Packaging plays a hugely important role in the safe storage and administration of pharmaceutical products
If you were to look around a pharmacy, you’d notice all kinds of different drug packaging. Pharmaceutical and packaging companies select different types of packaging made from various materials to suit the type of drug and to cater to modern consumer demands and preferences.
If you’re keen to learn more about pharmaceutical primary packaging, our useful guide to the types of packaging in the pharmaceutical industry contains everything you need to know.
Drug Packaging and Pharmaceutical Packaging Types
Pharmaceutical packaging has a range of important uses. As well as being used to store and protect drugs, packaging pharmaceuticals is also essential for identification purposes, for marketing and promoting different brands, and for facilitating the use of pharmaceutical products.
There are several different types of pharmaceutical packaging, which are classified as primary, secondary, and tertiary. Pharmaceutical primary packaging is the material that surrounds the pharmaceutical product, while secondary and tertiary packaging provide additional external protection.
The Most Common Types of Pharmaceutical Primary Packaging
Examples of Secondary Pharmaceutical Packaging Include
Cartons
Secondary Packaging
Boxes
Secondary Packaging
Types of Bottle
Packaging for pharmaceutical bottles comes in various forms. Most commonly, glass bottles are used to store drugs.
Packaging for pharmaceutical bottles comes in various forms. Most commonly, glass bottles are used to store drugs.
Glass bottle packaging comes in a range of sizes (from miniature to large), and they can also be found in different colours. Amber glass bottles are common, and it is also possible to order blue and green glass bottles. For safety reasons, glass medicine bottles are often fitted with child-resistant closures. Plastic is also used to create bottles for pharmaceutical products, and bottles are produced utilising a range of different types of plastic.
Like glass bottles, plastic bottle packaging also comes in miniature, small, and large sizes, and they are either clear, white, or amber in colour. Examples of plastics used for pharmaceutical bottles include PET bottles, PP bottles, LDPE bottles, and HDPE bottles.
Like glass bottles, plastic containers and sample bottles also come in miniature, small and large sizes and they are either clear, white, or amber in colour. Examples of plastics used for pharmaceutical bottles include PET, PP, LDPE, and HDPE.
Drug packaging/pharmaceutical packaging materials
Drug packaging is manufactured using a range of materials, and the spectrum of options is broadening all the time due to advances in research and development. The most commonly used materials are glass and plastics. The type of packaging that is selected for a specific drug will depend on factors such as:
- The degree of protection that is needed for the product
- The dosage (this will affect the size)
- Convenience and ease of use for the customer
- The method of filling
- The sterilisation technique that is used
- The cost
Glass
Glass packaging has been used for decades, and it offers a host of benefits. Glass bottles are transparent, they are tough and durable, they can be labelled and identified very easily, and they come in a range of different shapes and sizes. Glass is also inert, which facilitates more comprehensive protection, and there is a lower risk of interaction with leachable substances.
It is very common to come across amber glass bottles when looking at pharmaceutical packaging. Amber glass bottles are used more frequently than clear glass medicine bottles because they protect the drug from UV rays, which can damage the product. There are three types of glass:
- Type I: Ultra-resistant borosilicate glass
- Type II: Surface-treated soda lime glass
- Type III: Soda lime glass
Plastic
Plastic is one of the most versatile substances in the world. Plastic is light, it’s flexible, it can be used to produce packaging of all shapes and sizes, and it’s very difficult to break. These are all advantages when exploring materials for pharmaceutical packaging.
The only real downside of using plastic, rather than glass, is the possibility of plastic materials interacting with the product by means of transferring leachables. There are several different types of plastics used in pharmaceutical packaging, including:
- PET: polyethylene terephthalate
- HDPE: high-density polyethylene
- PP: polypropylene
Sterile Packaging
Sterile packaging is used to ensure that drug products and medical devices are safe to use. They protect the product, but also the health and safety of the customer. Sterile packaging often features coextruded films, which can be created using plastics, including HDPE and PP.
There are several ways to present a pharmaceutical package, and you’ll often come across a number of different packaging types when you look around a drug store or pharmacy. Pharmaceutical packaging involves an array of materials, which are carefully selected to preserve and protect the drug and enable the customer or the patient to use it safely. From glass bottles to innovative plastic containers, packaging comes in all shapes and sizes, and it fulfils a number of important roles.
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Find All Types of Pharmaceutical Packaging at Origin
After reading this blog, you now know in detail about the types of packaging in the pharmaceutical industry, their different qualities, and which is the best for your business.
At Origin, you can find a wide range of pharmaceutical packaging, designed to industry standards and with many options offering child-resistance. Our glass packaging and plastic packaging ranges contain diverse primary and secondary packaging choices, providing your products with robust protection that you can depend on.
To find out more about the types of packaging in the pharmaceutical industry or if you have any questions about our range of packaging, chat with our expert team today.
