At this year’s Vitafoods trade show, taking place from 20–22 May in Barcelona, Sudpack Medica will unveil a new sustainable packaging concept at stand 4A16: NutriGuard, a polypropylene-based blister solution classified as recyclable, is designed for dietary supplements such as vitamins, minerals, proteins, and natural additives. It represents a much greener option compared to conventional primary packaging made of PVC/PVdC/aluminum – and strikes a chord with today’s health-conscious consumers who value anti-aging benefits and natural products.
According to a survey conducted by Statista Consumer Insights, 75% of respondents in Germany report using dietary supplements. This puts the country in a leading position in Europe, alongside the UK and France. Other strong markets include the USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, China, Japan, India, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates.
In the nutraceuticals sector, as in pharmaceuticals, non-recyclable PVC-aluminum blisters still dominate. However, the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is pushing dietary supplement manufacturers to consider recyclable alternatives. This is exactly where Sudpack, a sustainability-focused film manufacturer and one of the key drivers of a functioning circular economy in the film and packaging industry, comes into play. Just like PharmaGuard – Sudpack’s award-winning blister concept developed for pharmaceutical applications – NutriGuard is a fully viable alternative for many use cases. It offers excellent barrier properties, maximum aroma protection, equivalent push-through performance, high transparency, good printability, and efficient processing.
Sudpack’s innovative blister concept for nutraceuticals is primarily based on polypropylene (PP) and, as a mono-material solution, it can be integrated into existing recycling streams. Another key sustainability benefit: By switching to recyclable packaging, manufacturers and packagers can take advantage of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fees now being gradually introduced across the EU. These fees are based on environmental impact and recyclability, and will be lower for sustainable solutions.
With decades of experience in both food and pharmaceutical/medical packaging, Sudpack is the ideal partner for suppliers in this market. As Jurgen Bodenmuller, business development director at Sudpack Medica, explains, “Nutraceuticals are essentially foods with medical or health benefits. We have in-depth knowledge of the regulations and requirements in this field.” Furthermore, thanks to Sudpack’s strong expertise in both mechanical and chemical recycling, the company can already offer its customers packaging materials with recycled content that meet the strict requirements for contact-sensitive products.
The standout feature of NutriGuard is its excellent transparency, which provides a clear view of the packaged product. Another key challenge during product development – and one that Sudpack was able to overcome thanks to its extensive compounding expertise – was achieving the right push-through performance for the lidding film.
“We produce the compounds in-house, which allows us to adapt the recipes as needed,” explains Bodenmuller. “Soft capsules require a different mix than tablets or hard capsules. In addition, the barrier created by the lidding film must remain intact even after individual tablets are removed. The film should only break at the tablet’s position and not tear beyond that,” he adds.
Depending on the product, the films can be equipped not only with excellent water vapor barriers but also with additional protective layers, for example, for probiotic dietary supplements. The films also offer excellent printability, including with recyclable, food-safe inks, and without requiring any surface treatment of the lidding film. A wide temperature window for thermoforming and sealing, along with low processing temperatures, are additional benefits that contribute to both easy handling and improved energy efficiency.
