Circular Solution: How Paper Packaging Keeps Plastic Out of the Waste Stream

There is an every day urgency to rethink our everyday materials. Globally, we have come to recognize the plastic waste crisis. Most of us are aware of the climate crisis, ocean pollution, and overflowing landfills. And yet, one of the most persistent offenders still hiding in plain sight is something most of us use every day: plastic packaging.

Globally, we have come to recognize the plastic waste crisis. Most of us are aware of the climate crisis, ocean pollution, and overflowing landfills.

From shampoo bottles to takeout containers—and yes, even prescription vials—plastic has become deeply embedded in the systems we rely on. But plastic was never designed to go away. It was designed to last forever. And unfortunately, much of it does.

That’s where circular, paper-based packaging steps in. And not a moment too soon.

Why a Circular Solution?

A “circular solution” refers to a system in which products and materials are kept in use for as long as possible, through recycling, reuse, and composting—rather than the take-make-waste model of most packaging today. Paper-based packaging fits beautifully into this vision, especially when it’s made from responsibly-sourced materials, can be curbside-recyclable, and even composts at end-of-life.

This isn’t just feel-good theory. It’s becoming a practical, scalable solution—and rapidly gaining momentum across industries.

The Plastic Crisis: Out of Sight, Never Gone

Organizations like The Ocean Cleanup have brought global attention to the staggering scope of plastic waste in our waterways. Every year, an estimated 11 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean—most of it single-use packaging. Floating trash accumulates in gyres like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, where the vast majority of debris is plastic that breaks down into microplastics, not dust.

The problem isn’t solely isolated to marine systems. It’s medical. Plastics leach toxins, infiltrate food systems, and have now been found in human blood, lungs, and placentas. Worse still, 91% of plastic isn’t recycled, even when technically “recyclable.” Much of it is too small, mixed, or contaminated to be captured by current recycling systems.

This means the best solution isn’t cleaning up—it’s cutting off the flow at the source.

Healthcare’s Plastic Problem—and a Paper-Based Path Forward

Healthcare is a surprising contributor to the global plastic waste crisis. From sterile packaging to IV bags, the industry depends heavily on plastics for safety and compliance. But it also has massive potential to lead the way in sustainability—with smart, mission-driven innovation.

Practice Greenhealth recently spotlighted how health systems like Kaiser Permanente are pioneering waste-reduction by working directly with manufacturers to reduce unnecessary plastic packaging. Their approach includes phasing out Styrofoam, replacing plastic pouches with paper alternatives, and auditing supply chains for sustainable swaps.

These efforts matter not just because of the volume of waste generated in healthcare—but because patients trust healthcare systems to lead in safety, care, and responsibility. When hospitals embrace circular solutions, the ripple effect to so many community members, corporate decisions makers and pharmacy thought leaders, is immense.

The Prescription Pill Bottle: A Small Item with a Big Footprint

One of the most overlooked pieces of plastic packaging in healthcare is the ubiquitous prescription vial. Billions of plastic pill bottles are dispensed annually, and most are not recyclable curbside due to their size, colorants, and safety features. Instead, they fill up medicine cabinets and landfills.

That’s why we engineered Parcel Health’s Tully Tube, the world’s first and only paper-based prescription pill bottle—to check all of the boxes:

• 100% recyclable

• Made from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified materials 

• Child-resistant

• Humidity, light and water-resistant

Tully Tube offers a safe, functional alternative to plastic without compromising compliance or patient experience.

It is a small change with major potential. Replacing a single plastic vial with a recyclable paper version might seem incremental—but scaled across pharmacies, health systems, and millions of patients, the impact adds up quickly.

California Sets the Bar with Landmark Plastic Pollution Law

In March 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom moved forward with one of the nation’s boldest pieces of environmental legislation: a landmark plastic pollution law designed to phase out single-use plastic packaging, hold producers accountable for waste, and build up compostable and recyclable alternatives.

This bill reinforces what many in healthcare and industry already understand: we can’t recycle our way out of the plastic crisis. We must re-engineer the materials we use at the start of the process.

California’s law requires that 65% of all single-use plastic packaging and foodware be recyclable or compostable by 2032, and imposes significant penalties on manufacturers that fail to comply. It also directs billions of dollars toward plastic pollution cleanup and infrastructure. The implications are clear: the future of packaging is circular—and policy is catching up to drive the mission forward.

Why Paper Packaging Is More Than a Swap

Paper-based packaging like the Tully Tube isn’t just an environmental win—it’s a brand and trust signal. Consumers increasingly seek out companies that share their values. In healthcare, that trust is paramount. When patients see that their medication comes in a safer, recyclable, paper-based vial, it tells them: you matter, and so does your world.

Paper solutions also invite creative possibilities: messaging, joy, and care printed right on the packaging. It transforms a transactional product into a meaningful interaction—one that communicates and aligns with the values of healthcare providers, patients, and the planet.

 A Circular Future, Prescription by Prescription

Solving the plastic crisis won’t happen overnight. But it will happen piece by piece—bottle by bottle, system by system. Circular design isn’t just about recycling. It’s about rethinking. It’s about designing products that do no harm, that serve their purpose, and that safely return to the earth—or to a second life—once they’re done.

When healthcare embraces circular solutions like paper-based packaging, it demonstrates that innovation and sustainability are not in conflict—they’re intertwined. And when systems, startups, and policymakers align, we can build a healthier planet, one safe parcel at a time.

Sources:
”The Largest Cleanup in History,” The Ocean Cleanup
”Kaiser Permanente Pairing Down Plastics through Packaging Partnerships,” Practice Greenhealth
”Landmark Plastic Pollution Law Moves Forward,” Governor Gavin Newsom