- Drug Delivery
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Redefining Syringes: A 71% Carbon Footprint Reduction with RAUMEDIC’s Green Syringe
RAUMEDIC’s Green Syringe sets a new standard in sustainable drug delivery devices, reducing the product carbon footprint by 71%. With renewable biopolymers, optimized logistics, and recycling concepts, it ensures eco-friendly solutions without compromising functionality.
With increasing pressure from EU regulations and the Green Deal, including the carbon tax, the cap-and-trade system, and the taxonomy for sustainable activities, the pharmaceutical industry is entering a new era – no matter if it’s located in Europe or not.
Why? Because the EU Green Deal impacts non-EU companies - by setting high environmental standards for market access and requiring compliance with greener practices. Global supply chains involving EU partners will also drive alignment with EU regulations, while competitive pressure and investor focus on ESG practices, mandated by the EU taxonomy for sustainable activities, are set to push companies to adopt sustainable innovations to stay competitive globally.
It is on: The Global Race for Sustainable Drug Delivery Devices
Pharma companies looking to stay ahead of the curve are actively seeking suppliers who can support the transition in primary packaging—from fossil-based materials to renewable alternatives. RAUMEDIC can facilitate this shift not only in primary packaging for integral combination products but also for co-packed devices and other pharmaceutical, polymer-based solutions. This comprehensive support ensures a seamless transition across all types of combination products.
Companies like RAUMEDIC are helping drive this transformation by offering sustainable solutions, such as a Green Syringe concept. As the name suggests, it has one primary purpose: making syringes sustainable – without compromising functionality.
In doing so, RAUMEDIC can effectively reduce the product carbon footprint (PCF) of traditional polymeric or “plastics” syringes.
71% Less Carbon Emissions:
A Sustainable Step Forward in Pharma Packaging
RAUMEDIC’s Green Syringe isn’t just a product—it’s a prototype demonstrating the seamless transition from fossil-based materials to renewable options. The Green Syringe’s value proposition is simple: in its scope of influence, RAUMEDIC can reduce CO2 emissions by 71% - compared to the chemically equivalent “traditional” polymeric syringe.
“With a housing and rod made from polypropylene (PP), retaining the same chemical properties as its fossil-based counterpart, the Green Syringe offers a sustainable design. The stopper is made from biopolymeric thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) instead of silicone, enhancing the ecological footprint of the stopper.”
This is backed by a declaration of equivalency of RAUMEDIC’s material supplier, ensuring that the materials used in the Green Syringe meet all necessary regulatory requirements and standards, just like their fossil predecessors.
This means that even with the switch to more sustainable, ISCC PLUS renewable materials, can ensure regulatory compliance without the need for additional approvals or changes to the production process. This makes it easier for customers to adopt environmentally friendly solutions without worrying about compliance issues.
CO2 Reduction Breakdown: How RAUMEDIC reduces the pharmaceutical industry’s footprint in the upstream value chain.
RAUMEDIC’s Green Syringe achieves a 71% reduction in CO2 emissions through three key leverage factors:
- Material footprint: A 44% reduction due to the use of sustainable, certified biopolymers – including ISCC PLUS materials.
- Logistics optimization: By shifting transportation from road to rail, emissions are reduced by 20.5%.
- Energy savings: On-site renewable energy generation at RAUMEDIC’s global headquarters accounts for a 6.5% reduction in emissions.
Biomass heating plant at RAUMEDIC’s headquarters
Producing renewable energy for the nearby factories.
Recycling Used Syringes for an even lower Product Carbon Footprint
End-of-life medical devices are typically incinerated as biohazardous waste, contributing to environmental pollution. However, RAUMEDIC has developed a recycling concept for the Green Syringe, offering a realistic option for customers to return used syringes for recycling.
Through strategic partnerships, RAUMEDIC ensures that both the PP and TPE components can be recycled together, reducing waste and the overall carbon footprint. This aligns sustainability initiatives and regulatory standards, making the Green Syringe even more attractive for customers looking to meet strict environmental guidelines.
Beyond ecological considerations: Why are sustainable activities becoming factually mandatory?
Not even the pharmaceutical industry, known for the strategic importance of its products and solutions, will be exempt from the growing pressures of legislation demanding sustainable measures – or facing serious consequences for neglecting concrete action.
RAUMEDIC’s Green Syringe approach offers a clear solution: make sure your next syringe is “green”. This will not just reduce the emissions in your upstream values chain. By making the switch from fossil to bio-based products, you can likely declare the change as a sustainable activity. As such, you will be able to report it in your sustainability report.
And there really is no downside to it: by maintaining the same product functionality the Green Syringe helps customers meet sustainability goals without sacrificing quality. "Same product, lower carbon footprint" is a compelling proposition, especially as financial institutions shift focus toward renewable, sustainable practices in considering interest rates for loans and capital – mandated to do so by the EU Taxonomy.
Ready to Go Green? Discover RAUMEDIC’s Sustainable Drug Delivery Solutions
The future of syringes and other drug delivery devices lies in sustainability, and RAUMEDIC’s Green Syringe is a shining example of how innovation can reduce environmental impact.
Are you ready to consider a Green Syringe for your next combination product project that requires a custom syringe as primary packaging?
RAUMEDIC supports the transition to renewable materials for both integral combination products and co-packed devices, providing sustainable, customized solutions tailored to your pharmaceutical needs.
Our drug delivery device development experts and our sustainability management will gladly advise you on your options.
Feel free to contact us now.
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