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Stream #1 Recyclable Pharma Blister: New Blister, Same Machines

This PET blister allows pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and consumer health companies to incorporate a recyclable package without slowing lines or purchasing new equipment.

kpNext is kp’s blister packaging film that is designed to be recyclable in the RIC (Resin Identification Code) 1 stream.
kpNext is kp’s blister packaging film that is designed to be recyclable in the RIC (Resin Identification Code) 1 stream.

Major market segments have made a shift toward more sustainable packaging options which include recyclable and recycled content options.  The Pharmaceutical industry is not immune to this movement and in fact have been challenging packaging suppliers for more sustainable options for blister packaging.   

Klöckner Pentaplast (kp) has been working to provide its pharmaceutical customers with viable options to meet those goals.  New on that front is kpNext™, kp’s blister packaging film that is designed to be recyclable in the RIC (Resin Identification Code) 1 stream. 

The company set out to create a PET blister that could be recycled in the most established stream globally, changing user behavior and the environmental footprint of the industry, says TinaJächel, Product Manager, Pharma at kp.  

For the entire package to be a recyclable solution, the lid stock must also recycle in the RIC 1 stream. With its partner Huhtamaki (HUH), a recyclable lid stock has been developed which solves that issue.  The newly developed lidding material also has the same clarity as the blister film. 

kp, together with Huhtamaki, is working on washable ink system for the lid stock, so recyclability is not compromised when branding and dosage information are printed on the lid. “You can also change the lidding film color to a certain extent,” says Jächel. “For example, in the PET recycling stream, you can enter with either clear, clear-blue, or green lidding material. Any colors outside of these three standard color options would require a workaround to ensure recyclability.” 

The patent pending technology has been in development for three years, and it serves as a next step in kp’s long-term sustainability journey. (The company’s kpVantage® launched nearly a decade ago, was the first to market with a vinyl-free solution, representing an early step in the journey towards a recyclable solution.) 

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