Part & Parcel
the official blog of Parcel Health

Keeping Plastic Pill Bottles Out of the Waste Stream: Osceola County, Florida Takes Action
Every year, billions of plastic pill bottles are used and discarded, contributing significantly to the global waste crisis. We applaud a new effort by Osceola County, Florida, Office of Sustainability, highlighted in Waste Advantage Magazine, to reduce the environmental impact of plastic pharmaceutical packaging.

Parcel Health®, Allegheny Health Network to Pilot World's First Paper-Based Prescription Pill Bottle
PITTSBURGH – In a groundbreaking step toward sustainability and innovation in health care, Parcel Health and Allegheny Health Network (AHN) announced today a pilot program in which AHN will begin filling prescriptions in Tully Tube, the first and only paper-based prescription pill bottle. Starting this spring, retail pharmacies at select AHN hospitals will supply pill-based medications packaged in these environmentally friendly containers, marking a significant milestone in reducing plastic waste in the pharmaceutical industry.

Robinson Animal Hospital Named Parcel Health’s Partner of the Month for January
Parcel Health Names Robinson Animal Hospital “Partner of the Month” for January 2025. The animal hospital recently placed an order for Parcel Health’s Pet Print Tully Tubes and received their first delivery last week. Their enthusiastic adoption of our paper prescription pill bottles demonstrates their dedication to reducing plastic waste while providing the best care for their furry patients.

Thought Leadership: Innovation by Design — the World’s First and Only Paper Prescription Pill Bottle for Better People and Planet Wellness
Every year, billions of plastic pill bottles end up in landfills and oceans, creating a toxic waste problem that devastates ecosystems. Advertising agency, Publicis Health, reported in 2021 that in the United States alone, the use of plastic prescription bottles contributes over 703,125 tons of non-recyclable waste annually. That number has only gone up since then.
In fact, according to a study published in the International Journal of Pharmacy Practice, each year over two billion prescription bottles are discarded in the United States alone. That study also reflects an estimated 90% of those bottles, typically made from non-recyclable plastics, end up in landfills, further contributing to air, water, and soil pollution.
Recognizing the urgent need for a sustainable alternative, Parcel Health introduced Tully Tube™ the first and only paper prescription pill bottle designed to address this challenge.

The Immediate and Lagging Impact of the Rise in GLP-1s on Food Buying and Pharmaceutical Packaging
Jan 8
The emergence of GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonists, such as semaglutide and liraglutide, has significantly influenced both healthcare and consumer behavior. These medications, originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes, have gained widespread popularity for their additional benefits in weight management. Their rapid adoption has created ripple effects across various sectors, including consumer food spending, pharmaceutical logistics and increased pharmaceutical packaging.

Partner Spotlight: Dave's Pharmacy
In today's healthcare landscape, where safety meets sustainability, Dave's Pharmacy stands out as a forward-thinking leader revolutionizing medication delivery. Through our partnership, we have customized our beloved Tully Tube — the first and only paper pill bottle — to showcase Dave’s Pharmacy branding and shine a light on how Dave’s shares our mission to protect people and the planet.

Redefining Industrial Design Standards in Pharmaceutical Packaging
For decades, the pharmaceutical industry has defaulted to amber-orange prescription vials, prioritizing mass production and minimal costs over user experience and environmental impact. These clinical-looking containers, while meeting basic safety requirements, fail to address broader industrial design considerations such as user interaction, environmental sustainability, and aesthetic appeal. As reported by UNEP, “We will not recycle our way out of the plastic pollution crisis: we need a systemic transformation to achieve the transition to a circular economy.”
We stand with UNEP and believe industrial design priorities need to adjust to prioritize new materials throughout the pharmaceutical industry to create circular economies at scale.

The Healing Power of Healthcare Design: From Hospital Rooms to Prescription Packaging
The Healing Power of Design from Hospital Rooms to Pharmaceutical Packaging: This holiday season, Parcel Health is bringing an extra dose of joy to pharmacies with "Tully on the Shelf" – a festive twist on the beloved Elf on the Shelf tradition. Patients visiting their local pharmacies will be delighted to receive their medications in the limited-edition Winter Pine Tully Tubes, adding a touch of holiday magic to their healthcare experience.

The Art of Pharmaceutical Elegance: Paper's Role in Modern Medicine Packaging
In this blog post, "The Art of Pharmaceutical Elegance: Paper's Role in Modern Medicine Packaging," Parcel Health recounts the legacy of paper in pharmaceutical packaging and its renaissance as the premier material in the world's first and only paper based prescription pill bottle poised to replace plastic amber vials with the launch of Tully Tube

University of Michigan College of Pharmacy Spotlights Parcel Health
Markie Heideman’s feature entitled, “PharmD Alum Donning Maize and Blue, but Committed to Being ‘Green’” published November 11, 2024, tells the story of how CEO and Co-founder, Melinda Su-En Lee, felt compelled to find an alternative to orange plastic vials.

Making Waves Celebrating Parcel Health's Tully Tube
The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) Annual Convention and Trade Exposition is always a highlight in the pharmacy industry calendar, but this year's event held a special significance for Parcel Health. As we returned from Columbus, Ohio, our hearts were filled with gratitude, excitement, and a renewed sense of purpose. The overwhelming response to our Tully Tube launch party and the connections we forged have reaffirmed our commitment to revolutionizing pharmaceutical packaging with sustainable solutions.


We’re throwing a launch party!
Parcel Health’s Launch Party, Sunday 10/27, 4:30pm at Goodale Station, Columbus, Ohio
Independent and Community Pharmacies are emblematic of the unique dynamics and needs of a community. Parcel Health proudly partners with these pharmacists and community leaders to help build greater engagement with their patients, a proven metric for medication adherence, and likewise displace plastic pill bottles from entering the waste stream.

Partner Spotlight: Russellton Palmer Pharmacy
At Parcel Health, we're proud to partner with innovative pharmacies that share our commitment to improving patient care and medication adherence. Today, we're shining a spotlight on Russellton Palmer Pharmacy, a family-owned community pharmacy that has been serving the Russellton, Pennsylvania area for over 50 years.

The Zepbound Shortage: Resolved for Whom?
The FDA recently announced the end of the shortage for Eli Lilly's anti-obesity medication, Zepbound. This may seem like good news but it’s important to ask: the shortage has been resolved for whom, exactly? Eli Lilly and the FDA may have determined that current Zepbound supplies are sufficient to meet demand, but fail to acknowledge the other type of shortage created by price and insurance inaccessibility. For thousands of patients, they are simply priced out of the system.

Trends in Compounding Pharmacy, Mail Order, and Packaging Safety
In recent years, the pharmaceutical industry has seen significant shifts in how medications are prepared, distributed, and packaged. This blog post explores the latest trends in compounding pharmacies, the rise of mail-order pharmacies, and the critical importance of packaging safety in ensuring medication efficacy and patient health.

18 Ways Sustainability Can Strengthen a Pharmacy
Sustainability has become a strategic north star for businesses, organizations and communities, let alone our world. While the buzz continues to grow, more pharmacies are paying attention to the benefits of incorporating sustainability into their patient engagement and growth strategies.
The following offers 18 ways that Independent Pharmacies, Healthcare Network Pharmacies and Pharmacy Managers can leverage sustainability to strengthen patient / customer loyalty and expansion, as inspired by this feature in Medium.

Choose your fave Parcel Health Tully Tube festive design!
Get ready to vote for something special! Second year in a row, we’re launching our limited-edition Parcel Health Tully Tube holiday prints. And we need YOUR help! Which specially designed paper pill bottle will warm patients hearts the most this holiday season? Choose one on LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram by October 1.
Let’s fill medicine cabinets with safe (festive) parcels, not plastics.

Composting Parcel Health’s Tully Tube: An Ultra Sustainable Approach to Medication Packaging
In an era where environmental consciousness is paramount, Parcel Health is leading the charge with its innovative Tully Tube - a paper pill bottle designed with safety and sustainability at its core. Today, we're excited to share how you can take your eco-friendly efforts a step further by composting the paper components of each Tully Tube after use. This approach not only reduces waste but also contributes to a healthier planet.

Musings on NACDS TSE Boston 2024
For NACDS TSE Boston 2024 we created mock ups of our newest design, Parcel Health®'s Tully Tube™ to showcase how our paper pill bottles are 100% customizable, beautiful, while 47% compostable and 100% recyclable.