Merck leads Asia-Pacific with sustainable packaging shift

ESG: In a first of its kind initiative for Merck’s Asia-Pacific region, the company has reinforced its commitment to environmental sustainability by directly advancing its SMASH Packaging strategy.

As of September 1, Merck has shifted from traditional expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation to wool-pack insulation for cold-chain shipments within its Life Science business in Australia.

This transition represents a pivotal change in the company’s packaging approach, replacing 3.6 tons of non-recyclable EPS annually.

“By moving to wool- and fibreboard-based insulation for cold-chain shipments, we offer our customers sustainable packaging solutions without sacrificing our customary one-day transit time,” said Rebecca Lee, Managing Director at Merck Life Science.

“This transition reflects Merck’s dedication to reducing our environmental footprint and promoting a more sustainable value chain.”

The innovative wool-based packaging solution, validated for one-day pharmaceutical shipments under Australia’s intense summer conditions, is produced by Planet Protector Packaging. This new insulation method not only eliminates EPS materials from shipments requiring temperature regulation between 2°C and 8°C but also minimises waste by printing packing labels directly onto the fibreboard boxes, reducing the need for separate labels.

This initiative marks an important step towards systematically improving the sustainability of both new and existing packaging, aligning with Merck’s broader environmental goals.

Merck has defined ambitious goals to be achieved by 2030 and 2040 on its global sustainability strategy, which have been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative in May 2022.

These goals include achieving human progress for over one billion people through sustainable science and technology by 2030, fully integrating sustainability into all value chains by 2030, and achieving climate neutrality and reducing resource consumption by 2040.

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