The critical role of packaging in the pharmaceutical industry

PVC alone or in combination with polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), aluminium, chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE), or oriented polyamide nylon (OPA) holds a market share of almost 100% in medical blister packaging. There are several reasons for this dominance:

Low permability

PVC has good chemical resistance and low permeability to oils, fats, and flavoring ingredients. When combined with PVDC, gas and moisture permeability is reduced significantly compared to uncoated PVC. This coating is critical for maintaining the integrity and shelf life of pharmaceutical products. Other coatings, like PVC/CTFE, offer even lower water-vapor permeability. For medications requiring the utmost protection, a combination of OPA/aluminium/PVC is chosen.

High safety

PVC is an inert, non-toxic material. When formulated for pharmaceutical applications, it does not interact with medications, ensuring their safety and efficacy. With decades of use in pharmaceutical packaging, PVC has a proven safety profile and meets various international regulatory standards for drug packaging.

Excellent thermoformability

PVC's ease of processing into various shapes makes it highly adaptable for different medication forms. When used for blisters, PVC is formulated without plasticisers. Despite the lack of softening agents, the plastic is highly flexible.

Compatibility with other materials

PVC can be easily laminated or coated with other materials to enhance its barrier properties or for other functional reasons. For instance, a layer of PVDC can be added to improve the barrier against moisture and gases.

Cost-efficiency

In contrary to other polymers, PVC is primarily made from chlorine derived from table salt. PVC thus consumes less fossil-based primary energy and is more cost-efficient than alternatives.

Recyclability

Rigid PVC can be recycled 8 to 10 times without loss of technical properties. 

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