Since 1997, Global Pouch Forum has served as the longest running flexible packaging event highlighting the best and most unique applications. One of the most anticipated sessions this year will be when representatives from Accredo Packaging and Verde Environmental Technologies share details about the design of medical packaging for a widely successful drug deactivation system.

This year’s event takes place June 18-20 at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort in Clearwater Beach, Fla. On Thursday, June 19, the Medical Industry Innovation: Safety and Sustainability in High-Performance Pouch Packaging seminar will be held from 4:15-5 p.m. Hayley Wenda-Zilka, Director of Operations for Verde Environmental Technologies, will be joined by Roberto Santos, Accredo’s Director of Marketing, to talk about the Deterra Drug Deactivation System, a remarkable and sustainable flexible packaging solution.

Since 2009, family-owned Accredo Packaging near Houston has steadily grown to become an industry leader in this category. A veteran leadership team, supported by investments in new equipment, R&D, and key personnel, has focused its attention on breakthrough developments of recyclable and bio-based pouch alternatives that reduce environmental impact without sacrificing film performance or quality.

Verde launched the Deterra brand as one of its more recent advancements. A patented, plant-based pouch that safely and permanently deactivates unused medications, it is meeting a growing global demand to prevent drug misuse and reduce pharmaceutical contamination. The packaging can be used at home or in clinical settings such as at healthcare providers and pharmacies.

Hayley Wenda-Zilka has worked at Minneapolis-based Verde for over seven years. In her presentation, she plans to discuss the challenges of designing medical packaging that meets rigorous safety standards while supporting sustainability goals. She also will explain the scientific validation and composition of the pouch system that allows the deactivation process to work, as well as the environmental and packaging performance requirements that were taken into consideration.

Roberto Santos will share details about the material science and environmental performance of the pouch structure. Accredo has worked with many of North America’s leading CPG brands by developing recyclable overwraps, shrink bundle films, and renewable sugarcane-based pouches.

Deterra is manufactured with an external layer using bio-based polyethylene, which is derived from sugarcane ethanol. He will also delve into the product’s printing methodology and lifecycle considerations.

“The collaboration and coordination involved between the formulation scientists, carbon suppliers, and packaging engineers was absolutely essential. They did an outstanding job because the material had to balance a number of vital elements, including chemical inertness, deactivation compatibility, and print adhesion,” said Santos. He joined Accredo last September to create and lead its marketing department after working for 14 years at large packaging corporations across EMEA, Asia, and the Americas.

“Drug deactivation pouches are an emerging category requiring packaging that must function chemically,” he added. “From our use of Extended Color Gamut printing to the lifecycle variations, Deterra is proof of what can be done to achieve your goals for safe and sustainable packaging.”

A networking session follows the 45 minute presentation, and both Santos and Wenda-Zilka will be available to answer questions afterwards.