Designing sustainable healthcare
packaging with Tyvek®
Advantages of Tyvek® for sustainable innovation
DuPont™ Tyvek® is the standard of excellence against which other sterile packaging materials are compared. One reason for the superior performance of Tyvek® is that it’s not made of cellulosic fibers—but rather a sheet of flashspun and bonded high-density polyethylene (HDPE) filaments. The flash spinning process creates continuous strands of very fine interconnected filaments that are multi-directionally oriented and bonded together by heat and pressure during manufacturing. The result is a tough, durable sheet structure that provides a unique combination of physical properties that no other sterile packaging material can match. Incorporating Tyvek® into the package helps promote health and well-being, thereby helping to enable people and societies to thrive.
The unique properties and performance characteristics of Tyvek® offer distinct advantages when it comes to sustainable packaging, including:
Compatibility with recycling techniques
Tyvek® styles 1073B, 1059B and 2FS™ are made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and are readily recyclable through established and emerging advanced recycling techniques, helping enable truly sustainable and circular packaging solutions.
Light weight
The superior strength-to-weight ratio of Tyvek® helps enable lightweight packaging configurations; possible reduction in secondary packaging; and potential decrease in energy use in transportation compared to heavier cellulose-based products.
Less waste
Low material weights, and superior tear and puncture resistance of Tyvek® can result in less energy and resource consumption over the product lifecycle, as well as helping to reduce the risk of package failures throughout the life of the product.
Low additives
Tyvek® is made without plasticizers or restricted chemicals listed in European Directives, such as RoHS (Directive 2015/863/EU) or REACH Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC).
ISO 14001 certification
Tyvek® is manufactured in Richmond, VA, USA, and in Contern, Luxembourg, Europe, under verified environmental management policy according to International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001.
Tyvek® offers sustainability opportunities across the lifecycle
Focusing on lifecycle considerations when making packaging system design decisions can have a significant impact on sustainability. By using Tyvek®, there are opportunities at every stage of a product’s lifecycle to improve sustainability.
*Tyvek® is made of HDPE and products made of 100% Tyvek® material can be recycled at facilities that recycle flexible HDPE materials. Please check recycling facilities in your area to ensure they can recycle Tyvek®.
