Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1349974
Tablets & Capsules March/April 2021 31 push-through foil or foil-laminated film. The formed base material and the lidding material are heat sealed, creating a perimeter binding that seals each individual product in its own protective cavity. While using foil material is easy when packaging dietary supplements into pouches, it can present a challenge when packaging in blisters. Some blister machines can handle foil as both the base material and the lidding material, although it is more common to use a plastic material as the base material and a push-through foil as the lidding material. considering the end user's experience with the product and conducting a cost-benefit analysis of each package type, as well as the materials available. Pouches Pouches are the standard in the food industry for pack- aging powders, granules, and certain solids. Pharmaceutical and nutraceutical companies often choose pouches for tablets, capsules, and other single-dose products. Pouch packaging has become popular because it offers a small waste stream footprint at low cost and with minimal to no tooling. Pouches provide ample space for printing high-quality graphics and necessary regulatory information. A multitude of products in various sizes and consistencies can be easily and efficiently packaged in a pouch. Pouch packaging is tremendously versatile, with a num- ber of film choices, seal alternatives, and printing options. Contract packagers specialize in understanding the best materials and techniques for packaging specific products. Choosing the best packaging material for a product often requires a cost-benefit determination. Manufacturers want the most attractive, functional, and inexpensive packag- ing design and material. However, an increasing num- ber of products contain ingredients that are sensitive to environmental conditions, which means that protecting the product must be integral to the packaging design and material selection. Pouch packaging can be tailored to suit special opening requirements, such as easy opening, child proofing, or the ability to reseal. For example, paper laminations do not require an opening notch but also don't allow for resealing. Special folding and tear notches offer child proofing. Sealant layers can improve the containment of a dusty product. Choosing the correct film for your product and applica- tion is essential. Moisture and oxygen are two significant shelf-life concerns. For products that are moisture sensitive or may be stored in wet or humid environments, a polyeth- ylene terephthalate (PET) surface layer with over-varnish to lock in the print may be your best option. Paper pouch film with foil also provides extra product protection. Most manufacturers tend to focus on moisture, but often oxygen, or the oxidation process, is what breaks down some dietary supplement active ingredients. D-ribose, for example, is used in many dietary supplements for its energy enhancing properties. However, it is hygroscopic, and moisture can cause it to change color after just six hours of exposure. Also, when D-ribose is in solid-form products, such as mint tablets, the tablets will soften after six hours of exposure to a moist environment. The safest approach to moisture and oxidation protection is to use packaging materials that have a foil layer, because foil allows almost no oxygen or moisture to enter the package. Blister packs Typically, blister packs for foods and pharmaceuti- cals are formed by pairing a base material with cavities or pockets that hold products with a lidding material such as Photo 1: Pouches provide ample space for printing high-quality graphics and necessary regulatory information. Photo 2: Pouch packaging can be tailored to suit special opening requirements, such as easy opening, child proofing, or the ability to reseal.