Aptar announces ‘highly recyclable’ nasal spray
Aptar Pharma, part of the AptarGroup, unveiled the APF Futurity nasal spray pump as part of its portfolio of drug delivery systems. The product was specifically designed to have increased recyclability.
The device is metal-free, being made from polyolefin materials and no ‘recycling disruptors’, which means separation efforts in recycling streams should be minimized. Aptar states that even the spring used to actuate the device is made from plastic.
The product received a Class AA certification from cyclos-HTP for recycling streams in Europe. Cyclos-HTP is an independent German organization that assesses product packaging recyclability within European countries.
Sustainable solutions
APF Futurity can deliver multiple doses of products, and is available with dose volumes of 50µl, 90µl and 140µl per actuation. The product has been designed to deliver nasal saline and comparable over-the-counter (OTC) formulations.
Stefan Ritsche, president, global market development, Aptar Pharma, said, “This is an important step in the transformation of our nasal spray portfolio to more sustainable solutions, and we look forward to bringing additional innovations of this kind to meet the need in the pharmaceutical industry.”
The decision to develop a more sustainable product is part of the wider movement across the industry to adopt measures that are more environmentally friendly. Through Aptar Pharma’s own research, the company found that 77% of respondents to a survey indicated that it was ‘important’ or ‘very important’ that products they buy can be recycled.
Recyclability and circularity
According to the company, the device was created using its ‘Eco-Design’ tools, which incorporate lifecycle assessment (LCA) perspective that assess inputs, outputs and evaluate the product’s impact through its lifecycle. As such, the product’s CO2 emissions can be calculated, as well as its recyclability and circularity.
On the latter point, Aptar Pharma states that it is possible to use circular materials with the device, including renewable feedstock.
As well as being more sustainable, the APF Futurity product is designed to support preservative-free, multi-dose formulations. This is possible due to a ‘mechanical tip seal’, which blocks the ingress of bacteria or contamination into the nasal formulation. Effectively, this means that the tip of the nasal spray is a closed opening, which is also automatically closed after the release of the formulation, eliminating product evaporation and residual clogging.
