LogiPharma Europe: Richard Harrop on Packaging Innovation

Ahead of his presentation at LogiPharma Europe 2026, Richard Harrop, product director at Topa Thermal, spoke to Pharmaceutical Commerce about one of the most pressing topics in cold chain packaging design today: how to balance sustainability, performance, and real-world resilience in thermal packaging.

Harrop breaks down the evolving landscape of material innovation, where traditional solutions like EPS, polyurethane, and vacuum insulation each occupy different performance tiers, but also present complex sustainability challenges. As regulatory pressure around packaging waste intensifies, he notes that the industry is still in a period of uncertainty, with many organizations “hedging their bets” while waiting for clearer direction. Rather than reacting to perceived bans or short-term trends, he suggests the focus should be on rethinking the system itself, how materials are sourced, reused, and ultimately designed for circularity at scale.

A key theme in the discussion is the gap between sustainability ambition and operational reality. Harrop highlights the need to move beyond assumptions about “bad” versus “good” materials and instead evaluate how each performs within a specific use case. From cellulose-based systems and advanced corrugate structures to next-generation recycled polymers, he points to a growing push to engineer packaging that can meet insulation requirements without defaulting to high-impact materials.

The interview also explores the limits of lab-based validation in a supply chain defined by unpredictability. Harrop emphasizes that while testing is essential, it must be grounded in realistic scenarios rather than an endless list of theoretical “what if” conditions. Ultimately, he argues that the goal is not to over-engineer for every possibility, but to ensure packaging is “right for the job.”