Desiccant foil/Anti-counterfeit solution and sustainable packaging

At the recently concluded PPL Conclave 2025 in Hyderabad, a session titled ‘Desiccant Foil/Anti-Counterfeit Solution and Sustainable Packaging’ was presented by Anil H Mittal, Managing Director of Alutech Packaging.

Mittal stated that Alutech offers 3L CLFF, 4L CFF, strip packs, sachet packs, and effervescent packs. He highlighted that the company’s desiccant foil is designed to address moisture-related challenges by absorbing moisture, increasing drug shelf life, preventing drug degradation, and ensuring patient safety.

Discussing moisture as a significant concern in pharma packaging, he noted that a 2 per cent increase in moisture can reduce shelf life by 30 per cent. Approximately 30 per cent of pharma products are moisture-sensitive, contributing to $35-50 billion in annual losses. Moisture exposure leads to active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) breakdown, tablet disintegration, and caking or clumping in powder formulations.

To mitigate these challenges, he stated that Alutech’s desiccant foil provides an effective solution by absorbing moisture, increasing shelf life by 1.5 times, and preventing drug degradation. It also reduces product rejection rates by up to 40 per cent and contributes to cost optimisation.

Beyond moisture protection, Mittal highlighted Alutech’s focus on combating counterfeit medicines through anti-counterfeit packaging solutions, including holographic PVC, holographic alu-alu foil, and holographic blister and strip foil. He noted that counterfeit medicines account for 10-15 per cent of the global market, causing $200 billion in annual revenue losses and one million deaths per year.

He further stated that Alutech is also working towards sustainable packaging solutions, developing 100 per cent recyclable blister packs and PVC-free barrier films as part of its sustainability initiatives.