MeadWestvaco Corporation (NYSE: MWV), a global leader in packaging solutions, today announced that its medication adherence solution Shellpak® Renew received the Best Sustainable Pharmaceutical Packaging award at the 23rd CPhI Worldwide event in Madrid, Spain. Modeled after MWV's original Shellpak design, Shellpak Renew was adapted based on customer research to deliver key patient improvements: decreased weight and size, and including an environmentally-friendly, curbside recyclable outer carton. MWV was one of six finalists that presented to the judging panel.
“Hundreds of millions of Shellpaks have been distributed, so we recognize the importance of maximizing effective use of materials and minimizing waste,” said MWV's John Grinnell, vice president and managing director for MWV Healthcare's Secondary and Adherence Packaging Division. “Shellpak Renew is a platform for an integrated medication adherence program designed based on patients' needs, and includes features that educate patients about how to take their medications correctly. With Shellpak Renew, we're able to provide this platform to our customers in an environmentally-friendly format.”
Launched in April of this year, Shellpak Renew is part of MWV's long-standing commitment to further awareness of and provide solutions for poor medication adherence. Shellpak Renew contains color-coded spine labels to help distinguish among drugs, easy-open, child-resistant push buttons and an integrated calendar that helps patients track medication usage. Additionally, it provides a 40 percent weight reduction over the original Shellpak, will save millions of pounds of plastic per year and has an outer carton made of Natralock, an environmentally-friendly paperboard that maximizes the use of recyclable materials and minimizes waste.
Medication packaging can play a unique and effective role with patients, reinforcing important information about how to take their medications correctly on each and every use. Research shows that approximately half of all patients across the globe do not take their medicines as prescribed.
This year marks the introduction of the Best Sustainable Packaging award category by CPhI Pharma Awards. The award recognizes companies that provide excellence in delivering a specific material, process or piece of equipment that enables pharmaceutical companies to achieve a more sustainable package or process.
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