IE Day 24 Poster- Life Cycle Evaluation of Prescription Medication Dispersion in New Jersey

<p>This study investigates the environmental impacts of single-use plastic pill bottles versus refillable glass pill bottles for medication packaging in New Jersey pharmacies using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methods. Given the high environmental toll of single-use plastics, transitioning to refillable glass bottles offers potential benefits, despite the energy-intensive production process of glass. The study evaluates both bottle types across various impact categories, including global warming potential, ozone depletion, water consumption, and eco-toxicity, using the ReCiPe 2016 Midpoint (H) assessment method. The results indicate that, while producing a single glass bottle initially incurs a higher environmental cost compared to a single plastic bottle, using one refillable glass bottle over twelve plastic bottles annually results in a notable reduction in environmental impacts. The transportation logistics present additional challenges where customer trips for refilling glass bottles contribute substantially to eco-toxicity and other impact areas, suggesting that further optimization of refilling systems may enhance the overall sustainability of glass as a packaging alternative.</p>