Packaging plays an essential role in the storage and administration of pharmaceutical products. So, we must know the best materials for flexible medication packaging.
And with a call to fight against disposable packaging, the pharmaceutical industry can find itself with an uphill struggle. The demands on the packaging are very complex and high. This is where manufacturers need to know the best packaging materials and why they would benefit consumers, the industry, but also the planet.
Here, Origin explores the benefits of flexible plastic packaging and the unique qualities that make it a popular choice in the pharmaceutical industry.
What is flexible packaging?
Flexible packaging refers to products that can be manipulated or moulded without breaking. This includes materials such as plastic films, paper and cloth, that can be squeezed and folded without compromising structural integrity.
Plastic is a popular choice when it comes to flexible packaging, Common examples of flexible plastic solutions include bags, pouches and shrink-wrap packaging – as well as specialist products such as those in the pharmaceutical industry, including sachets, blister packs and a range of bags designed to create a sterile environment for equipment.
An alternative to rigid packaging
Rigid packaging tends to be made from hard plastic, glass, cardboard, tin, or aluminium. As rigid packaging is more substantial, as well as costlier, it often provides better protection against the elements.
However, this means that we have to find an effective alternative to keep pharmaceutical products intact. Flexible plastic is the alternative.
This can be made of plastic sheets or other lightweight and flexible plastic materials that can be sealed using pressure or heat and need to protect against contamination. While flexible packaging is less prone to defamation, it is important to choose the right packaging that is customisable to each individual need.
What makes the best flexible plastic?
Flexible plastic is popular in pharmaceutical packaging due to its ability to maintain structural integrity when squeezed, bent and more. These are the top qualities that make flexible plastic the go-to choice:
Patient safety
The safety of the person using the plastic is integral. With 237 million medication errors in England each year – including many patients dispensing and consuming medicines incorrectly – it is important medicines are delivered as safely and intuitively as possible.
Not only do flexible plastics prevent injury or accidental ingestion – by bending or squeezing without providing access to contents – but key materials are also proven to offer chemical stability and biocompatibility to deliver safe medicines.
Compliance
Compliance is pivotal in the pharmaceutical industry across the board. Make one wrong move, and it is costly. The demands placed on manufacturers developing packaging mean that they have to follow a strict set of conditions:
- Blister accessibility
Because there is this challenge of using lidding with the appropriate seal strength, the packaging still needs to be accessible to the consumer. This is especially relevant with an ageing population that might not necessarily be able to open a package easily. Different blister applications can consist of ALU-, PETM- and transparent PET laminates. The transparent range is particularly useful for products because it allows the medication to remain visible.
- Necessary information easily displayed
Details like the date code and the prescription need to be displayed properly, and if someone does not know where to look in an emergency, this could waste precious time.
- Overall safety
Providing comprehensive safety to pharmaceuticals doesn’t just relate to the consumer – it’s also about tackling counterfeiting.
Protecting the industry is as important as protecting the consumer. One way to prevent counterfeiting would be to have a holographic effect built into flexible plastic packaging, without using any inks. This holographic effect can be visible to the consumer made with Nano-structures and can be customised accordingly.
The future of flexible packaging
The next generation of pharmaceuticals must be one that eliminates polyvinyl chloride (PVC) from packaging. This has been going on for some time but, combined with the initiative to reduce carbon footprint and reduce chlorine from the waste stream, alternatives need to be developed in a cost-effective manner.
Moving away from rigid packaging and embracing flexible plastics will result in a more conscious impact on the general environment, too. As companies look for environmentally friendly and recyclable packaging, it’s important we move away from the norm. Flexible packaging has to form part of the overall structure of the dispensing of medication.
Pharmaceutical packaging from Origin
Looking for the perfect packaging solution to safely deliver your medicines and cosmetics products? Chat with Origin’s expert team to find out how we work with you to build bespoke solutions with patient safety at the forefront.
