New Pharmaceutical Packaging Lowers Carbon Footprint by 33%

EMD Serono advances sustainability goals and improves the patient experience by reducing the size of its fertility medication cartons.

Kassandra Kania, Freelance Writer

May 2, 2022

1 Min Read
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EMD Serono's redesigned carton (right), which is 40% smaller than the original (left), improves the customer experience and lowers GONAL-f RFF Redi-ject’s global carbon footprint by 33%.Image courtesy of EMD Serono

EMD Serono, the healthcare business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, in the United States and Canada, launched its new Slim Pack fertility medication packaging earlier this year.

The carton, which is 40% smaller than its predecessor, has been reduced in size to lower its impact on the environment and support customer convenience. The new design also eliminates the use of plastic trays, making the packaging 100% recyclable and reducing plastic waste by approximately 180 metric tons per year.

The redesigned package contains the company’s GONAL-f RFF Redi-ject pen, a prescription medicine containing follicle-stimulating hormone used in infertile women. The medication in the new carton remains unchanged.

By reducing the carton size from 96 x 45 x 215.5 millimeters to 77.5 x 42 x 157 mm, the medication takes up less refrigerated space in patients’ homes, as well as in clinical settings. Additionally, the smaller pack size will allow more product to be transported in fewer shipments.

Slim Pack is expected to achieve a 33% reduction in GONAL-f RFF Redi-ject’s global carbon footprint. This goal will be accomplished by lowering CO2 emissions from the transportation of pen products between Merck manufacturing sites and the primary destination/port of entry in each country.

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Despite a 40% reduction in carton size, the fertility medication in Slim Pack remains the same.

About the Author

Kassandra Kania

Freelance Writer

Kassandra Kania is a freelance writer based in Charlotte, NC. She has written extensively about healthcare packaging for a variety of publications.

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