Pharma and medical device packaging

1. How it looks

Pharmaceuticals and medical devices are often sold over the counter or online. This means that the packaging must be attractive and appealing. The packaging has to stand out from competitive brands.

A hygienic and attractive appeal is achieved through shape and its surface graphics. For pharmaceutical packaging and design and medical packaging, the paperboard's whiteness, smoothness and surface finish is critical. A good contrast between the surface of the paperboard and the print is required to achieve a good graphical presentation, with sharp half-tone illustrations and clear text for product information. The graphical presentation calls for fresh fibres. So does the hygienic appeal, which is enhanced by a white or cream reverse side. Together with selected coating ingredients, the use of fresh fibres ensures good light stability and prevents fading.

The paperboard must also be able to handle techniques like embossing, foiling, debossing, as well as folding. Learn more about different techniques here 

2. What it should do

A strong paperboard is required to keep pharmaceutical cartons secure from physical hazards in distribution, storage and handling. The integrity of the product can be ensured by incorporating a tamper-evident feature in the package design. The protection characteristics must last as long as they are needed. Often the cartons are in use until the contents are all used or consumed. In such circumstances, it is opened and closed many times. This requires the closures to withstand handling without failing in function or appearance. Preservation of aroma and flavour may also be necessary. Additionally, the whiteness must remain over time.

Choose the right size and shape of the packaging to accommodate your product effectively. 

3. How it’s manufactured

Important protective characteristics of paperboard for medical packaging and medical device packaging are folding endurance and compression strength. Good creasing and gluing properties ensure a strong carton. A smooth surface provides for ease of handling. It also provides good rub and abrasion resistance, thereby preserving the graphical presentation. Product safety, where the product is packed in contact with, or near, the paperboard, is achieved by the use of pure virgin fibres and validated by meeting internationally accepted standards of safety, e.g. BGVV approval and good manufacturing practice standards like ISO 9000 and RAL-pharm.

The cartons are usually rectangular in cross-section, with tuck-in-flap closures. The base may be crash-locked in style to give adequate strength. Exclusive products are often hand-packed, whereas high-volume products are packed through mechanically assisted operations, sometimes at high speed. The cartons are usually provided with the side seam glued for erection, filling and closing. The packaging machines require low creasing resistance and low carton opening force.

4. How sustainable is it

Sustainable medicine packaging and medical device boxes are becoming increasingly important. Consumers want to know that the packaging is recyclable and eco-friendly. Regulatory changes are also creating new demands.

To meet these demands, many pharma companies are setting ambitious targets. They want the raw material to come from sustainably managed forests. That the energy used during manufacturing is renewable. And that the pharma or medical device carton can be recycled or composted. Choosing the right paperboard and working with a suitable design material will reduce your carbon footprint significantly.

5. How it fits into your strategic supply chain

Deciding what paperboard to choose for your medtech or pharma packaging also means finding out that it will work within your total supply chain. And that covers every step from manufacturing and transportation to warehousing and points of sale.

Today, premium brands spend much effort on building data and analytics capabilities, ensuring they have the right resources and program management in place to have a complete supply chain, both on regional and global levels. That way, they can ensure that paperboard for medical device packaging is available where they are needed.