Finnish forest industry company UPM Biochemicals and Selenis have introduced what they call the world’s first pharmaceutical bottle partially made with wood-based plastics.
The launch is the result of a partnership first announced in June 2023 to develop polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) for packaging applications. UPM has supplied Selenis, a speciality polyester resins producer, with its bio-monoethylene glycol (bio-MEG) which Selenis incorporated in its Selcare partial BioPET resins.
Marketed by UPM under the brand name UPM BioPura, the bio-MEG is produced from sustainably sourced, certified hardwood obtained from forests in the regions around Leuna in Germany, where the company is building the world’s first industry scale biorefinery converting woody biomass into next generation biochemicals.
The bio-PET bottle for pharmaceutical applications is derived from up to 30% biofeedstock, Eduardo Santos, head of corporate strategy at Selenis told Sustainable Plastics during an interview at PRSE 2024. The material has received approval for use in pharma applications according to the European Pharmacopeia. It will be available worldwide from the first quarter of 2025.
UPM and Selenis also partnered with Bormioli Pharma, an international producer of pharmaceutical packaging and medical devices in Italy, to produce the bottle.
The partners believe the new bottle takes sustainability in pharma packaging to a ‘whole new level’. The bio-based material is a more sustainable packaging solution that does not compromise on safety or performance, they said in a statement.
“Our pioneering collaboration demonstrates that renewable, wood-based biochemicals can deliver the same high quality as fossil-based virgin materials, with significant environmental benefits,” said Michael Duetsch, vice president of biochemicals at UPM. “Bormioli Pharma’s containers provide a relevant solution for a market with limited and strictly monitored options to accelerate the sustainable transformation. It also provides tangible proof that scalable solutions are present in the market today,” he added.
Source: sustainableplastics.com
