PDA Hosts Sustainable Packaging Workshop at Pharmapack Europe

The Parenteral Drug Association (PDA) announced on Jan. 20, 2026 that it will be hosting a half-day sustainable packaging workshop on January 21 at the 2026 Pharmapack Europe conference, which is being held in Paris on January 21 and 22 (1). The session will explore pharmaceutical packaging challenges including environmental sustainability and regulatory compliance.

The workshop, “PDA Innovation in Sustainable Packaging Workshop 2026”, is limited to 30 attendees and is open exclusively to Pharmapack pass holders, The session will feature content from AM Instruments, Alliance to Zero, and Inductio AG. The session will explore ecodesign for pharmaceutical devices in the following three areas:

• A real-world case study presentation
• An interactive roundtable discussion
• A concluding session sharing outcomes and practical insights.

According to PDA, by attending, attendees will gain strategies and peer-driven insights to support their packaging innovation efforts, sustainably.

“Collaboration and cross-industry engagement are essential as the pharmaceutical sector advances toward more sustainable practices,” said Falk Klar, Vice President of PDA Europe, in a press release (1). “This workshop is designed to equip attendees with actionable knowledge and spark new partnerships.”

“Sustainability is no longer a nice-to-have, it's an industry imperative,” said Silvia Forroova, Group Director, Pharma, at Informa Markets, in the press release (1). “We’re proud to collaborate with PDA to spotlight the practical steps pharmaceutical companies can take today to align with both regulatory expectations and environmental responsibilities. This workshop adds real value to Pharmapack Europe’s educational agenda by bridging innovation with implementation.”

What are some trends in sustainable packaging?

As part of PharmTech’s coverage of Pharmapack Europe, the editors spoke with Dexter Tjoa, CEO of Tjoapack, about trends that happened in 2025, including sustainability efforts, that have impacted the industry (2).

According to Tjoa, sustainability efforts based on the packaging's proximity to the drug product, reflect a pragmatic approach, and components that directly touch the drug remain a concern when it comes to quality. Manufacturers are prioritizing the stability and integrity of the formulation over environmental metrics. The use of sustainable materials for primary packaging is not the industry standard as of yet, says Tjoa, and an aggressive approach is applied to the outer materials. These materials should be sustainably sourced or possess fully recyclable origins (2).

More from Pharmapack Europe

On January 19, West Pharmaceutical Services announced (3) it would be showcasing its West Synchrony S1 prefillable syringe (PFS) system, which the company says provides a portfolio that includes 1 mL long and 2.25 mL staked needle options for biologics and 1 mL standard staked needle and Luer lock options for vaccines. Options available with the staked needle system feature a rigid or soft needle shield, and Luer lock system options have an integrated tip cap.

“As a market leader, West closely monitors shifts in the global drug pipeline by emerging companies, particularly the growing demand for combination products alongside the movement of care from hospital to home, both of which introduce new complexity into regulatory and development processes,” Stacey Vaughan, vice president, Marketing and Portfolio Management at West, noted in a press release (3). “This surge of innovation across the industry further highlights why now is the right time to introduce West Synchrony S1 prefillable syringe system.”

References

1. Pharmapack Europe. Parenteral Drug Association to Host Innovation in Sustainable Packaging Workshop at Pharmapack 2026. Press Release. Jan. 20, 2026.
2. Haigney, S. Pharmapack Europe 2026: Sustainability, Specialization, and Digitalization in Packaging. PharmTech.com. Jan. 20, 2026. https://www.pharmtech.com/view/pharmapack-europe-2026-sustainability-specialization-and-digitalization-in-packaging
3. West Pharmaceutical Services. West Synchrony S1 Prefillable Syringe System Commercially Available at Pharmapack. Press Release. Jan 19, 2026