DuPont expands sterile packaging capacity in Costa Rica to serve global healthcare markets

COSTA RICA – DuPont has expanded its healthcare manufacturing facility in Heredia, Costa Rica, significantly boosting its sterile packaging production capabilities for the global medical device industry.

The 16,000-square-foot expansion enhances the site’s existing operations, including its medical tubing manufacturing, and underscores DuPont’s commitment to supporting healthcare customers across the Caribbean and the Americas.

The new space houses advanced extrusion equipment and production lines dedicated to producing sterile packaging solutions using Tyvek, including pouches, header bags, and lids.

This development is also expected to scale up DuPont’s extruded tubing output, strengthening its role in the healthcare supply chain.

“With this expansion, we are now the first company in Costa Rica and the Caribbean to produce both fluid management and sterile packaging solutions for the medical device industry,” said James Chambers, Senior Vice President and General Manager for Fluids and Flexibles at Spectrum Plastics Group, a DuPont Business.

“This significantly enhances our growing portfolio of unmatched offerings and capabilities as a trusted partner to leading global healthcare companies.”

The facility is now certified under ISO 13485:2016 and ISO 9001:2015, reflecting compliance with the highest standards in medical manufacturing.

It has also transitioned to a 24/7 production schedule to meet increasing demand from new and existing customers.

DuPont’s broader healthcare portfolio includes advanced catheter assemblies, extruded tubing and subassemblies, medical balloons, skin-contact devices, smart wearables, additive manufacturing, and laser processing solutions.

In addition to expanding production, DuPont is advancing its sustainability agenda. In November 2024, it introduced Tyvek with Renewable Attribution (RA), a low-carbon addition to its healthcare packaging line.

This product reduces environmental impact by replacing a portion of fossil fuel-based feedstocks with certified biocircular feedstocks during Tyvek production.

The process follows the ISCC PLUS-certified mass balance approach, ensuring credible tracking and attribution of sustainable materials.

Tyvek with RA offers healthcare manufacturers a drop-in solution that lowers carbon emissions without altering existing packaging systems.

DuPont’s Tyvek facilities in Richmond, U.S., and Luxembourg are now ISCC PLUS certified, reinforcing the company’s commitment to traceability and sustainability.

“This innovation aligns perfectly with our goal of promoting a circular economy and supporting the industry’s efforts to reduce scope 3 emissions,” said David Domnisch, Vice President and General Manager at DuPont.

“Tyvek has long been trusted for its superior microbial barrier, strength, breathability, and recyclability. We are proud to support the healthcare packaging sector’s drive toward greater sustainability without compromising performance or safety.”

DuPont has also pledged to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. As of April 2024, the company reported a 58% reduction in scopes 1 and 2 emissions (from a 2019 baseline) and a 39% reduction in scope 3 emissions (from a 2020 baseline), exceeding its interim climate targets.

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