TOPPAN Holdings Inc. (TOPPAN Holdings) has reached an agreement to acquire Asahi Kasei Corporation’s patented technology related to brittle lidding material for push-through blister packs, completing the transfer on November 28.

By fusing the acquired brittle lidding material technology with the TOPPAN Group’s barrier and packaging technologies, TOPPAN Holdings is aiming to advance a full-scale entry into the global push-through blister pack market.

In recent years, the tightening of environmental regulations globally, particularly in Europe, and the acceleration of corporate efforts focused on sustainability have prompted a rapid increase in the need for aluminum-free and mono-material packaging designs.

While demand for more eco-friendly packaging is also on the rise in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sector, where stringent quality control is a must, aluminum foil is the predominant material currently used to achieve the high barrier performance that is essential to maintain the stability of pharmaceutical packaging contents.

The TOPPAN Group is driving digital transformation and sustainability transformation to become a leading provider of solutions to social issues worldwide. Positioning the mitigation of environmental impact and the contribution to a circular economy as priority challenges, the TOPPAN Group’s packaging business is concentrating efforts on expanding the development and supply of eco-friendly sustainable packaging.

Focusing on the healthcare sector’s challenge of transitioning to aluminum-free and mono-material pharmaceutical packaging, TOPPAN Holdings has acquired patented technology related to brittle lidding material for push-through blister packs to further expand sustainable packaging supply capabilities. This will enable full-scale entry into the business of next-generation push-through blister packs that reduce environmental impact while maintaining functions such as push-through and barrier performance.

Technology Synergies

• Aluminum-free designs: By taking advantage of the superior push-through performance of brittle film manufactured using film-forming technologies and optimal material design, and combining it with GL BARRIER transparent barrier film processing technologies, the TOPPAN Group aims to enable aluminum-free push-through blister packs employing materials such as polypropylene (PP).
• Eco-friendly mono-material designs: Push-through blister packs are conventionally composed of different materials, with aluminum foil for the lidding and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or PP used for the base. Mono-materialization can now be facilitated by combining a PP base material with a brittle lidding material also made from PP resin.
• Sustainable printing technologies: The TOPPAN Group possesses a range of eco-friendly printing technologies, including water-based flexo printing that involves minimal solvent usage. These technologies can be applied to achieve further eco-friendliness and contribute to greater visibility from the consumer perspective due to enhanced printability, including superior reproduction of fine lines.

Patented Technology Acquired

TOPPAN Holdings has acquired a set of 12 patents, including the basic patent for brittle film with excellent push-through performance, produced by employing film-forming technologies and optimal material design.

Future Activities

By the end of fiscal 2025, the TOPPAN Group aims to use the acquired technology to complete development of functional and eco-friendly push-through blister packs and make samples available. The TOPPAN Group will also continue to work proactively to expand sustainable packaging supply and contribute to a sustainable society.