Green packaging: Introducing the Ecolo-Vial™

In 2011 the Walmart Canada Pharmacy filled a major prescription for sustainable packaging by introducing the 100 per cent recyclable Ecolo-Vial™.

Every year Canadians use more than 300 million plastic vials for their prescription medications – but all these vials ultimately end up in landfills because they’re made of multi-material plastic, which contaminates the recycling stream.

By adopting the clear green Ecolo-Vial™, Walmart Pharmacy has pitched in to help reduce the source of this unnecessary waste. Made in Quebec, the Ecolo-Vial™ is a one-piece plastic prescription container that’s recyclable, UV resistant and shatterproof.

Here are key environmental benefits of the Ecolo-Vial™:

  • Produces 53 per cent less packaging waste compared to traditional vial packaging
  • Eliminates the use of more than 100,000 plastic bags since the vials are shipped in boxes instead of bags
  • Uses a manufacturing process that reduces in-plant energy consumption by 35 per cent

In recognition of its sustainable practices, the Walmart Canada Pharmacy won the Commitment to Care & Service Award for Green Leadership in November 2011, a prestigious national award from Pharmacy Practice and Drugstore Canada, the leading professional journals for pharmacists. Given the nature of the Ecolo-Vial™, this is one of those occasions where everyone stands to win.