Nasal Spray Clears Sinuses & Now Landfills, Too

Nasacort, an over-the-counter nasal spray for year-round allergy symptoms, sports a new recyclable carton as part of an initiative by Opella (formerly Sanofi Consumer Healthcare) to have 90% of its packaging recycle-ready on products at its manufacturing sites by 2030.

The project, which started in late 2022 and was completed in 2023, completely removes the carton's plastic window showing the nasal spray bottle. The result is a cutout window through which consumers can view the spray bottle—and a savings of 96K pounds of plastic.

“At Opella we are committed to actions across our business that help to create a healthier society and a healthier planet,” says JoAnne Murphy, head of sustainability, Opella North America. “An area of focus in creating a healthier planet is to reduce waste from our products and value chain.”

Murphy explains that the previous Nasacort carton with the plastic window contained a mix of plastic and paperboard, making it ineligible for curbside recycling. Without the window, the cartons are now recyclable in the paper stream. The company has partnered with How2Recycle to help make it clear to consumers that the carton is recyclable.

Additionally, Sanofi is sourcing the materials for the cartons from the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, which ensures that the cartons have been sourced and manufactured in an environmentally responsible manner.

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Murphy did not respond to Packaging Digest's question regarding cost savings associated with the new carton.