With the new EU rules on packaging, the pharmaceutical industry must also demonstrate concrete sustainability choices. Switching from traditional PVC to highly recyclable PET in the anti-tampering seal of ophthalmic tubes is a simple, immediately applicable, and highly communicative measure. The time is now.
Over the past year, the European Union has taken a decisive step towards a single, binding framework for packaging and packaging waste (PPWR). With the new Regulation (EU) 2025/40 in force since February 11, 2025, the pharmaceutical sector is also called upon to demonstrate concrete sustainability choices. The regulation introduces stringent targets for reduction, recyclability, reuse, and minimization of materials throughout the packaging life cycle. In summary: less waste, more effective recycling, design for recycling, and clear labeling instructions for all sectors, including pharmaceuticals.
The pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries are making progress in finding more sustainable solutions for packaging their products. This change does not necessarily require major upheavals, but also involves small components that appear to have a minimal impact.
PET instead of PVC: an environmentally sustainable choice
A single tamper-evident seal is barely a square centimeter in size. But our factories can produce more than 40 million of them per year… and this expands our centimeter to cover about 4 km! 4 km of plastic that year after year adds up and can even become many more. That is why it is essential to use a type of plastic that pollutes as little as possible. Equipping an aluminium tube with an anti-tampering seal made of PET plastic means making an environmentally sustainable choice: of all plastics, PET is the one with the least environmental impact, as it lends itself more than any other to being recycled and reused, even for the same purposes (so much so that one slogan states that ‘PET is made to be remade’). Although the rate and efficiency of recycling are not comparable to those of aluminium, using PET actively contributes to the reduction of plastic pollution.
Aluminium, we have already explained and illustrated in several articles, is the ecological material par excellence due to the fact that it can be 100% recycled without losing its initial qualities. Therefore, having an aluminium tube with a tamper-evident seal made of recycled PET is a perfect packaging solution for the environment.
PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is also often used for tamper-evident seals, but it is a material that raises environmental concerns for several reasons. Firstly, its production requires the use of a large amount of energy, derived mainly from non-renewable sources. This contributes to the emission of greenhouse gases and exacerbates climate change. Furthermore, PVC contains chlorine, a chemical element that can be released into the environment during the production, use and disposal of the material. Chlorine can react with other substances in the environment and form compounds that are harmful to the environment and human health (it is no coincidence that PVC is among the chemicals that the EU has set out to eliminate from common use, as detailed in the ‘Restriction Roadmap’ action plan).
Compared to PVC, recycled PET plastic has a much lower environmental impact. As already mentioned, recycled PET plastic reduces the amount of plastic waste and helps to close the material’s life cycle. In addition, the PET plastic recycling process requires less energy (hence less greenhouse gas emissions) than PVC production. Also for this reason, recycling PET costs much less than PVC.
The concrete and immediate answer: PET seal on Perfektüp ophthalmic tubes
Aluminium tubes with anti-tampering PET seals offer numerous practical advantages. The combination of aluminium and PET ensures high product protection, maintaining its integrity and quality. Aluminium effectively protects against light, moisture, and oxygen, preserving the stability of the contents.
What’s more, switching from PVC to PET does not disrupt habits: the seal remains printable and customizable, the application is the same, and no changes to the lines are required. It is exactly the type of “immediately visible” improvement that PPWR encourages to make systematic: greener packaging by changing a small detail.
The PET seal as a strategic marketing element
In addition to functional aspects, choosing aluminum tubes with recycled PET seals is a strategic choice. Both aluminum and PET lend themselves to customization and printing thanks to the technologies available at Perfektüp. In a competitive sector such as pharmaceuticals (and cosmetics), product appearance and visual experience play a crucial role.
Branding the packaging, including through a recognizable tamper-evident seal, can ensure competitive advantage and customer loyalty, credibly communicating an environmental commitment that is now required by regulators, partners, and consumers.
Ophthalmic tube: the seal as an anti-tampering protection
The tamper-evident seal is also a security tool against attempts to counterfeit and adulterate the product. This feature can be particularly relevant for pharmaceutical or cosmetic products that require accurate traceability and certainty that they have not been tampered with before use. The Perfektüp tube seal is ‘stitched’ around the tube using precision machinery with integrated tube printing technology: a high deterrent to counterfeiting and forgery. Made in such a way that once applied it cannot be removed without being damaged or destroyed, it makes any attempt at removal or tampering obvious and visible.
Ophthalmic nozzle: hygienic and safe
The ophthalmic nozzle, when made from the right materials and according to appropriate quality standards, offers numerous advantages in terms of hygiene and safety. Our ophthalmic gland is designed to provide an airtight seal when the aluminium tube is opened: the product inside remains protected from external contamination such as bacteria, dust and moisture. This hermetic seal further reduces the risk of product contamination, ensuring that the consumer receives an intact and safe product.
Opting for an aluminium tube with an anti-tampering seal made of PET plastic offers numerous advantages for both companies and the environment. The use of recycled PET reduces plastic pollution, contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and offers a longer life cycle to the material itself. In addition, the combination of aluminium and PET provides effective product protection and offers design and customization possibilities. Compared to the use of PVC, the choice of recycled PET plastic is environmentally friendly, reducing the overall environmental impact.
Change is now
You don’t need major revolutions to be in line with the spirit of the PPWR and patient expectations: start with high-visibility details, such as the seal. It’s a quick lever to reduce the use of problematic materials, improve the overall recyclability of packaging, and credibly communicate your company’s environmental commitment.
