Do’s and Don’ts in Choosing Packaging Materials and Storage Solutions for Pharmaceutical Products

Among all the industries served by logistics and professional packaging materials suppliers, the pharma industry has specific requirements and restrictions. Its products are among the most sensitive and highly regulated at worldwide level – and justly so.

Keeping the Business of Healthcare Alive

Medicines, vaccines and various medical devices and consumables are at the heart of healthcare, no pun intended. These products cure diseases and help chronically ill people maintain a normal lifestyle as much as possible. Thus, pharma products are faced with double restrictions: they are products for human consumption (orally, or by injecting) and they have specific curative properties which require specific storage and handling conditions.

For packaging materials producers like Logistic Packaging, working with customers in the pharmaceutical industry is both a challenge and an honor. We truly appreciate the trust placed in us and the fact that, one way or another, we contribute to the proper functioning of the healthcare system.

Best Practices and Mistakes to Avoid When Storing and Shipping Pharma Products

One of the key factors which cause pharma products to become unsuitable for use is the period spent in storage and transit from the warehouse to the pharmacy. Any mistake in choosing the packaging materials, storage and handling solution can damage these sensitive products beyond salvage.

These are the top do’s and don’ts in storing and shipping medicines and other pharma products:

DON’T: Place the Products Directly on the Floor

Despite the existence of primary packaging, pharma products can become contaminated when they are placed directly on the floor. Liquids, dust, or even contamination from other spilled medicines will cause the entire batch of products to be sent to a specialized facility for disposal.

DO: Use Cleanroom Pallets at All Times

Cleanroom pallets are a special range of plastic pallets created especially for the pharma and food industries. They have a simple design with smooth surfaces and without angles or tight spaces where dust, dirt, and liquids can accumulate over time. These hygienic pallets are easy to clean and sanitize, sturdy and can be safely used for the entire journey of pharma products from the production line to the pharmacy shelves.

DON’T: Store Pharma Products in Fragile and Inadequate Packaging

Cardboard boxes are not safe packaging materials for pharmaceuticals, even for the short trip in a van between a local storage hub and the pharmacy. Glass vials can break when the van encounters a bump in the road. Other products may spill over the unhygienic floor of the van, because cardboard is a fragile material, which tears easily.

DO: Use Specialized Distribution Totes for Transporting Pharma Products

Nestable boxes with lids for the pharma industry were designed and manufactured precisely for this type of sensitive products. They offer optimal protection from shocks, vibration, dust, spillage, etc. so that pharma products arrive at the destination in excellent conditions.

DON’T: Transport Pharma Products at Higher Temperatures Than Specified

Pharma products which need to be maintained at a specific temperature are highly sensitive. Even a few minutes in inadequate environment are enough to damage them. There is no such thing as “just a quarter of an hour on the road” when it comes to the proper storage of these products.

DO: Use Thermo Insulating Containers

Neopor inner containers maintain a steady temperature of 2⁰-8⁰ C for up to 16 hours. This type of packaging materials is the right choice for any product which bear temperature restrictions among the list of storage and transport conditions.

DON’T: Leave Pharma Products Unprotected During Long Distance Shipping

Tampering of medicines is one of the worst nightmares for the pharma industries. Such things occur and they may hurt a company’s reputation forever. When pharma products travel overseas and through various checkpoints, the risk of tampering is always present.

DO: Secure Pharmaceuticals with Anti-Tampering RFID Seals

A key accessory for packaging materials developed for the pharma industry, RFID chips help secure the lid and indicate in future data readings whether the lid was opened by an unauthorized person. This simple accessory can save the reputation of your company and help mitigate losses caused by damaged products.

Share