Most of the orange plastic pill bottles we receive our medications in end up in landfills and oceans. The healthcare industry produces 194 billion plastic orange pill bottles annually, of which 165 billion are not recycled. That amount of pharmaceutical packaging waste is roughly equivalent to 3,300 Olympic-size swimming pools.
Plastic production has greatly increased over the past 70 years. In 1950, global production was only 2 million tons; it is now more than 450 million tons. Most of it ends up in landfills, oceans, rivers, and lakes. Half of all plastics end up in landfills around the globe. In the U.S., that rate is 73 percent; in Europe, 44 percent; and in Asia, 39 percent. The equivalent of 2,000 garbage trucks of plastic wind up in the world’s waterways every day.
If plastic waste continues at the same rate, by 2050, there will be more plastic in the world’s oceans than fish. By 2040, a plastic circular economy could reduce the annual amount of plastic entering the oceans by 80 percent. It could also reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent, generate $200 billion in annual savings, and create 700,000 jobs.
In a circular economy, all plastic packaging would be reusable, recyclable, or compostable. All of it would be reused, recycled, or composted in practice. Recycling and reusing plastic packaging would reduce material costs.
However, the sustainable pharmaceutical packaging market is growing. It was valued at $76.1 billion in 2022 and projected to be $146.3 billion by 2027. In 2024, it was $92 billion. By 2034, it is estimated to reach $372.19 billion, growing at a 15 percent CAGR.
Companies Embracing Sustainable Pharmaceutical Packaging
The U.S.-Based pharmaceutical packaging company Cabinet Health developed the first refillable, compostable medicine system. In 2023, the company launched the first nationwide pill bottle recycling program in the U.S. The program allows customers to request a recycling bag from Cabinet Health to ship their empty plastic pill bottles back, with the bottles recycled or upcycled into an evolving art sculpture by artist Kellie Gillespie. Cabinet Health also uses sustainable materials, including glass and compostable pill packages.
Cabinet Health partners with online retailers, including Grove Collaborative and Amazon. The company’s packaging is also found in select CVS stores and Target.
Takeda Pharmaceuticals, a Japanese company, is the first pharmaceutical company to use bio-polyethylene primary packaging. AstraZeneca has been conducting trials for mono-polypropylene, which is easier to recycle from PVC. In 2025, Novartis aims to eliminate polyvinyl chloride (PVC) from product packaging and reduce waste sent to landfill by 50 percent.
Some pharmacy chains are embracing sustainable packaging. Trex partners with Albertson to recycle pill bottles. For several years, CVS has conducted pilots to find alternative pill bottle materials and consumer takeback options.
Recycling Your Pill Bottles
Consumers can take the initiative and recycle their pill bottles through Ship ‘N’ Spread. They can send a box of their empty bottles via FedEx. Matthew 25 Ministries also accepts empty bottles for recycling.
