In the medical sector, organizations place strict demands on their suppliers, especially when it comes to packaging of medical devices, instruments and accessories. Equipment within hospitals and clinics must often be moved manually. Therefore, it is essential that packaging be light and easy to handle. We therefore often advise our customers in the medical sector to use EPP (Expanded PolyPropylene) as their packaging material.
What is EPP?
EPP (Expanded PolyPropylene) resembles Styrofoam in appearance, but is a sturdier and more durable material. Unlike Styrofoam, which breaks and crumbles quickly, EPP offers strength and flexibility. The material is lightweight and shock absorbent, making it ideal for medical applications where both lightness and protection are important.
Benefits of EPP Packaging in the Medical Sector.
1. Lightweight and easy to handle
Hospitals, clinics and medical training sites are often not equipped to handle heavy packaging. In addition, health and safety laws impose restrictions on the weight that staff can lift. EPP packaging provides a solution by being light and easy to move, significantly reducing the physical strain on staff.
2. Optimal protection of medical products
Medical products are often precious and fragile. With EPP packaging, you protect these products optimally, thanks to its excellent shock-absorbing properties. This way, you ensure that the contents remain protected against bumps and drops, which is crucial in the medical sector.
3. Reusable and suitable for return logistics
Many medical suppliers work with return logistics, returning unused products. EPP packaging is robust and durable, making it ideal for reuse. An efficient return system can not only save costs, but also help improve customer satisfaction. For example, we advised a customer who supplies surgical kits to switch to EPP packaging. This allows the supplier to easily retrieve unused materials, reducing storage costs at hospitals.
4. Durable and recyclable
EPP is not only reusable, but also recyclable. At the end of its life, the material can be ground up and heated, after which it serves again as a raw material in the plastic processing industry. This makes EPP an environmentally friendly choice for companies that value sustainability.
Customized solutions with EPP Packaging
EPP packaging is fully customized. The packaging is tailored to the shape of the products to be packed, ensuring a perfect fit and optimal protection. In addition, the outside of the EPP case can be personalized, for example by adding colors, texture and company logos.
EPP in the Medical Supply Chain
In the medical sector, logistics often proceed differently than in other industries. Many hospitals do not have extensive logistics departments and are not always equipped to handle heavy packaging. Even small-scale clinics and training centers often struggle with limited resources for internal logistics. EPP packaging helps medical suppliers better serve customers in this sector by providing lightweight, durable packaging solutions that are easy to handle.
Case study: A customer in the medical sector supplies surgical kits to hospitals, supplying surplus materials to ensure surgeons never miss out. These unused materials were often left in hospitals, taking up storage space and reducing the supplier’s inventory. With the introduction of EPP packaging and an efficient return system, the supplier now recovers these unused materials quickly. This saves costs and increases customer satisfaction.
Wondering if EPP packaging is right for your business? Contact us to discuss how we can help you with a customized solution.