As a long-term partner, Holmen combines reliable supply with global support. With integrated fibre sourcing, local warehousing and dedicated service centres, we help ensure consistency and security throughout the value chain. Backed by commercial and technical support, comprehensive documentation and strong sustainability performance, we help you meet both operational and regulatory requirements.
Packaging material for pharma and medical devices
Pharmaceutical packaging, medical packaging and medtech packaging demand high standards of quality, safety and consistency. Choosing the right packaging material is essential to ensure product protection, reliable performance and efficient production. At the same time, packaging must support brand value and help meet evolving sustainability requirements across the pharma industry.
The right packaging for demanding needs
Effective pharma packaging design requires a balance of performance, protection and efficiency. The packaging must provide the stiffness and durability needed to safeguard medical devices throughout the supply chain, while supporting consistent production processes. This helps ensure product integrity, safety and reliability from manufacture to end use.
3 reasons leading healthcare brands turn to Holmen
Reliable partner
We support the delivery of pharma and healthcare products through a robust and resilient supply chain.
Product portfolio
Our products are designed for demanding packaging needs, with consistent quality and proven performance.
Sustainability and recycling
Our packaging materials are renewable and recyclable, with one of the industry's lowest carbon footprints.
About Holmen
Why choose Holmen for healthcare and pharma packaging?
Insights
What matters most in pharma packaging
What are the key factors to consider when choosing pharma packaging suppliers? What matters in the design process? Some things to keep in mind are how it looks, what it should do, how it’s manufactured, how sustainable it is, and how it fits into your strategic supply chain.
Sustainability
A fresh approach to pharma and healthcare packaging
Beyond performance and product protection, pharmaceutical and medical packaging must also meet growing sustainability expectations. Responsibly sourced, renewable and recyclable paperboard help support the transition to more sustainable packaging solutions, while providing the quality, consistency and reliability these applications demand.
Pharma and medical device packaging inspiration
Frequently asked questions:
pharmaceutical and medical device packaging
How can packaging strengthen your brand, support sustainability goals and protect sensitive healthcare products throughout the supply chain? Pharmaceutical and medical device packaging involves a complex set of considerations, from regulatory requirements and product protection to efficiency, waste reduction and user experience. Explore five common questions and answers that address some of the key challenges facing packaging professionals today.
What should you look for in a pharmaceutical or medical packaging supplier?
Choosing the right pharmaceutical or medical packaging supplier involves more than sourcing materials. A reliable partner should help you meet regulatory requirements, maintain consistent quality and support your packaging strategy throughout the product lifecycle.
When evaluating suppliers, look for relevant quality and environmental certifications, compliance with recognised standards such as FDA and ISO requirements, and clear documentation of material sourcing and performance. Consistency is equally important. Tightly controlled specifications and minimal batch-to-batch variation help safeguard packaging integrity, product safety and production efficiency.
By combining regulatory expertise, quality assurance and dependable material performance, the right supplier can provide confidence at every stage of the packaging process.
How can you ensure packaging quality, cleanliness and product safety?
Packaging quality and product safety start with selecting a paperboard designed for demanding healthcare, medical device and pharmaceutical applications. The material should provide a clean, uniform surface and consistent performance throughout converting, packing and distribution.
Reliability is equally important. Paperboard with tightly controlled specifications helps maintain packaging line efficiency, package integrity and dependable converting performance, while minimising variability between production batches. For healthcare applications, secondary packaging and inserts must also support high standards of cleanliness, quality and product protection.
By working with a supplier that can consistently control and document key material properties, manufacturers can help reduce quality risks and ensure products reach healthcare professionals and patients safely, securely and in optimal condition.
How can packaging design improve usability, brand perception and functionality?
Effective medical packaging design improves usability, functionality and brand perception by making products easier and safer to identify, handle and use. Clear labelling, intuitive pack structures, and functional features such as secure closures, inserts and compartments help support healthcare professionals in demanding environments.
For medical device and healthcare packaging solutions, design considerations should be addressed early in the development process to help avoid compliance challenges and ensure long-term performance. A smooth, bright white paperboard surface also enhances print quality, readability and colour consistency, helping critical information stand out while reinforcing a premium brand image.
By combining user-centred design, product protection and strong visual appeal, pharmaceutical packaging can support both operational efficiency and confidence in the product.
Why is fresh fibre paperboard a sustainable alternative for healthcare packaging?
Fresh fibre paperboard is widely used in healthcare, medical device and pharmaceutical packaging due to its combination of strength, stiffness and converting performance. Produced from fibres sourced from responsibly managed forests, it is a renewable material that can be recycled where suitable collection and recycling systems are in place.
In many applications, paperboard can be used for secondary packaging and inserts, providing product protection and efficient handling throughout the supply chain. As sustainability considerations become increasingly important within the healthcare sector, paperboard offers an alternative material option that can support packaging strategies while meeting the performance, quality and compliance requirements expected for medical and pharmaceutical products.
How can you verify the origin, sustainability and compliance of your packaging materials?
Verifying the origin, sustainability and compliance of packaging materials starts with selecting a supplier that offers full transparency and documentation. For healthcare, medical device and pharmaceutical packaging, materials should come from responsibly managed forests and be supported by recognised environmental and chain-of-custody certifications.
A trusted paperboard supplier should provide clear quality and environmental documentation, demonstrating that materials are renewable, recyclable and produced to high sustainability standards. Equally important is compliance with relevant regulatory and quality requirements, including FDA and ISO standards. Robust quality management systems help ensure traceability, consistent performance and regulatory compliance throughout the product lifecycle, giving manufacturers confidence in the credentials and reliability of their packaging materials.
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