Packaging is the coordinated system of preparing goods for transport, storage and consumption by the end-user. An appropriate packaging material should protect the capsules from environmental conditions, should be non-toxic, should not react with the product, should not impart taste or odor to the product and should meet the required tamper resistance.
There are three types of packaging; primary, secondary and tertiary packaging. Primary packaging is the material that is in contact with the capsule. Secondary packaging is outside the primary packaging and is used to store primary packages together. Tertiary packaging is used for bulk handling of products during shipping and storage.
For the primary packaging of capsules, I would recommend the use of blister packaging. Blister packaging is normally used in to package small consumer goods. This type of packaging is made up of two primary contents known as cavity and lidding. The cavity holds the product and the lidding seals it. It is important to select the most suitable package regarding property, grade and thickness. The best material for use in cavities for capsules is Polyvinylidene Chloride (PVDC). The material is used as a blister coating it significantly reduces gas and moisture permeability (Mills). The material also has good thermoformability; its weight can be adjusted to suit the required measures, non-toxic, and transparent.
The lidding should be a push-through type made of aluminium. This is because aluminium has proven process ability qualities; provide optimal barrier properties and high performance ensured by optimized sealing.
For the secondary packaging paper with a liner coating should be used. The benefit of using paper is that they are seen as renewable sources, unlike petroleum and metal based products. Tertiary packaging is normally a palletized unit load that fits tightly inside containers.
Works cited
Mills, Simon. Pharmaceutical Packaging – An Overview Including Some Considerations for Paediatrics Pharmaceutical Packaging – an Overview Including Some Considerations for Paediatrics. N.p.: World Health Organization, 2008. Web. 26 Mar. 2016.
