Pill Pouches

The question here is, 'How might we use circular economy principles to rethink the storage, delivery, and dispensing of tablet medication?'

Blister trays use a lot of plastic even if, for example, the patient only needs to take their prescribed medication in the morning, a whole tray needs to be sent out weekly. New NHS data shows that 93 million prescribed medicines were dispensed in March 2020 alone (Company Chemist Association).

 

Patients get given a tray weekly, adding up to 52 plastic blister trays a year, therefore, contributing to plastic pollution. After conducting numerous interviews, it is evident that blister trays and packs don’t get recycled, even in pharmacies. The use of paper and dissolving materials is the route this concept revolves around. Additionally, it is a new trend a lot of companies have utilised to adhere to the circular economy principles.

 

From plastic weekly trays to a recyclable monthly dispenser with dissolvable pouches. The monthly Pill Pouches would work on a 28-day cycle. The dispenser will be delivered to the patient’s home with all the same information they would normally get, but the medication is in pouches that are dissolvable.