Veterinary medications are fragile items requiring specialized packaging to transport and store safely. The need for specialized packaging stems from the unique needs of these medications, which arise from the demands of each distinct animal and, in some cases, owners.
Custom animal healthcare packaging takes various approaches in responding to particular needs. For instance, biologics and vaccines are put in temperature-sensitive packaging during transportation to ensure they get to users in the best condition. In addition to environmental conditions, other requirements to consider for veterinary medication packaging include:
- Sizes
- Dosage
- Animal type
- Location, etc.
The Role of Tailored Packaging
Tailored, or custom, packaging is crucial for veterinary medications, especially those meant to serve remote areas. These pet medication packaging solutions often aim to balance functionality and safety, as both are essential to their usefulness.
Ensure Medication Effectiveness
Veterinary medications can be compromised during several supply chain stages, leading to new risks for the animals they are intended for. Proper packaging, such as storing medications requiring temperature control in insulated containers during transport, can reduce this risk.
Other top packaging solutions include using UV-blocking materials or moisture barriers within containers to preserve the quality of sensitive medications. Tamper-proof features like seals and breakaway caps ensure medication integrity throughout and minimize the likelihood of accidental misuse.
Improves Compliance
Like human medications work, veterinary healthcare materials are subject to industry standards that must be complied with at all times. Typical requirements include clear labeling on containers with pictograms to help users distinguish between medications for different animals or treatment stages.
Regulatory compliance in veterinary packaging also extends to child-safe and pet-safe designs, which aim to prevent accidental ingestion by children or animals.
Aligns with Regulatory Standards
Packaging trends in veterinary medicine are often dictated by regulatory standards instead of individual innovations. Most countries have dedicated government agencies that ensure that veterinary medication packaging meets safety and environmental considerations.
You should note regulatory standards such as labeling guidelines for information such as withdrawal times for livestock medication. Environmental concerns are also causing shifts towards eco-friendly materials and sustainable practices, some strictly enforced in certain countries.
The Benefits of Custom Packaging for Veterinary Medications
Interestingly, the demand for custom packaging for veterinary medications is not new. It has been a staple of the industry for a long time, and innovations tend to matter little.
Very often, innovations are borne out of the need to fulfill a need, some of which were highlighted earlier. In the same vein, custom packaging is borne out of the need for one or more of the following.
Convenience
The first need custom packaging often aims to meet is convenience. While other benefits may be appealing at some point, convenience usually trumps them when dealing with veterinary medications. This is why custom packaging solutions like pre-measured doses and easy-to-use designs are highly appealing in the industry.
Sustainability
Sustainability is often a concern, leading to the adoption of more eco-friendly veterinary packaging. Custom packaging that aims to satisfy this need includes size-specific containers tailored to accommodate different dosage forms. One could hold chewable tablets for dogs or large-volume liquids for chickens, ensuring that waste is reduced as much as possible.
Innovative Trends in Custom Packaging for Veterinary Medications
Manufacturers of veterinary medications are in a subtle competition to produce the best packaging for animal healthcare supplies, especially as demand rises in remote areas. Innovative trends they are leveraging include:
Smart Packaging
Smart packaging solutions are taking over the industry as technology improves how manufacturers and consumers interact with goods during the supply chain. The situation is the same in the veterinary sector. Manufacturers use advanced protective packaging for pet medications that simplifies the usage procedure.
For instance, a medication can have QR codes that you can scan to access dosage instructions, safety guidelines, and treatment schedules. Interactive packaging options also link to a system that reminds you of medication schedules.
One of the most relevant options is monitoring systems that record and transmit the conditions of the medications to you in real time.
Eco-Friendly Materials
Custom packaging offers several subtle benefits, one of which is waste reduction. By having packaging tailored for specific purposes, you can reduce waste arising from quality depreciation during transportation. However, custom packaging does more for sustainability than that. Using eco-friendly materials like biodegradable plastics and recycled cardboard reduces the process’s impact on the environment.
Multifunctional Packaging
Veterinary doctors and caregivers are increasingly embracing sustainability by repurposing packaging. Manufacturers are catching up with this trend and using it as a form of veterinary medicine branding. They purposefully design their packaging to be multifunctional. For example, the packaging can be turned into a storage container after using the medications.
Wrapping Up on Custom Packaging for Veterinary Medications
Veterinary medications often escape discussion when pharmaceuticals are highlighted for packaging considerations. However, they are equally delicate and require special attention to cater to their various needs. Manufacturers are catching up, providing modular, eco-friendly designs that target the specific needs of animals or locations.