Team ExiT Report Part

Executive Summary

This report is written in response to a letter of authorisation requesting a design proposal and the implementation of biodegradable materials into the production of biodegradable pills and capsules medicine packaging, to reduce the waste produced from the disposal of current medicine packaging, which contain non-biodegradable materials such as aluminium and plastics.

Currently, non-biodegradable waste are either disposed into the landfills or thrown into the ocean, actions that have caused detrimental effects on the environment, including wildlife. This report discusses the potential applications of the biodegradable materials for medicine packaging and the advantages of the applications. Through extensive research, team EXiT has identified that pills and capsules medicine packaging utilises a plastic mould that has the dimensions of the specific pills and capsules to protect them from damage during shipping and transport.

The packaging also contains an aluminium film to seal the pills/capsules, preventing them from being exposed to the external environment and spoiling its contents. To resolve the issue, the team has proposed several modifications and proposed possible biodegradable materials that will replace the existing aluminium and plastic packaging. Firstly, the implementation of starch-based material that is versatile, able to be used as the mould and the film of the pill/capsule packaging. Secondly, to redesign the  packaging to be convenient for patients to identify the correct medicine to consume and its dosage.

Team EXiT hopes that Duopharma’s design team would find the attached proposal beneficial and work with us to implement the material change and redesign their primary medicine packaging, which will be beneficial to the pharmaceutical sector in the future.


1.1.3 Environmental Effects of Disposing Medicine Packaging

Due to the construction of traditional medicine packaging shown in the diagram below, consisting of aluminium (lidding material) and plastics (forming film), such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS) and/or polyethylene (PE), recycling of aluminium from the structure is very difficult compared to typical aluminium recycling.


Figure 1

Structure of the pharmaceutical blister packaging 

Note: Illustrates the structure of the pharmaceutical blister packaging and materials used for its layers


As a result, medicine packaging is usually disposed of, whether it be in the landfills or into the ocean. An increase in waste can lead to environmental issues, including land pollution, degradation of landscape, soil contamination, air pollution, water pollution, health issues and endangerment to animal species. 

Only 1.4% of the people surveyed returned their medications to a pharmacy for proper disposal, with 54% disposed of medications in the garbage and 35.4% flushed medications down the toilet or sink. (Krenzelok, 1996) The statistics show that a large majority of people dispose of their medications into the garbage, transporting the disposed medicine packaging to landfills and causing land pollution and soil contamination. This also shows that a significant portion of people would flush the medicine packaging, causing the waste to enter the ocean and causing water pollution and adverse effects to aquatic life. With the large percentage of pills/capsules packaging being improperly disposed of, the environmental consequences caused by disposing of the packaging will only increase.


2.3 Biodegradable Material (PLA)


Polylactic acid (PLA) is a polyester derived from renewable biomass, primarily consisting of fermented plant starch such as corn, cassava, sugarcane or sugar beet pulp. (BioPak, n.d.)

PLA is a polyester made using two monomers or building blocks: lactic acid, and lactide. Lactic acid is produced through bacterial fermentation of a carbohydrate source under controlled conditions. In industrial-scale production of lactic acid,  corn starch, cassava roots, or sugarcane used as the carbohydrate source makes the process sustainable and renewable.

Currently, there is research ongoing to produce PLA through more environmentally- friendly and cheaper methods, and agricultural residue such as stems, straw, husks, and leaves can be processed as alternative carbohydrate sources. The remaining residue that cannot be fermented can be used as a heat source to lessen the use of fossil fuel-derived hydrocarbons.

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