Every industry that manufactures a product needs packaging so the product could be sold on the market.
Naturally, this makes this process a very important aspect of any industry, and the pharmaceutical industry is no different.
As you might expect, pills, tablets, and syrups are some of the forms that a product in this industry is manufactured. It would look quite weird if you’d go to a pharmacy and buy ibuprofen only for them to give it to you without any packaging.
But the reason why this industry requires its product to be packaged isn’t down to aesthetics, quite the contrary the reasons are far more important than that.
TriRx Pharmaceuticals is a contract development and manufacturing organization producing sterile (aseptic) and non-sterile products, animal heath products, packaging and laboratory services.
In this article, we are going to discuss the importance of pharmaceutical packaging and why the industry cannot sustain itself without it.
Importance of Packaging
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The main reason as to why a product would require packaging is all down to industry-specifics. However, in the pharmaceutical industry, a product requires some form of packaging so that the quality of the drug could be maintained throughout.
Another reason is that it gives it some form of protection from physical, natural, and biological damage. The last is especially important as the manufacturing process happens in a laboratory where various liquids are handled on a daily bases.
However, probably the biggest reason as to why some form of packaging is important is all down to the laws of the countries where every drug must contain correct information about the ingredients of which the product is made, how to use, and any disclaimers. Also, a product’s identification code is printed on the packaging, its name, and various other pieces of information.
What Role Does Packaging Play?
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As you might expect, each container for each product plays a key role in the industry, in the sense that the industry would be worse off without it.
First off, the containment of each product and the way we handle it play a direct correlation between it and each bundle. Furthermore, the subject of protection is probably at the front of it, since any bundle around a product protects it from light, moisture and heat, which are known to alter a product’s properties.
We also previously mentioned how important is for the product details to be displayed on each package. Well, without it, every pharmaceutical product manufacturer would be penalized to the point where the company wouldn’t be allowed to sell their products.
Material Requirements
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When determining the right materials used for the creation of each bundle around a specific product, lots of thought must go into the process due to multiple reasons.
First off, every manufacturer needs to take into account external factors such as heat, light, moisture, cold, etc. These factors can directly alter product properties if somehow pass through the packaging. So, the preferred material would need to be chemically resistant, heat resistant, moisture resistant, have some form of light and gas barrier, etc.
Furthermore, a company could test their packaging into so-called testing chambers. In these testing chambers, each package can be tested for various external factors, such as the ones mentioned earlier, to determine if the materials used can repel such external factors, according to experts in creating pharmaceutical product packagings at Inno4life.
Safety
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A clear and obvious reason as to why the industry employs such precautions is the fact that it adds a layer of safety. Children are known to be quite the explorers and discoverers, and they would put their hands on anything new.
Such could be the case when they come into contact with a pharmaceutical drug. If it wasn’t for the bundle around it, the first thing they would do is put it in their mouths, and we all know how pills or tablets could affect our younger ones.
It is precise because of the safety factor that manufacturing companies use such precautions. Furthermore, the subject of ease of use for adults is also a huge plus. Each product needs to put in containment that will be hard enough for children to bypass it and easy enough for adults.
It Helps Manufacturers Appeal to a Target Audience
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We mentioned that the packaging has nothing to do with aesthetics. Well, this was the case only mere decades ago, where each product would be put in a blank white bottle. Nowadays, as more and more people are entering the latter stages of life, they are in need of more products to help sustain themselves.
This, naturally, increases the demand for such products, and it increases the demand for clear labels that are senior-friendly. As elderly people have their sight worsen through time, these labels need to be clear enough so they could read them, even without glasses.
And while the subject of product information is indeed placed in a small corner of the packaging, the entire bundle must contain key information such as the product name, the pharmaceutical company that manufactures it, viable dosage, and some key ingredients.
This is but a simple criterion that every pharmaceutical company must follow, and by adhering to the criteria each one can increase brand perception and medication performance on the free market.
If a pharmaceutical company doesn’t manufacture senior-friendly packaging, they lose out of many benefits that come with competing on the free market.
Avara is a pharmaceutical contract manufacturing organization committed to developing a collaborative relationship with clients to produce quality products.
Types of Pharmaceutical Packaging
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Namely, there are three types when differentiating packaging such as:
· Primary
Primary bundling refers to the first packaging that completely envelops the drug and prevents any outside contact with it. This is probably the most important aspect and examples of it include strip, blister, etc.
· Secondary
Secondary refers to the boxes in which the product along with the primary packaging is placed. This is the type that gives the product the much-needed protection from external factors and a clear example would be a carton box.
· Tertiary
And lastly, the third type of packaging is used when transports the product in bulk from one place to another. This type is mostly used when shipping overseas, transporting in trucks, etc. A clear example would be containers, barriers, etc.