This study compares environmental and operational impacts of two packaging options for contrast media: polymer bottle and traditional glass bottle. The study includes all life cycle stages and evaluates a variety of end-of-life disposal scenarios, with operational budget implications for health care facilities handling contrast media.

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is an internationally recognized methodology [1,2] that examines environmental impacts across the full life cycle of a product, from raw material extraction and refining through manufacturing, use, and end-of-life disposal or recycling (Fig. 1). By including impacts throughout the product life cycle, LCA provides a comprehensive view of environmental impacts and a more accurate picture of the environmental trade-offs and improvement opportunities.

Fig. 1: Product life cycle

This study documents the findings of an LCA study comparing polymer and glass bottles for delivering contrast media. The polymer bottle is made from a pharmaceutical-grade polypropylene vial body, rubber stopper, and polypropylene cap. The glass bottle is made from a glass vial body, a crimp seal made of aluminum and plastic, and a rubber stopper. The vials are filled with contrast media, sealed, autoclaved, inspected, packaged, and then distributed to different global markets including the US, Europe, China, India, and Korea.

Operational budget implications of using polymer or glass bottles for contrast media were also evaluated. The scenario was based on a typical 200-bed hospital radiology department in the US that purchases approximately 11 700 bottles of contrast media per year. The evaluation focused on the cost of medical waste* disposal associated with polymer and glass bottles used for contrast media.

*referred to as "red bag" waste in the US