Pill packaging - is there an alternative?

[lady_eve]

We are frequently told that mixed-media packaging is the hardest to recycle, and so, as I consigned a couple of empty foil-and-plastic blister packs to the 'other waste' kitchen bin this morning, I wondered whether there has ever been any discussion around the amount of avoidable waste created by our treatments, supplements, pain meds, and so on.

Is it something that's on anyone's radar?

A hundred years ago, prescriptions were dispensed in cardboard boxes and paper sachets by compounding pharmacies. Today, some consumer products are wrapped in recycled or plant-derived materials.

A Swindon, UK firm announced recently that it had developed biodegradable blister packs at no extra cost: tinyurl.com/ugg56gl.

Is this something you'd like to see adopted, sooner rather than later?

[Hennerton]

Yes, definitely.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Assuming it is as good as they claim, yes, let it come.

However, I expect it to take a long time. Even now, several different materials are used for blister packs and I suspect they would have to check each and every medicine. (Some might be trivial.)

We now see recyclable coffee pods - though we might argue that no coffee pods can be "good", they are probably better than the non-recyclable ones.

We could see several steps by manufacturers to help. Supplement manufacturers seem intent on using bottles which are several times bigger than they need be. I'd guess it is to give them a greater visual impact on shelves in shops. (And reduce opportunity for pilfering?)

And I really don't want to go back to paper sachets! Blister packs, even when they are annoying, do have real benefits. Let us see how we can change them to minimal impact.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

I think that something else I've noticed at my surgery is just as worrying.

Plastic has taken over in the form of plastic scissors and plastic tweezers. Possibly more that I've not come across yet.

I had a blood test and the nurse was using plastic scissors to cut some tape to stick a small piece of cotton wool over where the blood had been drawn. She was having great trouble cutting the tape and I said how awkward and difficult it appeared to be. She said they were hopeless but they are now only allowed to use single use plastic for hygiene reasons. She mentioned how difficult the tweezers were to use as well.

I'm struggling to understand why this has come about. Surely if something needs sterilising for hygiene reasons then the time and effort doing that must be worth it considering the plastic problem the world faces. Plus I imagine the cost of constantly buying single use plastic items is a dreadful drain on the NHS.