Meet Parcel Health: Redefining Pharma Packaging for Sustainability - Founders Melinda Su-En Lee and Mallory Barrett

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In episode 225 of the Disruptors for GOOD podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Melinda Lee and Mallory Barrett, founders of Parcel Health, on creating pharmaceutical packaging solutions that protect people and preserve the planet.

Each Parcel Health package is crafted with compostable paper and protected with Parcel Coat™, ensuring that medications remain safe while the packaging remains 100% recyclable and even food-safe.

Parcel Health’s mission is clear: to create pharmaceutical packaging solutions that protect people and preserve the planet.

Parcel Health is redefining the future of pharmaceutical packaging. Every product the company designs, patents, and manufactures seamlessly integrates safety, user experience, and sustainability.

The company acknowledges its role in every patient’s healthcare journey and strives to set new standards for the industry.

By combining industry expertise with an unwavering commitment to sustainability, Parcel Health creates pharmaceutical parcels that prioritize both patient safety and environmental responsibility.

Medication packaging should not come at the expense of the environment. Parcel Health is leading the charge in sustainable innovation with products that enhance safety while eliminating plastic waste.

The Founding Story

The company’s journey began with two individuals from opposite sides of the world, united by a shared passion for sustainability and healthcare innovation.

Melinda’s Journey

Growing up in Malaysia, Melinda Lee witnessed the devastating impact of plastic waste firsthand. Determined to make a difference, she pursued a degree in pharmacology at Stony Brook University, later working as a research assistant at Harvard University.

In 2017, Melinda entered the University of Michigan’s doctoral pharmacy program, where she was confronted with the environmental costs of patient care: millions of plastic pill bottles discarded into landfills and incinerators worldwide.

Recognizing that local healthcare waste had global consequences, she became determined to create a sustainable alternative to traditional plastic vials.

Mallory’s Journey

Meanwhile, Mallory Barrett, a student at North Carolina State University, was already rethinking pharmaceutical packaging.

In 2017, she won the prestigious Cradle to Cradle Product Design Challenge, developing a reusable pharmaceutical packaging concept called Rex.

Her victory in this global competition showcased her talent for sustainable innovation.

After graduation, Mallory gained hands-on experience in paper packaging manufacturing, quickly recognizing that the industry was resistant to change. Frustrated by the stagnation, she sought an opportunity to push the boundaries of sustainable packaging.

A Game-Changing Partnership

In October 2019, Mallory received a LinkedIn message that would change everything. It was from Melinda, who was searching for a like-minded innovator to tackle the p