The Sterilization Packaging Manufacturers Council (SPMC®) recently achieved a new milestone—the publication of its first position paper.
Titled “Sustainability of Medical Device Packaging,” the paper explains how laws mandating that sterilized medical packaging include recycled content and/or be recyclable pose significant risks to the critical requirements that medical packaging must meet. The paper also offers a path forward concerning recyclability by encouraging legislators to recognize advanced recycling technologies.
In the works for over a year, the position paper was authored by members of SPMC®’s Sustainability and Regulatory Committee. Its mission is to use an evidence-based approach to help legislators, stakeholders, and the public understand the stringent requirements in place to ensure medical packaging protects patients.
Industry advocacy is new territory for SPMC®. Nearly eight years ago, the organization provided testimony at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s public hearing for the Section 232 investigation on the effect of aluminum imports on U.S. national security. The new position paper marks the second time the council has advocated on behalf of the industry.
In addition to sharing the paper with federal lawmakers, government agencies, and regulatory bodies, SPMC® hopes the position paper will be a welcome tool for medical packaging producers in general and SPMC®’s members in particular.
“The paper will help each of us communicate clearly on issues of recyclable content and recyclability with respect to the products SPMC® members produce,” explains Nick Packet, technical director at Beacon Converters, Inc. and chair of SPMC®’s Sustainability and Regulatory Committee.
Packet also believes the paper will serve as a vital educational tool.
“People associate plastic packaging with consumer goods,” he says. “Unfortunately, sterilized medical packaging is not top of mind for most, so there’s a lack of awareness for the engineering and testing requirements that are specific to our industry segment.”
Packet hopes the position paper will bring awareness and understanding of why medical device packaging should not be swept up indiscriminately into sustainability mandates for other forms of plastic packaging. This is an especially important point given that medical packaging is produced throughout the U.S., and its manufacturers must contend with environmental legislative initiatives that may be introduced at the state levels.
SPMC® is urging its members to share the position paper with their suppliers and customers, as well. The sterile packaging supply chain works collaboratively to validate the entire packaging design process in order to safeguard patient safety. This includes everything from the identification and control of the materials to the process variables that can occur during the manufacturing process.
“Patient safety is nonnegotiable,” Packet says. “It’s vital that our supply chain partners and customers know that we remain steadfast in our commitment to safe outcomes.”
The publication of “Sustainability of Medical Device Packaging” marks a new chapter for thought leadership within SPMC®.
“Organizationally, we’ve always known that our industry is stronger when we work together,” Packet says. “We’re really proud that we are now extending our expertise to advocate on behalf of the entire industry.”
SPMC®’s new position paper is available for download at sterilizationpackaging.org.
Lourdes Pogue is partner and creative director at Merakke. Reach her at lourdes@merakke.com.