What exactly are the difference between tertiary packaging and its primary and secondary counterparts? Ask pharmaceutical repackaging company Co-Packer and we’ll tell you that primary packaging is what contains the product, actually coming into contact with it (so the lid, glass bottle, blister pack and so on), while secondary packaging is used for the branding and display of said product.

Why Tertiary packaging?

But just what is tertiary packaging and why is it so necessary? Quite simply, this is used for the protection and shipping of a particular product and any company that ships anything will use this in its distribution process.

This is clearly of great importance in a sector like the pharmaceutical industry because the nature of the primary packaging can often be incredibly fragile and needs appropriate protection during transit. As such, selecting the right kind of tertiary packaging for healthcare distribution can be tricky and you need to get it right from the outset… or it could prove very costly indeed.

You should ensure that a risk assessment is carried out with a technical planning approach so you know you’re selecting the very best materials for the job in hand. Assess the physical and chemical makeup of the products, as well as any transportation risks that may arise, so as to choose the right protective packaging.

Smart packaging

These days, thanks to technology, it’s also possible to make use of smart packaging that comes with active data logging devices that can track deviations from temperature range and record shocks, vibrations and hazards that could have an impact on the product. You may hear this referred to as ‘rescue packaging’, with the ability to raise the alarm if needed.

It can be tempting to be overly cautious when packaging fragile high-value items and materials, which can result in bulky packaging with lots of components that increases transportation costs.

Look into the likes of polyurethane which can be moulded into different thicknesses and shapes for better insulation, as well as vacuum insulated panels – airtight enclosures that are excellent insulators, although they are more expensive but can be reused.

If you’d like to find out more about any of the above, get in touch with us at Co-Packer today to see how we can assist you with your pharmaceutical packaging needs.