Pharmapack Awards 2024 Packaging Innovation Award Winner – Nissha Europe GmbH

The 2024 Pharmapack Awards celebrated the best in innovation and design for the pharmaceutical packaging and drug delivery industry on January 24, 2024.  

Please could you give a background to Nissha Europe GmbH and your overall mission as a company? 

Nissha realises the enrichment of people’s lives by creating technology. For the past few decades, plastic injection moulding has been one of Nissha’s core businesses, and we have gained a deep knowledge in this technology. As Nissha has committed to achieving sustainable growth for the company and society, Nissha started to develop a new injection moulding technology using pulp instead of plastics. Pulp-Injection moulding reduces the usage of petrol-based plastics, and the light, space-saving product can lower transport costs and reduce its carbon footprint.  

Your product Pulp-Injection autoinjector component won the Pharmapack 2024 Packaging Innovation award. How does Pulp-Injection address current challenges in pharmaceutical packaging? 

Tons of plastic trays and components made from virgin plastic are thrown away in the pharmaceutical industry every year. Pulp-Injection solution contributes to the reduction of excessive use of petroleum-based plastic. 

In recent years, we have replaced many single-use plastic trays with a Pulp-Injection tray for injection devices. In addition, we see the increase in the use of self-injection pens, which are mostly made of non-recyclable plastic. 

Components of pharmaceutical devices need to be very sturdy, accurately sized, and environmentally reliable. The required qualities are only achievable through injection molding process. Pulp-Injection is the only molding technology that can offer these important characteristics while using sustainable materials. 

The Pulp-Injection autoinjector components is still in a proof-of-concept stage. What has the development process for this product been like? 

So far, Nissha has introduced Pulp-Injection trays for packaging to the market. We wanted to see how else we could use Pulp-Injection, not just for trays but also for parts in devices.  

With dedicated support from Zenius Ltd and Haselmeier GmbH, we developed a concept prototype for D-Flex self-injection pen cap, completing the project in June 2023. Further process optimization is undergoing to achieve even better surface and mechanical quality. 

Before the event, we're ready to receive detailed feedback from industry partners and customers about the innovative uses of Pulp-Injection. We'll keep working on developing and testing components as well as trays, aiming to introduce them to the market with the help of the right partners. 

How do events such as Pharmapack help companies like Nissha contribute to a thriving pharmaceutical packaging industry? 

Pharmapack provides excellent opportunities to connect with staff members across various disciplines of self-injection device manufacturers and leading pharmaceutical companies, including packaging engineers, procurement, product management, and sales, all within a span of two days. The involvement of the entire team is a key for successful development and product market launch.

What does this award mean for Nissha? 

Winning the innovation award at Pharmapack is a big achievement for us. It shows that our dedication to innovating Pulp-Injection is recognized and that our product has great potential.  

Since it's our first time participating in Pharmapack as an exhibitor, this award is like a boost for our brand visibility, bringing new opportunities and partnerships while confirming our role as innovators in shaping the future of pharmaceutical packaging. We feel honored and motivated to keep innovating and collaborating. 

What does the future hold for Nissha Europe GmbH? 

We aim to be a top innovator, providing sustainable and functional packaging and components for our customers, as seen with Pulp-Injection. Our goal goes beyond business success; we want to contribute to a genuinely sustainable future through advanced technology.  

Our commitment to leadership, innovation, and meaningful partnerships is the foundation of our efforts to create a better and more sustainable future. 

Discover more about the 2024 Pharmapack Award winners here.