Counterfeit medicines pose a great risk to patients—and entail a loss of image and trust for the pharmaceutical manufacturers concerned. High-priced drugs and those in great demand are particularly attractive for counterfeiters. With its NFC labels, Schreiner MediPharm offers a particularly secure digital solution preventing counterfeits and enabling interactive patient support at the same time.

More and more patients are using pens and autoinjectors for self-medication. With seal solutions and overt authentication features, they can check if the devices are potential fakes but only digital security features provide higher levels of safety. That’s why Schreiner MediPharm has developed NFC-based solutions supporting patients in safely using the devices. With a smartphone and via the NFC label on their injection device, end users can quickly and reliably check if the product they’re holding in their hands is an original. The NFC labels from Schreiner MediPharm offer high-level security ensured by chips with an encryption function whose code cannot be counterfeit or tampered with.

The special design of the NFC label that wraps around part of the cap provides a clear digital seal function in addition to digital authentication. As soon as the end user scans the NFC label with a smartphone an automatic check is run to indicate if the product is intact or has been opened before. The digital solution not only enhances security but also provides pharmaceutical manufacturers with the opportunity to monitor gray market activities and to interactively support patients in administering their medication.

Thanks to its robust design and reliable integration in the manufacturing process, the NFC label can be easily included in the processing of pens and autoinjectors. The NFC functionality is ensured also on high-speed label dispensing systems so that the label enables reliable reading of the chip during the product’s entire lifecycle. The utilization of NFC technology helps prevent counterfeiting, enhance product and patient safety, and protect the supply chain.

The Alliance to Zero (A2Z) was founded by eight companies along the pharma supply chain to support the transition of the pharmaceutical industry to net-zero emissions. Besides Ypsomed and Schreiner MediPharm, Dätwyler, Harro Höfliger, HealthBeacon, Körber Pharma, SCHOTT, and Sharp are members. Sebastian Gerner from Ypsomed and Dr. Kurt Kugler from Schreiner MediPharm provide insights into the alliance. *

A2Z was founded in June 2021. Why are you a founding member and what are the general goals?

Sebastian Gerner, Ypsomed (SG): Following the launch of the sustainable YpsoMate® Zero autoinjector, Ypsomed realized that close collaboration within the supply chain is necessary to achieve the established climate goals. That’s why we approached our strategic network partners to create A2Z. Its major objective is to add value for our pharma customers by exploring ways in which we can achieve net-zero emissions.

Kurt Kugler, Schreiner MediPharm (KK): Sustainability is an important forward-thinking topic for Schreiner MediPharm, not only since A2Z was founded. By working together with other top players in the pharma supply chain we can systematically implement this lighthouse project. By developing and producing sustainable label solutions we aim to achieve our climate goals and support our customers with their sustainability projects. A2Z wants to transform the linear supply chain into a circular one. Obviously, sustainable labels play a key role in that regard.

What is the benefit of a membership and where do you see the benefit for your customers?

SG: In A2Z, we engage in exchanges about climate-related topics, develop, for instance, joint SBTi (Science Based Targets initiative) goals, or work on end-of-life solutions for our products. Our customers benefit from the fact that as members we speak the same language, jointly pursue the decarbonization of the supply chain, and solve problems together.

KK: The professional exchange and particularly the close cooperation with experts enables us to answer the complex questions around sustainability in faster and more focused ways. The coordination of key criteria such as the selection and combination of materials, the basis for Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) calculations, the regulatory environment, applicable recycling regulations, etc. occurs directly between the partners and ultimately serves as a benchmark for the pharma industry.

What milestones have been achieved since the alliance was founded and what are the next specific goals?

SG: The first milestone no doubt was the foundation of A2Z as a showcase project for a sustainable supply chain. Since then, together with a consulting firm, we managed to develop a guideline for calculating PCF values that combines all applicable regulations. Based on that guideline, we jointly calculated the PCF value for the YpsoMate® autoinjector enabling us to define actions to reduce the CO₂ emissions of an autoinjector to zero. The goal is the production of an YpsoMate® Zero as a pilot project of the alliance.

Is there already a specific action plan based on PCF calculations?

SG: We’ve identified CO₂ emissions reduction potential of approximately 70% and linked more than 70 individual actions with it that we plan to pursue together.

KK: Due to the detailed action plan, initial sub-projects between alliance members already exist. They use synergy effects to jointly reduce CO₂ along the value chain and to work on the net-zero goal. Regular reporting on the progress of the individual actions within the alliance supports targeted collaboration.

What is your company doing to reduce CO2 emissions?

SG: Ypsomed has committed to achieving net-zero emissions (Scope 1–2) within the company by 2030 and across the entire value chain (Scope 1–3) by 2040. That’s why Ypsomed is pursuing a circular product design that minimizes the environmental impact of self-medication along the supply chain. We’ve launched a Zero Carbon program in which all product groups are converted to sustainable materials such as bioplastics and packaging made from recycled plastics.

KK: Schreiner Group has defined climate-neutral production starting in 2023 as a strategic sustainability goal and achievement of full climate neutrality by 2030. CO₂ emissions concerning Scope 1 and 2 have been reduced by more than 70 percent since 2012, and a reduction by another 50 percent is planned for this year. Our CO₂ reduction programs are focused on the generation and expansion of renewable energies, reduction of energy consumption, purchasing of green electricity, increase of material efficiency, and manufacturing of sustainable products.

Are there already any initial sustainable product developments by your company?

SG: The YpsoMate® Zero from Ypsomed is the world’s first CO₂ emission-free prefilled autoinjector. The YpsoMate® autoinjector platform is being converted to biopolymers and the packaging design adapted in order to reduce emissions. The remaining emissions are compensated for by carbon removal certificates.

KK: Schreiner MediPharm has already developed concepts for sustainable functional labels, including an Autoinjector-Label made from eco-friendly film materials. The PFC was calculated for that purpose and we were able to show that CO₂ reduction potential in the two-digit percentage range is possible.

Are there already any initial sustainable product developments by your company?

SG: The YpsoMate® Zero from Ypsomed is the world’s first CO₂ emission-free prefilled autoinjector. The YpsoMate® autoinjector platform is being converted to biopolymers and the packaging design adapted in order to reduce emissions. The remaining emissions are compensated for by carbon removal certificates.

KK: Schreiner MediPharm has already developed concepts for sustainable functional labels, including an Autoinjector-Label made from eco-friendly film materials. The PFC was calculated for that purpose and we were able to show that CO₂ reduction potential in the two-digit percentage range is possible.

What responses from the pharma industry do you receive in relation to A2Z?

SG: So far, all our customers have responded very positively and invited us to share our ideas. In addition, the alliance opens the door for us to other groups in the pharmaceutical industry such as PEG (Pharmaceutical Environmental Group), BioPhorum, EFPIA (European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations), PSCI (Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Initiative), etc.

KK: We’re seeing major interest in the alliance and its goals on the part of our pharma customers as well. Our customers are setting themselves ambitious sustainability goals and are looking for partners within their supply chains that can proactively support them on their journey toward net-zero emissions.

* The interview was conducted in June 2023.

Functioning like dominoes, “climate tipping elements” are components of the Earth’s global climate system that can be affected by minor influences and, when tipping, will permanently change our climate. For instance, some forecasts expect the Earth to capitulate to the massive amounts of CO₂ in the atmosphere by 2060. Consequently, environmental protection and CO₂ reduction are among the greatest global challenges in all areas. Like other sectors, the pharmaceutical industry sets itself ambitious sustainability goals. Schreiner MediPharm as a certified A-level supplier to international pharmaceutical customers is already acting in the spirit of sustainability: Existing label solutions are optimized accordingly and new sustainable label concepts are being developed. This results in product solutions meeting the sustainability requirements of Schreiner MediPharm’s customers and the environmental criteria that the company has defined for itself.

Decisive in those developments is comprehensive know-how in label design, printing technology, and materials. Extensive qualification and testing are necessary to ensure smooth processing of the new functional labels made of sustainable materials in pharmaceutical production processes and reliable functionality in final use.

Three-Pillar Principle
For its sustainable label solutions, Schreiner MediPharm relies on three pillars: label materials made of recycled and renewable raw materials, sorted recycling/disassembling, and reduction of CO₂ emissions. The newly developed label concepts based on existing functional labels include, for instance, a Pharma-Tac label for infusion bottles with an integrated hanger plus removable documentation labels—and an Autoinjector-Label for injection systems that is equipped with an anti-slip feature. For both product solutions, film materials that have either been recycled or produced from renewable raw materials are used for the environmentally friendly versions.

Convincing Test Results
To demonstrate that the new materials used function as reliably as the previous ones, the in-house R&D team conducted extensive tests. The load and gravitational hanger tests according to DIN ISO 15137 for self-adhesive hanging devices for infusion bottles and injection vials delivered impeccable results, just like the tests for adhesion, ink adhesion, print durability, and laser marking. The Product Carbon Footprint (PFC) was calculated for the two sustainable label concepts as well. This calculation considers the CO₂ emissions of a product from raw materials through manufacturing to delivery (“cradle-to-gate”) as well as the impact of endof-life scenarios (“cradle-to-grave”).

A Sustainable Supply Chain Starts with the Materials
Based on the findings gained, and using the materials that have been qualified accordingly, Schreiner MediPharm designs and develops precise and customized solutions that are sustainable (“Integrated Sustainability”), are focused on the product lifecycle (“cradle-tocradle”), and actively support a sustainable supply chain in the pharmaceutical industry. However, the scarcity of film material alternatives currently available for production of environmentally friendly pharmaceutical labels poses a challenge. A wider variety of sustainable materials would be a key step in driving this important forward-thinking topic.

Patients with life-threatening allergies constantly carry a life-saving companion with them: an adrenaline autoinjector they can use themselves for an immediate injection to prevent an allergic reaction that may lead to anaphylactic shock. For the emergency drug epinephrine from TEVA, Schreiner MediPharm developed an especially abrasion-resistant Autoinjector-Label. Vital user and product information thus remains perfectly legible over a prolonged period of time. In November 2019, the novel label won an award in the Competition of the North American Tag & Label Manufacturers (TLMI).