Aptar Unveils First Nasal Spray Pump with 52% Bio-Based Material in Global Launch
Aptar Pharma has marked a major milestone in its sustainability journey with the global commercialization of its Freepod® nasal spray pump, now produced using mass balance bio-based resins. This innovation, which forms part of the packaging for Haleon’s Otrivin® nasal spray, stands out as Aptar’s first delivery system incorporating sustainable bio-based materials to be rolled out on a worldwide scale. The move signifies a vital step toward reducing dependency on fossil-based plastics in healthcare packaging, while enhancing environmental circularity.
Pioneering Circularity in Nasal Drug Delivery
The Freepod® pump, used in conjunction with Haleon’s Otrivin® Nasal Spray, contains 52% bio-based feedstock certified under the ISCC PLUS system – an international standard ensuring traceability and sustainability across the supply chain. This bio-feedstock, derived from renewable sources like bio-waste and residual oils, is integrated using a mass balance approach, enabling the mixing of bio-based and fossil-based materials while maintaining accountability for the renewable content.
Meanwhile, the bottle component of the nasal spray system is manufactured with mass-balanced content equivalent to 100% bio-based resin, further enhancing the environmental profile of the full device. When combined, the pump and bottle result in a total circular material content of 60%, reinforcing Aptar’s dedication to closing the loop in pharmaceutical packaging.
Certified Sustainability Across the Value Chain
At the core of this achievement lies a rigorously certified and transparent production and supply chain. The Aptar Pharma manufacturing facility in Mezzovico, Switzerland, holds ISCC PLUS certification, verifying the traceability of sustainable materials from origin through processing to final product. This certification also extends to all external suppliers and stakeholders—including injection molding companies, logistics providers, and third-party warehouses—ensuring that every stage of production adheres to high environmental standards.
This transparent and traceable system guarantees that the renewable content claims are not only verifiable but also backed by a recognized sustainability standard, offering customers confidence in the integrity of the materials used.
Long-Term Partnership Fuels Sustainable Innovation
The success of the Freepod® nasal spray pump is deeply rooted in a three-decade-long partnership between Aptar Pharma and Haleon (formerly GSK Consumer Healthcare). This enduring collaboration has continually focused on innovation, quality, and environmental responsibility. Notably, the Otrivin® Freepod® device received the World Packaging Award in 2019, a recognition of its pioneering sustainable design.
This latest innovation supports Haleon’s broader sustainability goals, including a target to reduce virgin petroleum-based plastic use by 10% by 2025, and by 33% by 2030, using 2022 as the baseline. By shifting toward renewable feedstocks in its popular Otrivin® range, Haleon is making tangible progress toward those targets, with Aptar Pharma playing a central role in that transformation.
The collaboration is expected to expand with the inclusion of Aptar’s technology in Haleon’s new Otrivin® Nasal Mist, a microdroplet delivery platform that has been rolling out globally since 2023. This expansion demonstrates the partners’ shared vision of a future where sustainable innovation is a default standard in healthcare packaging.
Aptar’s Broader Sustainability Vision
This development is a cornerstone in Aptar Pharma’s overarching strategy to drive sustainability throughout its operations and product development. The company has positioned sustainability not just as a responsibility but as a strategic advantage in its competitive landscape.
“At Aptar, sustainability is not just a responsibility – it’s a strategic advantage,” stated Gael Touya, President of Aptar Pharma. “The launch of Freepod® Futurity™ reflects our commitment to developing solutions that respond to consumers’ increasing demand for more sustainable healthcare delivery technologies.”
Touya emphasized Aptar’s role in enabling Haleon’s success while facilitating the broader shift away from fossil-based packaging. He reiterated Aptar’s commitment to supporting the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry end-to-end, from formulation to patient experience, all while aligning with global environmental goals.
Leading the Shift in Sustainable Healthcare Packaging
As sustainability pressures increase across industries, Aptar Pharma’s bio-based Freepod® pump positions the company as a leader in environmentally responsible drug delivery systems. This innovation delivers functional performance while also reducing environmental impact—two critical factors in modern healthcare packaging.
The Freepod® nasal spray system exemplifies the practical application of mass balance bio-based technology in a regulated medical context, proving that climate-conscious choices can be made without compromising quality, safety, or usability. It also provides a template for future sustainable packaging developments, both within Aptar and across the broader pharmaceutical sector.
In a market where patients and consumers increasingly value environmental responsibility, the Freepod® nasal pump showcases what’s possible when long-term collaboration, scientific innovation, and sustainability goals converge.
As Aptar continues its journey toward circularity and carbon reduction, the successful global rollout of this 52% bio-based nasal spray pump signals a new era for sustainable healthcare delivery systems—one in which high performance and low environmental impact go hand in hand.
