Different Types of Pharmaceutical Packaging
Pharmaceutical packaging plays a critical role in shipping sensitive and highly regulated products. Not only does it protect the contents from physical damage, but it also ensures that the chemical composition remains unchanged throughout the journey.
Below are the different types of pharmaceutical packaging:
Primary Packaging
Vials
Vials come in both glass and plastic, giving you options to suit your needs. Designed to safely store liquids, solids, or powder dosage forms, vials are the perfect storage solution for a variety of products.
Ampoules
Ampoules, similar to vials, are commonly used in the pharmaceutical and beauty industries. They are ideal for packaging serums, oils, and other liquids that need to be protected from air and light. Plus, their small size makes them perfect for travel or on-the-go use.
Blister Packaging
Blister packaging is made of a thermoformed plastic with precisely designed cavities to securely hold your tablets or capsules. Blister packs not only maintain the quality and potency of medication but also enhance the convenience for consumers.
Pouches
Pouch packaging has become very popular in the pharmaceutical industry. One of the main advantages of pouch packaging is its ability to reduce the risk of contamination. Unlike bottles, pouches are sealed and have airtight barriers, preventing exposure to moisture, air, and other harmful elements that could degrade the medication.
Sachets
Sachet packaging refers to the small, single-dose packages that contain medication or healthcare products. It’s perfect for on-the-go individuals who need to take their medication with them wherever they go. Sachet packaging also helps reduce medication wastage. With individual doses, you only take what you need, preventing the expiration of unused tablets or capsules.
Strip Package
Strip packaging is the ultimate solution for extending the shelf life of your capsules and tablets. Unlike traditional blister packaging, each tablet or capsule is individually protected within the strip, ensuring maximum freshness and potency. Choosing the right type of primary packaging depends on the form and chemical composition of your product. Capsules and tablets are often secured in blister and strip packages, while liquids are usually placed in vials or ampoules.
Secondary Packaging
Secondary packaging serves as an extra layer of protection for primary packaging, ensuring your products reach their destination intact. Cartons, for example, are a popular choice for secondary packaging because they’re customizable so you can showcase your brand and offer excellent protection.
With secondary packaging, you can:
- Build your brand: Stand out on supermarket shelves with eye-catching boxes that reflect your brand identity.
- Boost sales: With attractive and well-designed packaging, you’ll grab the attention of potential customers, leading to increased sales and customer loyalty.
- Simplify shipping: Streamline your shipping process with secondary packaging that is sturdy and easy to handle, reducing the risk of damage during transportation.
Tertiary Packaging
Transporting pharmaceutical products safely and efficiently is essential, and tertiary packaging plays a vital role in achieving this. Tertiary packaging, such as cardboard boxes, shrink film, and stretch wrap, is designed to absorb physical impacts and prevent moisture and dust from damaging the products.
The advantages of using optimized tertiary packaging are numerous. Tertiary packaging increases pallet stability, ensuring that the products stay secure during transportation and reducing the risk of damage. Secondly, tertiary packaging helps to reduce CO2 emissions and lower transport costs. By compactly combining products and using minimal materials, tertiary packaging reduces the number of trips needed for transportation, resulting in fewer carbon emissions and decreased expenses. In addition, using optimized tertiary packaging saves on material waste. By efficiently packaging the products, there is less need for excess materials, reducing waste and promoting sustainability.
Ultimately, the primary goal of tertiary packaging is to protect the product throughout the supply chain. By providing a strong and secure layer of protection, tertiary packaging ensures that pharmaceutical products reach their destination in optimal condition.
Types of Pharmaceutical Packaging Materials
Glass
There are three types of glass used in the pharmaceutical industry. Type I is ultra-resistant borosilicate glass, perfect for withstanding harsh conditions. Type II is surface treated soda lime glass, ideal for pharmaceutical products that are not as sensitive. Lastly, Type III is soda lime glass, suitable for less demanding requirements. Glass bottles have been a popular choice for many years, and for good reason. They’re transparent, durable, easy to label, and come in various shapes and sizes. Amber glass is more commonly used than clear glass because it shields drugs from damaging UV rays.
Plastic
There are three main types of plastics used in pharmaceutical packaging: PET, HDPE, and PP. PET, or polyethylene terephthalate, is commonly used for water bottles and food containers. HDPE, or high-density polyethylene, is known for its strength and chemical resistance. And finally, PP, or polypropylene, is versatile and widely used for various applications.
Sterile Packaging
Sterile packaging is an essential part of keeping tablets safe for use. Coextruded films, made from plastics like HDPE and PP, are often used in sterile packaging. These materials are carefully chosen to ensure the highest level of protection for the drugs and medical devices they contain.
Key Takeaways
Choosing the right type of pharmaceutical packaging for your product depends on a number of factors, such as cost, filling method, level of protection required, and dosage.
At Ascend, our team can help guide you to the right type of packaging that meets your needs. Once you’ve decided on the right type of packaging, we’ll provide you with top-notch packaging equipment, tooling, and replacement parts. Contact us today to learn more about our packaging machines and products.
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