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The partnership between the two companies has resulted in the launching of a first-of-its-kind blister packaging, utilising polyethylene terephthalate (PET) instead of the more traditional poly vinyl chloride (PVC).

The partnership between Bayer and Switzerland-based Liveo Research, which specialises in producing primary packaging for pharma products, has resulted in the new blister packaging after years of collaboration and innovation. The blister packaging will be first launched in the Netherlands before being expanded out to other regions and product lines.

“Our goal is to transform our packaging to deliver remarkable experiences to our consumers while minimising our environmental impact and ultimately creating circular solutions,” said Chris Padain, vice president and global head of Design, Packaging, Product Experience & Sustainability for Bayer’s Consumer Health division. “With its improved carbon footprint and decreased impact on water use and land, we’re proud of this step forward in our journey towards environmental sustainability.”

By using PET over PVC, the blister packaging marks a significant step in allowing Bayer to hit its sustainability targets. According to the announcement, the swap to PET reduces the carbon footprint per unit of packaging by 38%, and uses up to 78% less water and 53% less land (also per unit of packaging). The new packaging is also significantly lighter compared to the current blister packaging used by the company.

“With the introduction of our PET One-Material Blister into Bayer’s Aleve product range, we’ve proven that more sustainable blister packaging is possible on a large, global scale. Waste and CO2 can already be saved today,” says Dr Carsten Heldmann, CEO of Liveo Research. “As a specialised pharmaceutical packaging company, we will continue to support this industry to deliver their sustainability targets while complying with the strict regulatory requirements.”