Counting Down the Top 10 Articles of 2020 - #9: Anti-Microbial Wrap Offers Promise

Join us as we look back at the most-read Healthcare Packaging stories of 2020. At #9, we cover research from McMaster University on a new wrap inspired by lotus leaves.

Dec 22nd, 2020

Inspired by the water-repellent lotus leaf, the wrap can be used as packaging or can be shrink-wrapped onto surfaces to fight the spread of MRSA, salmonella and more.

Inspired by the water-repellent lotus leaf, the wrap can be used as packaging or can be shrink-wrapped onto surfaces to fight the spread of MRSA, salmonella and more.

Photo by Georgia Kirkos (Courtesy McMaster University)

In our top 10 of 2020, we take a look back at a new plastic material—a treated form of plastic wrap—designed to repel bacteria.

It holds promise as a shrink wrap for covering hospital equipment, surfaces, and more, “preventing the transfer of antibiotic-resistant superbugs and other dangerous bacteria in settings ranging from hospitals to kitchens” according to McMaster University’s Brighter World.

You can even sneeze on it and virtually no bacteria will transfer...

Continue to the full article here: Anti-Microbial Wrap Offers Promise from Hospital to Kitchen

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ISTA Pharma Committee Technical Exchange: Oct. 5 and 12

The Oct 5 session will include an update on latest activities in temperature-controlled logistics (new glossary of terms, guidance document updates) and the Oct. 12 session will be an open industry discussion about trends, standard 20 and 7E.

The thermoformable barrier and seal layer are also heat-sealable.

Recyclable Paper Blister Wins German Packaging Award

The paper blister can be printed on both sides, and both base and lidding are recyclable. The design allows for the tablets to be pushed through the barrier layers without breaking.

Lidding Technology for Combination Products

Amcor launches a proprietary healthcare lidding technology designed for use with combination products—those consisting of two or more regulated components (device, drug, or biologic).

kpNext is kp’s blister packaging film that is designed to be recyclable in the RIC (Resin Identification Code) 1 stream.

Stream #1 Recyclable Pharma Blister: New Blister, Same Machines

This PET blister allows pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and consumer health companies to incorporate a recyclable package without slowing lines or purchasing new equipment.

Rejoice Plus 2021 Bottle Image Front

Before and After: OTC Liquid Bottle and Dosing Cap

The New York-based company sought new packaging that would boost patient adherence by adding a dosing cap to the top, and opted for a shorter bottle to make it easier to fit on medical carts.

Healthcare Packaging's Life Science Logistics Playbook

Healthcare Packaging's Life Science Logistics Playbook

Shipping temperature-controlled products? Get tips on preventing excursions and waste, developing a validation master plan, characterizing shipping lanes, and more.

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HexcelPack: Protective Paper-Based Wrapping System

See it at PACK EXPO Las Vegas at booth SU-8425! Used by the three leading U.S. retailers, HexcelWrap cushioning paper is designed to ensure product protection and packing simplicity, replacing environmentally-harmful alternatives.

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Summer Reading Series: User-Centered Design Articles to Catch Up On

Skipping vacation this week? Using your free time to brush up on what you missed? From home care kits and OTC packaging to changes in medical devices and machinery, here are five articles highlighting user-centered design in healthcare.

Key Pak & Ecoslide Blister Packs

Amid New Sustainability Guidelines and Increased Demand for Child-Resistant Pharmaceutical Blister Packaging, Keystone Folding Box Co. Sees Uptick in CR Blister Cards in India

Company sees India demand soar for Key-Pak® child-resistant, eco-conscious paperboard blister card.

Bepanthen Derma 3 Pump Bottles Pink Landscape

Bayer’s Rebrand for Bepanthen Medical Skincare Shifts Away 'Clinical' Perception

Bepanthen launched a new range of daily-use products for managing dry skin with new branding, packaging designs, typography, and illustrations.

5 Examples of Recycling Symbols on OTC Packages | E-comm Brand Adopts Durable Bottle with Subscription-Based Refill Format

Take Five Video: Healthcare packaging designers have to be creative with such small packaging, ensuring recycling symbols stand out but still fit and flow with the surrounding aesthetic. Also, coverage of Fatty15's packaging & subscription-based format.

Healthcare Packaging's Life Science Logistics Playbook

Healthcare Packaging's Life Science Logistics Playbook

Shipping temperature-controlled products? Get tips on preventing excursions and waste, developing a validation master plan, characterizing shipping lanes, and more.

Super Sani Cloth Softpack Launch

PDI Healthcare Launches Super Sani-Cloth® Wipes in a New Portable Package

New package format, ideal for daily use in fast-paced environments, saves 80% in packaging.

RRD launched Care Kits for patients and to help healthcare companies adapt to industry changes and demonstrate their commitment to member and patient wellness.

Care Kits Supplement Telehealth for Medicare Patients and More

57% of Americans with chronic conditions delayed healthcare and experienced a gap in care due to COVID-19, per a recent study. Aetna and other companies are shipping kits with specially curated products to offer self-care or supplement telehealth visits.

Available in sizes from 13.5-19mm for volumes from 3-8ml, the tubes utilize Neopac’s Polyfoil technology, providing protection against moisture, oxygen, and other potentially harmful external factors.

Neopac: Small Polyfoil Tube with Tamper-evident Nozzle

Produced at company’s USA facility, solution helps safeguard tubes for topical disinfectants, eye ointments & creams, and oral care products.

Healthcare products on shelves continue to reflect desires for stress relief and natural ingredients.

Annual Design Gallery Reflects ‘Natural’ and Calm Wishes

From our May/June issue: We take a look at what’s new in OTC design, plus news on the reshoring, traceability, and cannabis fronts.

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Annual OTC Package Design Gallery: Part 3

Each year, Healthcare Packaging evaluates an array of over-the-counter product packaging designs, assessing the pros and cons from a user perspective.

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Annual OTC Package Design Gallery: Part 2

Each year, Healthcare Packaging evaluates an array of over-the-counter product packaging designs, assessing the pros and cons from a user perspective.

Kids Stress Relief

Annual OTC Package Design Gallery: Part 1

Each year, Healthcare Packaging evaluates an array of over-the-counter product packaging designs, assessing the pros and cons from a user perspective.

The new lid has a snap feature that holds it tightly in place because a robotic arm grabs the tubs by the lid at the vaccine filling plant.

Rapid-Response Packaging Development Aids Distribution of COVID-19 Vaccines and Test Kits

Trays, inserts, tubs, and lids were developed in mere days, compared to the traditional weeks or months. The companies had to navigate shortages in resin supply due to COVID-19 and Texas storms.

More in Package design

The Peach Body Care refill system comes in plastic-free, refillable body lotion and body balm stick formats that utilize clean and vegan formulas with 100% natural fragrances.

Plastic-Free Deodorant & Body Care Refill System Launched

A reusable aluminum case from Grove Collaborative is refilled with deodorant and body care balm sticks, also packaged in aluminum.

A material change allows for a 20% reduction in material usage for HDPE Advil bottles while maintaining all critical performance characteristics of the bottle.

GSK’s Head of Sustainability on Advil Bottles’ 20% Plastic Reduction

The new material will reduce the amount of plastic in the environment by nearly 500,000 pounds. Sarah McDonald: “It was about seven years of work behind the scenes together with our partners on the materials side and on the manufacturing molding side.”

Degree Inclusive's pack design employs a hooked cap design and integral handle.

People with Limb, Vision Disabilities Gain Access with Inclusive Deodorant Pack Design

A revolutionary deodorant pack prototype from Unilever’s Degree brand, now in beta-testing in certain communities of people with disabilities, makes the deodorant application process much more accessible.

The package has been approved by the Chinese pharma companies Sinovac (Beijing) and Sinopharm (Wuhan) for use in their COVID-19 vaccine packaging.

Metsä Board’s Paperboard Protects COVID-19 Vaccines in China

The premium lightweight folding boxboard comes in two size options, for vaccine alone and vaccine with injector. Though lightweight, the product is sturdy thanks to the fiber used.

New AmSky blister system represents a child-resistant and senior-friendly (CRSF) recyclable pharmaceutical package free of PVC.

Amcor: Recyclable Blister Packaging

New AmSky blister system eliminates PVC from blister packaging–designed to enable healthcare customers to improve the recyclability of their packaging. The system represents a child-resistant and senior-friendly (CRSF) recyclable pharmaceutical package.

Carton Service: Eco-Friendly Line of Cartons

Helping revolutionize the Packaging Industry, Carton Service is introducing a renewable line of packaging with their Cartons 4R Earth line.

Polyfoil is a proprietary blend of materials providing advanced barrier properties for products requiring ample protection against potentially harmful external factors, including moisture and oxygen.

Neopac: Polyfoil Dropper Tube System for Vegan Vitamin D Product

Tube Packaging for Luce D3 from Streuli Pharma offers exemplary barrier protection, metered dosing and easy-to-handle portability.

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ASTM International Honors PAXXUS CEO with Award of Merit

Dhuanne Dodrill, CEO of PAXXUS, has been honored by ASTM International for her efforts in medical packaging.

Could FDA's ASCA program save submission time and boost pre-market testing consistency in the medical device industry?

Demystifying FDA’s ASCA on Biocompatibility for Expedited Review

Live from MD&M BIOMEDigital: Medical device manufacturers can potentially speed review by testing to recognized standards performed at accredited labs.

The SentiAR Wearable Command Center is an interprocedural augmented reality (AR) system—with the user interface built off the Microsoft HoloLens—that enables the electrophysiologist to model the heart.

Medical Product Changes Stemming from User Centered Design

Live from MD&M BIOMEDigital: a startup, a consultancy, and a large brand owner talk about how interacting with end users changed their medical device and machinery designs.

Communicating acceptance criteria with your lab is key in mechanical testing of passive shippers.

Mechanical Testing for Passive Thermal Coolers: Practical Q&A for Life Sciences

Live from ISTA’s TempPack: Experts discuss acceptance criteria guidance, payload selection, actual product versus placebo, testing multiple product configurations, and more.

An exploded view of the Fatty 15 starter kit demonstrates the use of corrugated inserts to safely handle a glass bottle through the many-touchpoint e-comm channel in a compact format without extra space or the need for dunnage.

Subscription D2C Supplement Brand Makes Sustainable Impression at Unboxing

A new-to-science fatty acid supplement promises to improve longevity. Seraphina Therapeutics created a sustainability-minded D2C packaging and unboxing experience to align with and amplify the discovery.