Active and Passive packaging are specialized packaging that provides a temperature-controlled environment for various purposes such as transporting pharmaceutical products. They prevent affecting the pharma products from environmental conditions that are not suitable for medicines such as Hot and Cold temperatures.
It is normal for medicines and other pharma products to contain material that depends on specific temperature conditions for their optimum performance. If the required temperature deviates from the desired levels, pharma products lose efficacy.
In the manufacturing facility, the temperature is accurately maintained by utilizing different systems such as HVAC and Cleanroom technology. However, as the product is finished and dispatched to the destination, temperature control during transportation becomes difficult.
Temperature control containers are used to provide the desired environmental conditions during transportation. These containers can control the temperature of the inside environment to match the product-specific requirement.
There are two types of temperature-controlled packaging used in transporting medicines and pharma products – Active and Passive packaging. The division of these types of pharmaceutical packaging is based on the method of temperature control inside a packaging.
Active Packaging
Active packaging is the type that uses some external form of controlling techniques to maintain the desired temperature. The temperature can be retained as long as the control mechanism works satisfactorily, without time limitation. Since active packaging requires an external system to maintain the temperature, these are expensive Packaging systems.
Active packaging systems can provide both heating and cooling, depending upon the product requirements. The cooling and heating methods typically rely on the size and application of the packaging container.
Electrical heaters most often provide heating. Power is required for the heaters to operate and is provided by battery packs. The external power supply can also be used, where available.
Cooling is often provided with refrigeration systems that require electrical power to operate. Some variants of refrigeration systems also use fuel power to manage.
Advantages of Active Packaging
An active packaging system is costly and requires many resources to acquire and operate. However, obvious advantages give them an edge over other packaging systems. Let’s look at some benefits of Active Packaging in the pharmaceutical industry
Higher Temperature Accuracy and Stability
Active packaging has higher temperature accuracy than passive packaging. The use of temperature control techniques enables them to maintain the desired levels inside the packaging in all environmental conditions such as Extreme Hot or Cold weather. This is a critical factor because, during transportation, the packaging has to go through regions of different climatic conditions that can affect the temperature levels inside the packaging. Additionally, some medicines such as bioproducts cannot tolerate even a slight deviation in the storage conditions. Active packaging through specialized techniques can maintain the medicine's favorable conditions with higher accuracy and stability.
Accurate Temperature Management
Active packaging systems can self-adjust internal temperature in response to changing temperature outside. The temperature adjustment can be made automatically without human involvement by using different components such as Monitoring Sensors and Main Controller.
Long duration and Long distances
Active packaging can handle the transportation of pharma products on longer routes without affecting product efficacy and properties. Temperature control techniques can maintain the desired environmental levels without any time limit, as long as the system works satisfactorily.
Similarly, features of active packaging can also be used to transport medicines on longer distances without affe...
(All Rights Reserved)