How does a science and technology company raise the bar by embedding sustainability into packaging—without sacrificing safety, quality or performance?

The process began in 2019 when the Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, which operates as MilliporeSigma in the U.S. and Canada, launched SMASH Packaging. This is a program that drives improvements to the sustainability of the company’s packaging.

Since then, more than 100 packaging improvement projects have been implemented, reducing 300-plus metric tons of packaging annually. SMASH has also been integral in developing the Greener Cooler, a sustainable alternative for cold chain shipments. However, with a portfolio of over 300,000 products, the company looks to drive further innovation in the company’s packaging sustainability.

In its next iteration, SMASH Packaging 2.0 will raise the bar by further embedding sustainability into the company’s packaging and removing tens of thousands of metric tons of CO₂, all without sacrificing safety, quality or performance. To achieve this, the company has set ambitious goals for 2030 to optimize resources, design for a circular economy and choose more sustainable materials. Building off its existing four pillars—SHIRNK, SECURE, SWITCH, and SAVE—the goals of SMASH Packaging 2.0 are:

• Reduce 10% of packaging weight per unit sales by 2030.
• 100% of fiber packaging to be deforestation-free by 2030.
• 100% of packaging to be designed following circular design principles by 2030.

To achieve these goals, the company is setting the following initiatives in motion to drive more systematic and data-driven packaging sustainability improvements:

• Equip employees with relevant resources to help them make better packaging decisions.
• Further embed SMASH into packaging decisions made across the organization.
• Improve packaging data management to create transparency that helps identify and prioritize opportunities for improvement while measuring against progress.
• Implementing a robust governance plan to increase engagement and accountability.

SMASH Packaging 2.0 is another proprietary initiative contributing to the sustainability strategy of its parent company—Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany—helping to make science greener and advance human progress.

To learn more about the company’s Greener Products & Solutions efforts contributing to a healthier ecosystem and safer world, please visit the company’s Sustainability & Social Business Innovation webpage.

MilliporeSigma

MilliporeSigma

We holistically integrate sustainability throughout our own operations and across suppliers, reducing the impact of scientific research globally and exceeding customer expectations.

The Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, which operates as MilliporeSigma in the U.S. and Canada, has more than 26,000 employees and more than 55 total manufacturing and testing sites worldwide, with a portfolio of more than 300,000 products focused on scientific discovery, biomanufacturing and testing services. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading science and technology company, operates across healthcare, life science and electronics.  

Around 62,000 employees work to make a positive difference to millions of people’s lives every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From providing products and services that accelerate drug development and manufacturing as well as discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices – the company is everywhere. In 2024, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, generated sales of € 21.2 billion in 65 countries.

The company holds the global rights to the name and trademark “Merck” internationally. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the business sectors of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, operate as MilliporeSigma in life science, EMD Serono in healthcare and EMD Electronics in electronics. Since its founding in 1668, scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to the company’s technological and scientific advances. To this day, the founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed company. For more information about Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, visit www.emdgroup.com.

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