conventional PVC/PVDC systems.
While regulatory requirements around recyclability in pharma packaging are not yet in place, forward-thinking companies are already preparing for the shift. With PharmaGuard®, SÜDPACK is leading that transition, delivering a mono-material solution tailored for oral solid dosage forms that meets strict quality and safety standards—including USP 661 and the International Pharmacopoeia.
Key Features and Innovations:
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Sustainable and Recyclable: PharmaGuard® is phthalate-, nitrosamine-, PFAS-, and halogen-free, and is fully compatible with existing recycling streams—unlike traditional multilayer blister formats.
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Performance-Driven: Offers excellent water vapor barrier, high transparency, low specific weight, and push-through functionality, all essential for maintaining pharmaceutical product integrity.
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Smaller Carbon Footprint: A verified life-cycle assessment by Sphera confirms that PP-based PharmaGuard® has a significantly lower environmental impact compared to PVC/PVDC, aluminum, and PET-based structures.
Seamless Machine Integration with IMA
A standout feature of this innovation is its machine compatibility. SÜDPACK’s strategic partnership with IMA ensures that the new PP-based structures can run on existing blister lines without major modifications, reducing time, cost, and operational disruption for manufacturers.
IMA’s OPENLab initiative plays a pivotal role in this transition. With a network of analytical labs and a comprehensive database of material structures, OPENLab enables:
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Data-driven performance analysis
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Optimization of material-machine interactions
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Dual-perspective troubleshooting (material and machine)
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Early identification of emerging packaging trends
Thanks to joint development efforts, customers now benefit from ready-to-use solutions that deliver on sustainability without sacrificing quality, efficiency, or speed.
A Future-Ready Packaging Breakthrough
PharmaGuard® represents more than just a new material—it’s a fully realized packaging ecosystem that aligns with long-term environmental goals while maintaining the highest pharmaceutical standards. With sustainability increasingly at the forefront of consumer and corporate priorities, SÜDPACK and IMA are providing the tools and technologies to lead this transformation.
