Cheers to 5 Years!
Join Parcel Health in Celebrating 5 Years of Filling Medicine Cabinets with Safe Parcels
Today marks a milestone that feels both surreal and inspiring: Parcel Health’s 5-year anniversary. What started as a simple idea—a better way to package medicine—has grown into a movement that’s reshaping the pharmacy landscape. Today, we celebrate not only how far we’ve come but also the community of pharmacists, patients, partners, and innovators who have joined us on this journey.
Parcel Health Co-founders, Melinda Su-En Lee PharmD and Mallory Barrett
Thank You From the Heart
When we launched Parcel Health in 2020, our vision was bold yet simple: make prescription packaging safer, more user-friendly, and better for the planet. We knew the healthcare world dreamed of a sustainable solution for a single-use package that patients would value and pharmacists could trust.
Fast forward to 2025, and that vision has crystallized into something bigger than we ever imagined. We are overwhelmed with gratitude for the momentum that continues to build among pharmacies, health systems, and patients. Every pharmacist who has chosen a Tully Tube over a traditional plastic vial, every health system that has piloted our eco-friendly packaging, and every patient who has experienced the difference—we understand that it is because of you that we made it to this meaningful milestone.
The Launch That Changed Everything: Tully Tube
The turning point for Parcel Health came in August 2024 with the launch of Tully Tube, the world’s first paper-based prescription pill bottle. It was the product of years of research, countless design iterations, and close collaboration with pharmacists who understood both the operational demands and the patient experience.
The results? A wave of hyper-acceleration like we always dreamed might happen. Within months, Tully Tube became more than just a packaging solution. It became a symbol of change for health systems like Allegheny Health Network (AHN), right here in Pittsburgh. We quickly learned that they were not alone in looking to reduce their plastic waste without compromising safety or efficiency.
As more health systems and pharmacies began to reach out, we began to understand how pharmacy partners value:
A significant reduction in plastic: 53% less, even when filling in our smallest size, compared to standard vials.
Simplified workflows: as realized via our universal cap system, that reduces inventory management complexity.
Safer profile: that goes beyond just child-resistancy and USP compliant humidity and water resistance. By offering protection in sudden heat— and greater sturdiness— it makes a difference in today’s rigorous shipping and home delivery workflow.
Ultra Sustainability: Fully recyclable with a compostable paper base that align with sustainability goals.
The momentum behind Tully Tube’s launch continues as we get close to celebrating the one year mark. It is extraordinary. Pharmacies nationwide who are switching to Tully Tube, along with health systems like UVA Health, are leading the way in adopting our true, sustainable innovation. What is almost magical, though, is the support from patients in each of these communities.
Eyes on the Horizon: 1 Million Plastic Vials Saved
Plastic prescription vials are an unseen contributor to the global plastic waste crisis. The U.S. alone uses 8+ billion plastic pill bottles annually, with only about 3% ever being recycled. Most end up in landfills or incinerators, where they harm wildlife ecosystems and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.
Parcel Health was founded to change this. Our immediate goal? Prevent 1 million plastic vials from entering landfills. And we are well on our way.
How We’re Doing It
Scaling Adoption: Partnering with independent pharmacies, mail-order pharmacies, and hospital health systems to replace traditional vials with Tully Tubes.
Expanding Capacity: Investing in advanced, sustainable manufacturing processes to meet rising demand.
Education & Advocacy: Raising awareness about the environmental impact of pharmacy packaging and the need for sustainable alternatives.
Continuous Innovation: Exploring new materials and designs that push the boundaries of eco-friendly healthcare packaging.
With every pharmacy order we fulfill, every shipment of Tully Tubes we send, we get closer to our 1-million milestone.
A Journey Fueled by Momentum
Looking back over five years, one of the most striking things is the velocity of change since 2024. Before Tully Tube, Parcel Health was laying the groundwork—building prototypes, testing materials, and proving the feasibility of paper-based medication packaging. But with the launch of Tully Tube, the conversation shifted from “Can this be done?” to “How fast can we scale?”
2020: Parcel Health incorporates and begins conceptualization and early design of sustainable packaging.
2021-2022: “Phill Box” launches as the beta product, boasting a plastic-free, compostable profile, with easy open features.
2023: Qualitative feedback and testing inspires the development of a paper-based prescription bottle prototype.
2024 (August): Official launch of Tully Tube, the world’s first paper based pill bottle.
2025: Nationwide pharmacy adoption, health system pilots
To mark this occasion on our 5 Year Anniversary, we’re introducing Phill Tube™, a 100% paper-based pill bottle, protected by Parcel Coat™ with an easy open and dispensing cap (i.e., not child resistant).
This trajectory wouldn’t have been possible without the tireless efforts of our team, partners, and investors. Every step, from the first sketch to the first bulk orders, has been a testament to teamwork and shared vision.
Stories That Inspire Us
Some of the most rewarding moments in our journey come from the stories we hear:
A pharmacist in Michigan who swapped plastic vials for Tully Tubes and cut their single-use vials by two thousand.
Veterinarians who shared with us at their annual conference that they love both the Tully Tube for sustainability and innovation, and the upcoming Phill Tube for patients with dexterity challenges.
Pharmacies from Pittsburgh to Florida, who say Tully Tube brings their team — and their patients — joy as part of a “green pharmacy” initiative. Some patients are even asking for those “colorful” bottles. We love it.
These stories remind us that change doesn’t happen in isolation—it’s powered by collective action.
The Road Ahead
As we celebrate our five-year anniversary, our focus is crystal clear:
Accelerate Impact – Reach the 1 million plastic vials saved milestone as quickly as possible.
Expand Product Lines – Introduce new sustainable solutions for various dosage forms, including creams and specialty medications.
Global Reach – Scale beyond the U.S. market, partnering with international health systems committed to sustainability.
Transparency – Publish annual impact reports tracking plastic reduction, carbon savings, and patient outcomes.
Our Gratitude to You
To our customers, partners, team, and advocates, thank you for believing in Parcel Health. We started with a simple question:
“What if medication packaging could protect you and the planet?”
Five years later, we’re answering that question every single day.
Cheers to the Next Five Years from Mallory, Rebecca, Melinda and Jason, our intern!
A Toast to the Next 5 Years
Join us as we raise a glass to pharmacies, health systems, and anyone passionate about sustainability as we celebrate your support and invite you to be part of the next chapter of our journey.
Whether it’s adopting Tully Tubes in your operations, sharing our story with your network, or collaborating on research, every step brings us closer to a healthier planet.
Five years ago, we were just an idea. Today, we’re a growing movement. With the momentum of Tully Tube and the support of our incredible community, the future looks brighter than ever.
Here’s to innovation. Here’s to sustainability. And most of all, here’s to you.