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Plastics play a crucial role in pharmaceutical and healthcare packaging, offering versatility, durability, and cost-effectiveness. They are widely used in various forms, including blister packs, bottles, vials, pouches, and overwraps, ensuring the safety, stability, and effectiveness of medicinal products. The primary function of pharmaceutical packaging is to protect medicines from environmental factors such as moisture, oxygen, light, and contamination, thereby maintaining their integrity throughout storage, transportation, and use.Plastic packaging offers several advantages, including being lightweight, durable, flexible, and hygienic. However, it also poses challenges such as environmental pollution, health risks, and non-biodegradability. Various packaging types exist for liquid and solid pharmaceuticals, including well-closed, airtight, single-dose, multi-dose, and light-resistant containers, as well as strip and blister packaging for solid dosage forms.Additionally, plastics are used in construction applications, particularly in manufacturing plastic-waste bricks. The production process involves collecting, washing, shredding, melting, mixing with additives, molding, and cooling. Despite their potential, plastic-waste bricks face challenges such as standardization and environmental impact.Sterilization is essential for ensuring the safety of plastic-based pharmaceutical packaging. Common techniques include heat sterilization, gaseous sterilization with ethylene oxide and formaldehyde, and liquid sterilization using peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide. Each method has advantages and limitations based on the material properties and sterility requirements.Overall, plastic packaging remains indispensable in the pharmaceutical industry due to its protective and functional properties. However, sustainable solutions and efficient waste management strategies are essential to mitigate environmental concerns associated with plastic use.

KEYWORDS

Pharmaceutical Packaging, Plastic Waste Management, Sterilization Techniques, Blister and Strip Packaging, Environmental Impact of Plastics.