CVS is switching to aluminum pill bottles, marking a shift away from traditional plastic packaging. For decades, over-the-counter medications have been housed in hard plastic containers, which, despite being recyclable, are less widely accepted than their metal counterparts.

Mike Wier, vice president of store brands at CVS, explains that the new aluminum packaging offers practical and sustainability benefits. These bottles provide a strong barrier to maintain the stability and shelf life of medications, while also being more easily recycled. The first batch includes value-size versions of allergy and pain-relief medications like Allegra, Benadryl, Claritin, Zyrtec, Tylenol, and Advil.

The new bottles are lighter than their plastic predecessors, but CVS has not revealed the exact weight reduction. The pills inside will remain unchanged, though they may rattle a bit more. Prices for these bottles have remained the same despite the material change. CVS is also emphasizing that people should still follow the same recycling process—removing labels and caps—from both aluminum and plastic containers.

While recyclability appears to be an added bonus, this move could help counter negative perceptions of CVS’s security measures, which often lock down large portions of the store to prevent shoplifting. For now, only select over-the-counter medications are being offered in these new bottles, with CVS waiting to see customer responses before expanding their use.