Company Name: Merck Holding (China)Co. Ltd.
Project Name: Slim Pack
Award Category: Innovation Sustainable Product
Slim packaging solutions to integrate circular economy criteria and sustainability
In a circular economy, we are seeking ways to close the loop across our entire value chain. Our strategy is not to simply re-use waste material as thoroughly as possible, but instead to prevent waste wherever and whenever we can. We apply this approach from the very start of the process, including procurement and product design.
SMASH and Mpact Sustainable Packaging Program:
We are committed to continuously improving and integrating sustainability and our circular economy criteria within our R&D processes to improve our sustainability performance in our product portfolio.
- Optimize Resource: Shrink: Reduce amount of packaging；
- More Sustainable Materials：Secure: Achieve zero deforestation & Switch: Improve plastics sustainability;
- Design for Circular Economy: Save: Maximum recycling. As part of our commitment to reduce our environmental impact, we have collaborated with internal and external stakeholders to establish the SMASH and Mpact Packaging Framework which significantly drove sustainability improvements in our packaging by 2022.
Explanation of Circular Economy Practice
In 2022, our Healthcare business sector launched a sustainable packaging initiative called Mpact to ensure that we deliver products safely and reliably to our customers while reducing the environmental impact of our packaging.
For example, the outer packaging sizes of the Gonal-f® and Ovidrel® prefilled injection pens were reduced by 40%, and a Slim Pack truck can save 55% more space per shipment. Transportation efficiency is subsequently improved, resulting in a 33% reduction in CO2 emissions. Plastic inserts are replaced by recyclable paper materials to reduce plastic pollution, which can reduce plastic waste by 180 tons per year. The package is saving up to 226,000 square meters of plastics, equals to 1.5 times the construction area of the Forbidden City. Patients are always at the core of everything we do, and the new Slim Pack is not only more portable and discreet to carry, it also takes up less space at home, in their fridge. Plus, as it’s made entirely of cardboard, which results in 100% recyclable packaging. We are committed to smaller footprints in every sense of the word, innovating to help achieve the dream of parenthood whilst playing our part to help protect the planet for future generations.
Overview of Product/Service Lifecycle of Merck’s slim pack
Product Design:
Merck as a market leader is committed to lead innovation and transformation. Design for Sustainability (DfS) is our gold-standard design approach for our product design. Throughout the Product Development Process (PDP), DfSDevelopment ensures a comprehensive focus on sustainability when developing and engineering products.
Production:
- Swapping the plastic tray for a carboard alternative results in 100% recyclable packaging.
- The outer packaging sizes were reduced by 40%, and a Slim Pack truck can save 55% more space per shipment. Transportation efficiency is subsequently improved.
Useage:
The slim package is another milestone from Merck to improve the service to patients, smaller size, more sustainable, and bring more convenience to the patients.
Recycling and Recovery:
With the slim pack, the transportation efficiency is subsequently improved, with 33% reduction in CO2 emissions. Plastic inserts are replaced by recyclable paper materials to reduce plastic pollution, results in 100% recyclable packaging. which can reduce plastic waste by 180 tons per year, the package is saving up to 226,000 square meters of plastics, equals to 1.5 times the construction area of the Forbidden City.
