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3 Benefits of Flexible Packaging for Shipping Medical Supplies

Flexible packaging helps manufacturers strike a critical balance between durability and ease of use, whether shipping for COVID-19 or standard healthcare supply chains.

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Efforts to ramp up testing amid the coronavirus pandemic have shone a rare spotlight on an unsung hero of the supply chain: the packaging manufacturer. For several months now, I have seen immense commitment from packaging line operators to produce flexible packaging materials to help address the nationwide demand for coronavirus test kits and other medical supplies.

Individuals and companies along the supply chain have stepped up to the challenge, giving medical suppliers pause to reflect on lessons learned to move the industry forward. One positive outcome has been a resurgence in the recognition and appreciation of flexible packaging advantages in the medical industry. But what makes materials like DuPont Tyvek medical packaging, medical-grade papers, polyethylene, polypropylene, and other materials such a good fit for packaging and distributing medical supplies? Read on to explore three benefits of flexible packaging in the medical space. 

1.    Suitable for sterilization

Medical supply products must be delivered sterile to even be considered for use, meaning that packaging design is just as critical as product design. Flexible packaging has evolved over time to hold up well under two of the most prominent sterilization agents for medical supplies: ethylene oxide (ETO) and gamma radiation. Because of flexible packaging’s unique breathability, it lines up well with the process of flushing ETO into the packaging and pulling it back out. With gamma sterilization, you don’t need breathability, but you need materials that can pass through the process without becoming brittle or yellowed. Flexible packaging checks both of those boxes.

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