Have you ever noticed the different types of packaging in the room at your doctor’s office? How about the packaging of cold medicine or medicated wipes offered at your local pharmacies? There’s a good chance it was flexible packaging! Commonly used in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries, flexible packaging is making a name for itself. Here are some of the most common items you can find!
Medical Devices
The packaging used for medical devices ensures that the device remains sterile until it’s used. It’s a critical part of reducing the occurrence of infections and improving patient outcomes. Flexible formats that are used in hospitals, surgical centers, and doctors’ offices today include:
- Barrier pouches for stents, absorbable sutures, surgical tools, and other critical devices;
- Formed, three-dimensional flexible packages used for sterile surgeons’ gloves, surgical drapes, and gauze;
- Barrier flow wrap for diagnostics kits such as pregnancy tests and drug screening.
Pharmaceuticals
Flexible packaging has also become prevalent within the pharmaceutical industry. Flexible packaging protects capsules, tablets, and other drugs from oxygen and moisture, ensuring that their efficacy is maintained until the time of use. Some of the most common forms include:
- Blister packs used for tablets and capsules;
- IV bags filled with saline or other fluids and medications;
- Barrier pouches for pre-filled syringes.
Flexible packaging offers many benefits for products used in the medical and pharmaceutical industries. Not only does it protect products and extend shelf-life, it also uses less energy to manufacture, reduces shipping costs and sends less materials to landfills. Interested in learning more about flexible packaging and its sustainability benefits? Check out our resources here.
