To guarantee the quality, freshness, and stability of their supplements, Lamberts draws on a range of packaging methods. For some, their ‘green’ high-density polyethylene (HDPE) supplement pots are the most appropriate casing. Others, however, are more conducive to foil blister packs, which use a combination of plastic and aluminium foil to protect and encase supplements (like Colladeen Derma Plus). 

The main advantage of using blister packs is their ability to maintain the stability of products. Blister packs place supplements in individual pockets under optimal sanitary conditions. They act as an exceptional barrier against oxygen and moisture – both of which conspire to spoil nutritional formulas. For supplements that are more fragile, blister packs offer a long-lasting and immediate guarantee of their stability and integrity.

In addition to this, stability studies are typically performed on one blister foil, which contains 15 tablets. This means Lamberts can offer customers a range of fill sizes in multiples of 15 – 60, 90, 120 tablets, for instance – without the need to conduct more stability examinations. If, however, such tablets were in high-density polyethylene pots, then Lamberts would need stability data on each and every fill size – a labour intensive process and, in our opinion, a waste of valuable resources.

Of course, another key benefit of using blister packs is weight. By virtue of them being incredibly light – compared to materials like glass – they save a significant amount of energy in the transportation process. Lighter products mean vehicles utilise less fuel, emit fewer greenhouse gases in transit, and have a smaller carbon footprint, as a result. This saves our customers money, too.

Blister packaging also lends itself to unit dosing, which some consumers find more convenient. Indeed, they’re portable, easy-to-open, and a practical alternative for those who have difficulty with glass bottles. Better still, they can be used discretely if needed.

Admittedly, the combination of plastic and aluminium doesn’t render blister packs entirely recycling-friendly; the two very different material components are almost impossible to be separated by a recycling facility. That said, with a little patience, it is indeed possible for you to do this at home. Firstly, it’s vitally important to ensure as much foil is removed from the plastic casing as possible – a fair amount will come off easily, but some areas will need more attention. Once you’ve removed as much foil as you can from the plastic, you will end up with two small piles: aluminium foil and plastic. At this point, you can recycle these materials separately. But remember, leaving any trace of the aluminium foil on the plastic will undo all of your hard work, and redirect these materials to landfill.

Lastly, it’s worth mentioning that Lamberts’s blister packs are fully compliant with EU regulations on plastic materials interacting with foodstuffs.

Bibliography:

1. Wrap.org.uk. (2019). Available online:http://www.wrap.org.uk/sites/files/wrap/Packaging%20and%20Recyclability%20Nov%2009%20PRAG.pdf[Accessed 1 Feb. 2019].