Aptar Pharma launches metal-free nasal spray pump

Aptar Pharma has launched APF Futurity, its first metal-free, multidose nasal spray pump developed to deliver nasal saline and other comparable over-the-counter (OTC) formulations. 

Specifically designed for recyclability, APF Futurity is Aptar Pharma’s first highly recyclable nasal spray pump, having achieved a Class AA certification from cyclos-HTP for recycling streams in Europe. 

APF Futurity is made from polyolefin materials with no metal parts or recycling disruptors, thereby minimising separation efforts in recycling streams and supporting a higher quality of recyclates. 

Gael Touya, president, Aptar Pharma, said: “As a leading provider of nasal spray pumps globally, the launch of APF Futurity is a significant step forward in our sustainability journey, underlining Aptar’s overall commitment to a more circular economy and meeting the global need for sustainable packaging solutions that are easy to recycle.” 

When used in combination with a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or polypropylene (PP) container bottle, a product with the APF Futurity pump can be recycled as one piece when empty after use. 

APF Futurity is based on Aptar Pharma’s Advanced Preservative Free (APF) technology platform, and has been initially developed to deliver multidose nasal saline and comparable OTC formulations. The metal-free pump, for which patent protection has been filed, delivers precise and consistent dosing with soft actuation. 

Stefan Ritsche, president global market development, consumer healthcare, Aptar Pharma, said: “APF Futurity is a game-changing innovation for the nasal spray pump industry and I am proud of our design and engineering team for meeting the challenge of designing this metal-free nasal pump. This is an important step in the transformation of our nasal spray portfolio to more sustainable solutions, and we look forward to bringing additional innovations of this kind to meet the need in the pharmaceutical industry.”