As IBSA progresses towards a more sustainable future, ethics and innovation combine to create a positive impact at every production stage and on the final product. In this context, packaging presents a crucial challenge: while it's essential to ensure the integrity, sterility, and preservation of medicines, it also represents a significant source of waste and emissions. Optimising packaging processes and materials therefore offers a fundamental lever for improving the sustainability of the entire product life cycle. With this in mind, since the beginning of 2025, IBSA has launched a project to reduce the weight of secondary packaging for all medicines produced in Switzerland and destined for the global market, a concrete initiative towards a tangible reduction in resource usage.
More Sustainable Packaging: IBSA Lightens Its Environmental Footprint
A PROACTIVE COMMITMENT TO RESPONSIBLE PACKAGING
The weight reduction initiative involves decreasing the density of the cardboard used for product cartons. This rigorous process has enabled grammage reductions across various packaging types (from 300 to 275 g/m², from 275 to 240 g/m², from 260 to 240 g/m², and from 240 to 220 g/m²). These reductions, applied to different cardboard types based on the product, lead to an average overall weight decrease of 10% for secondary packaging.
IBSA has embraced this approach not only to meet future regulatory requirements and increasing consumer expectations but also for ethical and efficiency considerations. This decision aligns with an industry trend that anticipates upcoming legislative changes. The European Regulation 2025/40 on packaging (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation) mandates, among other objectives, the quantitative reduction of packaging, with direct applicability in member states from August 2026. This initiative thus fully embodies IBSA's philosophy: to drive change by anticipating future scenarios.
CONCRETE RESULTS FOR A MEASURABLE IMPACT
According to Giacomo Zampatti, Packaging Engineering Manager at IBSA: "The anticipated results are meaningful: we estimate that by 2026, the adoption of weight reduction will lead to approximately 37 fewer tonnes of paper being used for secondary packaging compared to 2025. This equates to a reduction of about 8% of the total cardboard used for cartons, and 5% if all paper-based materials (cartons, patient leaflets, and cardboard boxes) are taken into account."
To put that into perspective, 37 tonnes of paper is equivalent to approximately 7.4 million standard A4 sheets. If stacked, these sheets would reach a height of about 740 metres – more than double the Eiffel Tower!
IBSA's commitment to sustainable packaging extends beyond simply reducing weight. All paper and cardboard used for packaging medicines produced in Switzerland and Italy adhere to the stringent criteria of the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council). This guarantees that materials originate from responsibly managed forests, respecting environmental, social, and economic standards. While stringent industry regulations prevent IBSA from displaying the FSC logo directly on pharmaceutical packaging, the company works with trusted partners who source raw materials from sustainably managed forests and ensure their full traceability.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
IBSA's commitment extends further with investments in projects aimed at reducing the use of non-recyclable materials and optimising resources. Planned initiatives include:
- PVC to PET Replacement: For packaging containing pre-filled syringes (PFS), a transition from PVC (a difficult-to-recycle material) to PET (a highly recyclable material) is anticipated in the coming months.
- Recycled Aluminium: IBSA is currently evaluating the possibility of replacing the aluminium used in its Bag-on-Valve (BoV) packaging technology with recycled aluminium.
- Information Digitalisation: A digitalisation project is underway to make information on packaging components easily accessible and standardised, ensuring complete transparency for distributors and regulatory bodies.
"Packaging minimisation initiatives and the replacement of materials with sustainable alternatives provide tangible proof of IBSA's determination to view packaging not as waste, but as a valuable resource," states Chiara Piccolo, ESG Manager at IBSA. "Through these projects, we are able to reduce the environmental impact across the value chain and, simultaneously, respond transparently to our stakeholders' expectations, all while upholding the absolute priority of patient safety."
