Due to their transparency and versatility, blister card packaging is a popular choice for brands seeking more secure storage and creative designs while cutting back on packaging waste.
Read on to learn more about this packaging method, its advantages, and how it can be used to further elevate your brand.
Blister card packaging enables brands to more visibly showcase their products while keeping them secure within rigid, pre-formed cavities. This type of packaging consists of two parts: the pocket and backing.
The transparent pocket mirrors the form of the product, such as the way many toys are encased in identical plastic covering, or it can be a more generic shape, such as a circle, square, or rectangle. It all depends on your packaging needs and which makes the most sense. The key is that it neatly fits the contours of the product.
The backing is the substrate stabilizing the product from the posterior side. Like most things in packaging, the material of choice (often paperboard, but not always) depends on your situation.
Now let’s consider the various kinds of blister card packaging.
You’ll routinely encounter six blister card options depending on your industry, each with their respective benefits and downsides.
Single-seal blister cards are coated and heat-sealed to a substrate using a thermoformed plastic. If desired, this backing can be made from tear-resistant material.
Header cards fit over the covering of a bag or pouch, attached by an adhesive or a staple. This is regularly employed with snack foods.
Insert cards are not heat-sealed, commonly used in clamshell packaging.
Trapped blister cards consist of a single-hinged card or two separate cards sealed together. The blister is trapped between them, the die cut area only on top of the card.
Fold-over blister cards are similarly hinged, but rather than trapping the blister, the fold serves as a book cover for the front of the package. This provides ample billboard space for branding purposes.
Skin board involves sealing a product inside plastic film, using a rigid substrate for the backing. This skin gives the substrate a shine that can sometimes make graphic designs look less focused.
With a good sense for what options are available to you, here are some of the ways blister cards are utilized.
Ranging from food and beverage and pharmaceuticals to toys and electronics, you’ll encounter blister card packaging in many consumer industries.
For health and beauty brands, attractiveness in packaging is a high priority. Blister cards enable brands to present products in elegant and appealing ways that stand out among consumers—particularly because the window allows them to see it before they buy it.
Similarly, when it comes to toys, blister card packaging makes it much easier for brands to sell their products. If a child can see the toy, they are more likely to ask their parents for it.
Electronics brands routinely utilize blister card packaging, in large part, for security. Pre-formed plastic shells or pockets not only keep the product firmly in place, but can be designed to make removal difficult. This deters theft or tampering, and is surprisingly reassuring for consumers. Although protective packaging often requires more effort to open, customers expect their expensive electronics to be safeguarded. If an item is easy to access, how valuable can it actually be?
Read on to learn more about the advantages of blister card packaging.
You should have some sense for the benefits by now, but let’s take them one at a time.
Prevents contamination. Blister card packaging provides a reliable seal around products. This means air, chemicals, and any other substances are hindered from compromising the contents within the cavity.
Display important information. Most industries require—whether for compliance or practical reasons—certain details to be easily readable to consumers. This can be a “contains small parts” warning on a children’s toy, a dosage guide for a health supplement, or a color blending guide for a watercolor set. From a liability standpoint, this feature is essential. It’s also a phenomenal way to provide additional value to your customer.
Brand-enhancing designs. Blister card packaging empowers brands with versatile design. Just as backing space can be used to inform consumers, it can serve as a display board for stunning graphics and compelling images. With a transparent pocket, brands can creatively integrate a visible product with elaborate designs on the packaging.
Added security. Since blister card packaging is typically pre-formed and sealed, products benefit from increased protection. This makes it easier for consumers and retailers to identify whether a product has been tampered with or damaged. Again, higher-priced goods tend to require superior levels of protection.
Cost effective. Because it can be customized to fit the specific contours of a wide variety of products, blister card packaging saves on waste. This also means there isn’t excess weight typically associated with bulky or heavy packaging—translating into lower shipping costs. All this contributes to streamlined and efficient packaging.
Blister card packaging certainly isn’t appropriate in every situation, but when it fits your product and company goals, it gives your brand a cost-effective option that prevents contamination, adds security, and enhances your design possibilities.