Pharmaceutical products, like vaccines and medicines, are carefully formulated using advanced production techniques. Since they are directly related to public health, these products must be protected from external factors. Storing them at a specific temperature away from heat and moisture is the best practice. Therefore, the pharmaceutical industry requires a comprehensive and feasible packaging solution to transport the products from the manufacturer to the consumer in ideal conditions.
As these products hold more consumer health value, there are various regulations regarding pharmaceutical packaging boxes.
Good Storage Practices for Pharma Products
Annex 9[1] of the World Health Organisation’s Good Storage Practices proposes high-quality measures to standardise the storage and transportation of pharmaceutical products. Here is a detailed list of all the relevant articles that guide pharmaceutical suppliers about storing these products:
- 4.11 – They should be handled and stored to prevent mix-ups and cross-contamination.
- 5.5 – All products should be stored in containers that do not adversely affect their quality. They should also offer adequate protection from external influences. In some circumstances, this can include bacterial contamination.
- 7.1 – They should be appropriately transported to maintain their integrity and storage conditions.
- 7.6 – The outside container should offer adequate protection from all external influences and be indelibly and clearly labelled.
These guidelines dictate that the pharmaceutical packaging material should be of the highest quality so that all good practices are followed.
Packaging-Related Risks and Challenges
Contamination
Environmental factors like bacteria, particulate matter, and gases can contaminate pharmaceutical products. Microbial contamination is particularly harmful to biological products such as antibiotics and vaccines, while particulate matter and oxygen can alter a drug’s chemical composition.
Product Degradation
Medicines must be protected from moisture, light, and temperature fluctuations, which can cause degradation and make them unfit for use. This can lead to significant losses for the company.
Packaging Failures
Shocks and impacts during transportation often cause medicine vials to break. Such incidents can lead to leaks, requiring shipments to be recalled. Durable, impact-resistant packaging is essential to prevent damage.
Thermocol/EPS Packaging Solutions: An Ideal Way to Mitigate The Risks
The ideal way to prevent all the risks above is to use thermocol boxes to transport medicines and vaccines. These solutions will help you comprehend the importance of pharmaceutical packaging.
- Protecting the Product: EPS packaging ensures the product’s integrity and prevents spoiling. Long-term protection increases the drug’s shelf life. The packaging protects the products from both natural and human interference.
- Ensuring Safety: Thermocol packaging contributes to medication safety, efficacy and quality. Physical factors like light, moisture, and temperature have negligent effects on the products when protected with EPS.
- Preventing Contamination: EPS packaging protects pharmaceuticals from contamination and keeps them aseptic. Its barrier properties prevent external contaminants from entering the products.
- Tamper-evident protection: Pharmaceutical packaging boxes made from EPS prevent the use of counterfeit medications. Well-protected packages ensure that the products are not pilfered and tampered with. They also provide smooth inspection processes.
Successful Thermocol Packaging Solutions
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for reliable pharmaceutical packaging material became more critical than ever, especially for vaccines that are extremely sensitive to environmental conditions. Shipping these life-saving vaccines across the globe over long distances required packaging that could ensure their integrity throughout the journey.
At K. K. Nag, we stepped up to this challenge, providing high-quality thermocol (Expanded Polystyrene or EPS) packaging solutions. Understanding the urgency of protecting vaccines from contamination, temperature changes and physical impacts, we supplied pharmaceutical packaging boxes that safeguarded the Covishield vaccines during transit. Our packaging played a crucial role in ensuring the vaccines arrived safely at their destinations, helping to save millions of lives around the world.
Our expertise in EPS solutions allowed us to contribute meaningfully during this critical time. The thermocol boxes we provided minimised the risks of product degradation and packaging failures, ensuring that vaccines remained effective throughout the supply chain. The success of these efforts during the pandemic showcases the reliability of thermocol packaging and our commitment at K. K. Nag to provide support during this health crisis with premium, protective packaging solutions.
Pharma Packaging – The Best Way!
If you are looking for a reliable packaging solution for your pharmaceutical products, consider using thermocol boxes. Contact K. K. Nag, the best pharmaceutical packaging manufacturer, today to learn more about thermocol packaging solutions!
References:
- WHO Technical Report Series, No. 908, 2003, World Health Organisation. Available at: https://www.fda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/World-Health-Organization-Good-Storage-Practices.pdf
