Origin has over half a century of experience in creating state-of-the-art packaging solutions for the pharmaceutical industry. In a sector that is ever-changing in terms of demand, specific needs, and risks, we’ve held our position at the forefront of research, development, and design. Consequently, we can ensure that every product supplied not only responds to current requirements, but also anticipates developing trends.

In the blog below, we discuss the future of primary packaging in the pharmaceutical industry and how Origin is adapting to its ever-changing needs.

The Importance of Quality Pharmaceutical Packaging

Primary packaging is the first pharmaceutical packaging material to come into direct contact with the contents, such as plastic bottle packaging, glass bottle packaging, dispensers, and packaging closures. Whilst the pharmaceutical product itself must be of the highest quality, it’s only as pure and trustworthy as the material that shields it. The same applies to security and safety, as the primary packaging is crucial to preventing damage, leakage, and tampering.

Origin’s Ongoing Development of Primary Packaging

Origin invests substantial time and resources into the continued development and testing of our packaging, guaranteeing that each individual item can withstand a range of logistical stages and storage environments, keeping the contents precisely as intended.

Over a prolific company history, our experts have devised, tried, tested, and evaluated thousands of ideas, designs, and processes. This follows our P.I.L System (Product. Intelligence. Learn.), which allows our Sales, Marketing and Operations departments to collaborate intensely. Through this cooperative process, we establish the exact specifications that will enable smooth and reliable packaging and distribution activity, all the way from conceptualisation to consumption.

The Future of Primary Packaging in the Pharmaceutical Industry

The continually evolving needs of society mean that primary packaging in the pharmaceutical industry needs to move in line with, and even in advance of, these. Below, we explore some of the ways in which expectations for packaging may change in the future, as well as how our innovative products at Origin are adapting ahead of these.

Sustainable Packaging

Though sustainable packaging in the pharmaceutical industry is of clear importance, there lies the problem that any new substitutes are able to maintain the strict safety, efficacy, and compliance standards required for pharmaceutical products. This is what makes it difficult to simply replace plastic with more sustainable alternatives.

However, the advancement in sustainable pharmaceutical packaging is accelerating. At Origin, we have a variety of recently developed products that keep both the planet and the stringent, practical needs of the pharmaceutical industry equally at the forefront. These products include:

• Bio-based resin: Our bio-based resin is derived from agricultural crop waste and is fully biodegradable and compostable. This material is suitable for injection moulding and for many applications, including caps, spoons, boxes, and closures.
  
• Paper-based packaging: Our paper-based packaging solutions offer fully renewable, recyclable, and compostable options for businesses. Being both practical and sustainable, these are formed using compression moulding and can be enhanced with moisture-resistant coatings. These materials are useful for a variety of purposes, including jars, caps, trays, and clamshells.
  
• Ocean polymers: Reducing plastic pollution in marine environments, our ocean polymers are made from materials collected in coastal regions, which are at risk from pollution. These recyclable materials are processed into FDA and food-grade polymer formats, with a diversified polymer portfolio for a variety of applications. Just some of these include plastic bottles, closures, and containers.
  
• Cellulose fibre closures: These bio-based caps are made from renewable cellulose fibre and are fully recyclable with paper streams. As a drop-in replacement for 38mm and 45mm closures, these caps are compatible with standard jars and ideal for dry goods, nutraceuticals, and supplements.
  

The Ever-Present Need of Child-Resistant Packaging

It’s safe to say that with an expanding global customer base, interference from unregulated organisations on the rise, and even child intelligence naturally increasing, our journey has no end. There’s always something that can be improved in order to combat possible threats and detrimental shifts, so we have our in-house experts continuously reviewing our products and the market, as well.

Regarding child safety, our child-resistant packaging is second to none. We collaborate closely with the Child Safe Packaging Group (CSPG) to understand, recognise and respond to children’s needs, contributing to the avoidance of over 40 million accidental ingestions through superlative safeguarding techniques. This means that when you or a healthcare worker administers an Origin-protected product to a minor, you can rest assured that it has remained in a safe and sterile condition since leaving the production line.

Smart Packaging

As the connection between the physical and digital worlds strengthens with advancing technology, this also holds true for pharmaceutical packaging, which can be enhanced with technology to deliver a more convenient and useful user experience.

To advance the broader adoption of smart packaging, we conducted a range of beta and UEX tests to simulate the use of our concept-connected packaging. We developed a small batch of prototype digital packaging products with a small, independent power source, with a focus on their safe and reliable inclusion.

By developing smart packaging products such as these that are compatible with Bluetooth, NFC, and other internet connections, our packaging solutions adapt to the continually evolving, online-centric functionality that patients will not only benefit from but may even come to expect as standard in the future.

Forward-Thinking Packaging Solutions at Origin

At Origin, we develop and produce a range of pharmaceutical packaging and lifestyle product packaging products that not only meet today’s consumer needs but also those of the future.If you’d like to learn more about our various packaging solutions and how we can work with you to produce future-ready packaging products that specifically meet your requirements, get in touch with us today, and we can discuss your ideal solution in greater depth.