Jayanti Sawant, Consultant,Pharma Packaging Development, examines the transformation that is undergoing in the pharma packaging industry and explores its future path
Packaging technology with respect to pharma sector goes hand in hand with product development and supply chains. Its presence is felt constantly until the consumption of the drug by the patient or end-user. Hence, patient compliance is the most significant criteria of any packaging solution.
The scenario in this sector is fast changing with a growing market, globalisation, evolving regulatory requirements, competition and revolutions in digital technology like artwork management softwares, track and trace, QR codes, RFID, anti-counterfeiting measures, tamper-evident measures etc.
To understand the evolution and today’s scenario, it is important to review how technology has changed and evolved over time.
Image 1 – PVC blister combipack
1. Traditional blister pack to Combipack (Refer Image 1 &2 -catering to patient compliance and product protection and ease of transportation ) The best eg. Birth control pills.)
Image 2 -Alu /Alu blister pack
2. Looking at bottles, right from heavy glass to light weight plastic bottles, one can identify many changes, right from glass packs to plastic bottles, to changes within the glass bottles.
Pic used for representational purpose
The adaption or transition from traditional packs to current days’ pack has the following:
Benefits galore
Reduced transportation cost
Product safety and efficacy enhanced as breakages during transit reduced drastically with light weight plastic
Aesthetics of the pack for enhanced brand image
Ease of handling during operations
Customer compliance – ease of opening the cap of plastic bottle vs glass bottle
The modern packaging industry is under huge pressure to constantly evolve to meet new environmental standards and to create products that are lighter in weight than their
predecessors, meet customer compliance.
This amazing transformation has taken place over years gradually and packaging technologists have played a vital role from conception of the product to commercialisation.
The milk market and dairy products are a perfect example of this transformation
In 1980, milk bottles were made of glass and mostly delivered to the doorstep by milkmen. From glass bottle to plastic bottles to tetra packs, the journey has been fast evolving.
Traditional milk packs
3. The plastic revolution (mid-1980s and early-1990s)
Plastic was perfect because it was lighter, so it could be transported easier, and it had the ability to be made even lighter still with the right technology. Not only that, but it didn’t break as easily, and it was compatible with many formulations as well.
The medicines in glass, tablets as mini bulk packs were seen in PVC blisters, HDPE bottles with child resistant caps. To that end, we have seen high density polyethylene (HDPE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) become key to success.
Tetra pack – Reality today
Need for evolution
These re-engineering developments have expanded the job responsibilities of a packaging technologist.
This modification took place gradually, with enormous impetus in last 10 years due to digital technology.
Today, packaging technology is an independent cell. Decades ago it was a mere day to day function of QC, today it’s an active department in the industry playing vital role in all developments and acts as the centre point of coordination during all the new developments.
Functions of packaging
Packaging performs five basic functions:
To protect a product from damage or contamination
The product must be protected against being dropped, crushed, and the vibration it
suffers during transport.
The product must also be protected against the climate, including high temperatures, humidity, light and gases in the air.
To contain or hold the product and to avoid spillage or leakage during various stages of production and till it reaches the end user and he/she consumes it effectively.
To identify the p...
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