Blister packs are a popular packaging style that you can find in almost every drugstore or grocery store. But what makes a blister pack? Read on to learn more about this packaging style!
The Components
Blister packs are made up of two main components: the bubble and the backing. The bubble is typically a pre-formed plastic shell that suppliers mold to perfectly fit the product. This is then mounted on a backing using adhesives or heat sealing!
Why Use A Blister Pack?
This packaging style is most commonly used for small items (think lip balm, batteries), foods like cheese and deli slices, and pharmaceutical products. This style of packaging often hangs on wall displays for higher visibility. For pharmaceutical blister packs, the bubble is often mounted to a foil backing rather than paper or cardboard. These types of products typically require an external folding carton in addition to the blister pack.
Using a blister pack can also help prevent theft and help with advertising! Since the bubble is typically attached to the backing, can discourage thieves from swiping the small products. The backing can also function for marketing purposes, adding callouts and product information for customers to easily spot at a glance.
Types of Blister Packs
There are four main types of blister packs that you might encounter on the shelves:
Face Seal
These are the most simple and cost-effective blister pack configuration. The seal around the bubble sits on the surface of the backing, making for easy removal.
Full Face Seal
Full face seals are similar to the face seals, but the bubble covers the entire front of the backing rather than small portion of it! This style offers added rigidity and more product protection than regular face seals.
Trapped
In this style, the bubble is not placed on the outside of the backing. Instead, two pieces of cardboard sandwich the bubble between them, trapping the product. Any evidence of tampering is immediately more noticeable in this style of blister pack, since there are multiple layers to get through.
Side
Side blisters feature flaps on three out of four sides of the package that the backing can slide into. This style of blister pack is most commonly used for flat items, and is secured using staples or tape rather than being heat sealed to the package.
Plastic-Free Blister Pack Alternatives
Single-use plastic is slowly being phased out throughout Canada. Though the current plastic ban mostly applies to single-use plastic items that are commonly seen in food and food service, many businesses are taking the opportunity to transition away from plastic packaging. Still, we know that the convenience and space saving of a blister pack can’t be beat. That’s why here at LeKAC, we offer plastic-free alternatives in the form of our custom hanging boxes!
These boxes offer a similar amount of surface area as normal blister packs, and can even include a die-cut hole to hang on wall displays! In some cases, you might also be able to add a die-cut window to increase product visibility!
Going custom with LeKAC also means we can customize the dimensions of the box to your product’s unique specifications. Interested in learning more? Contact us today to book a free consultation with one of our knowledgeable Business Development Consultants!
