49 ENTREVISTA I INTERVIEW transformation in recent years, driven by new regulations, pressure from brands, and advances in materials science. As a result, the flexible packaging sector currently faces many challenges; one of the main ones, undoubtedly, is the evolution of current material specifications toward recyclable structures. Some packaging companies started down this path some time ago and have made significant progress, but there is still a way to go for a segment of the market. Solutions are not always easy, considering that we must guarantee functionality on existing equipment without jeopardizing the profitability of the processes. We are not only talking about films, but also inks, varnishes, coatings, lamination adhesives… All the stakeholders are working very actively, offering the market new materials with improved performance. We must be able to offer these to the market quickly, given that the approval processes for packaging companies can be lengthy. A key point is collaboration with our clients, making these alternatives available to them as soon as they become commercially available, and assisting them during the homologation processes. In pharmaceutical packaging, some of the main innovations are occurring in medical devices. Is prioritizing patient adherence to treatment and ease of use? Medical device packaging is currently optimized in three key aspects: sterility, safety, and functionality. Historically, this type of material has been designed from an almost exclusively technical perspective: to enable sterilization, ensure physical integrity, and comply with regulations. But, in recent years, another reality has gained importance: many devices are not only used in the operating room or hospital, but also at home, by patients or non-expert caregivers; since packaging influences how a person opens, understands, prepares, and uses a device, it is no longer just a wrapper, but rather an integral part of the user experience. The user does not interact with the device first, but with the external environment; Poor packaging design can hinder use, increasing the risk of mishandling and potential contamination. In this regard, it’s not enough for the packaging to simply comply; it must also help the patient understand what to do, in what order, and with what precautions. When faced with two devices that may appear technically similar, ease of use and the perception of quality and safety can provide a competitive advantage. Another area of research is developing more sustainable packaging for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and nutraceuticals. What are the main challenges they face? It’s important to remember that the packaging industry has worked for many years with structures that were perhaps not sufficiently optimized, without considering their environmental impact. The focus has been on achieving the necessary barriers to protect products, ensuring their performance on packaging lines, and maintaining a reasonable operating cost. The landscape has changed, and previous standards are no longer sufficient. Traditional combinations of materials in multilayer complexes are no longer an option, as they are not considered recyclable. It should be noted that regulations do not affect all sectors equally; Cosmetics and nutraceuticals are fully affected by regulatory changes, but pharmaceuticals are not. This situation creates certain inconsistencies, since a nutraceutical product may also require very high barriers to entry without any alternatives on the market. For this reason, I believe we must reflect on whether the regulations imposed in the EU are adapted to the needs of all markets and all product categories. Couldn’t some procedures be simplified to expedite the transformation towards recyclable structures? I’m thinking of eliminating patents or facilitating changes to health agency registrations. As a consequence of the regulatory obligations in the pharmaceutical sector, the validation and registration processes for alternatives to existing structures are often complicated and very lengthy, resulting in a loss of agility compared to other product categories. It is crucial to continue adequately protecting products, but do we know what constitutes adequate protection? When there is a virtually absolute barrier, this point is not a cause for concern, but now we have to decide on alternatives that, in many cases, offer lower levels of protection; in pharmaceuticals, this potential reduction is a difficulty that, in some cases, is insurmountable. It’s also important to consider that, at the time of use, the consumer is very likely to lack the tools to open the packaging, so easy opening is also a key issue for this category. With traditional materials, this point has been resolved, but the shift to recyclable structures presents an added challenge, as the performance is not the same. It becomes essential to choose the right materials, with polymer molecules oriented in the machine direction or bidirectionally, depending on the type of packaging, or to add perforations during the manufacturing of multilayer complexes or during the packaging process. These can also be good alternatives. Rotor Print has been awarded precisely for the sustainability of its pharmaceutical packaging, such as the 100% PET blister pack and the recyclable mono-PO stick. Will they present other singlematerial solutions that improve recyclability? The case of the recyclable polyolefin stick is Estamos bien posicionados en la parte de sostenibilidad, ecodiseño y reciclabilidad, ofreciendo respuestas a las necesidades de nuestros clientes We are well positioned in the areas of sustainability, eco-design and recyclability, offering solutions to our customers’ needs ‘
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