Key Takeaways:
· CVS Pharmacy is unveiling an aluminum bottle for store-branded over-the-counter (OTC) products nationwide.
· The bottles offer a premium look and feel, and are made from highly recyclable aluminum, helping cut down on single-use waste.
· The rollout begins with value-size CVS brand allergy and pain relief support products, including equivalents to Zyrtec, Claritin, Allegra, Benadryl, Advil, and Tylenol.
CVS Pharmacy is unveiling an aluminum bottle for store-branded OTC products nationwide, beginning with select value-sized CVS brand allergy and pain relief support products. The change provides consumers with a packaging option that reduces plastic use with a highly recyclable material instead.
“The new aluminum bottles give customers looking to reduce their plastic use a recyclable aluminum option for some of their everyday wellness essentials. Aluminum is highly recyclable (1), giving it a reliable end-of-life pathway. And like more traditional packaging options, aluminum provides a strong barrier to help maintain stability and shelf life,” says Mike Wier, vice president of Store Brands CVS.
More broadly, this update reflects an ongoing effort at CVS to rethink how everyday health care products are packaged to simplify the shopping experience for customers. Last year, the company rolled out a new look for the CVS brand of OTC health and wellness products to make it easier for customers to quickly find the items they need.
“The refresh is now 50 percent complete, with several categories, including cold, allergy, children’s remedies and digestive health, already debuting new packaging and others, including feminine care and adult care hitting shelves in the coming months,” says Wier. “The new aluminum bottles also have the new brand look.”
Compared to glass, aluminum is lightweight and shatter-resistant, making it safer and more efficient to transport, reports CVS. Aluminum bottles are also highly recyclable (2), and aluminum is among the most common materials accepted by the majority of recycling programs. (3) For CVS, this product launch fits into the company’s larger sustainability goals.
“As part of our Healthy 2030 strategy, we're focused on improving the sustainability of the materials we use,” says Weir. “That includes our Store Brands packaging, where we strive to use less virgin plastic and increase recyclability across our portfolio. (3) We aim to eliminate or use less plastic, replace plastic with alternative sustainable materials and identify new strategies to increase recyclability and safer end-of-use disposal of the materials we use where we can.”
According to the company, aluminum is not just sustainable, it’s well-received by consumers.
“In our initial product testing, we've received positive feedback about the look and feel of the aluminum bottles,” says Weir. “Many customers have noted that the aluminum bottles stand out on shelves with their unique look. Additionally, many customers emphasized that the recyclable element of the product is appealing to them, as they're trying to reduce their plastic use.”
Many healthcare products have traditionally relied on plastic packaging due to performance, regulatory, and cost considerations. But for many companies, making a material swap can net a big impact. According to Weir, the company strategy focuses on driving measurable progress in reducing virgin plastic use and improving end-of-life outcomes for plastics, while balancing health care quality, safety, and consumer experience. (3) (4)
“Starting with value-sized products proved most effective, making it easier to bring a more consistent look across a set of products,” says Weir. “The larger aluminum bottles also make the packaging change more noticeable to our customers than it would be on a smaller, 100-count plastic bottle.”
Weir says that while the company’s initial focus is the performance of these first six items, if they resonate well with customers, then CVS may expand the aluminum bottle across more categories.
(1)The Aluminum Association: Infinitely recyclable. https://www.aluminum.org/Recycling. Accessed March 2026. 4
(2)The Environmental Protection Agency: U.S. Recycling Infrastructure Assessment and State Data Collection Reports. https://www.epa.gov/smm/us-recycling-infrastructure-assessment-and-state-data-collection-reports. Accessed March 2026.
(3)CVS Health: Store brand sustainability. https://www.cvshealth.com/impact/healthy-planet/store-brand-sustainability.html. Accessed March 2026.
(4)CVS Health: Healthy Planet. https://www.cvshealth.com/impact/healthy-planet.html. Access March 2026.
