What are the standards associated with package environmental testing?

Package environmental testing is associated with multiple industry test standards. Relevant test standards include:

• ASTM D4332: Standard Practice for Conditioning Containers, Packages, or Packaging Components for Testing. 
• ASTM E171: Standard Specification for Standard Atmospheres for Conditioning and Testing Flexible Barrier Materials. 
• ISTA 3A: Packaged Products for Parcel Delivery System Shipment 150 lbs (68 kg) or less

What types of products benefit from package environmental testing?

Package environmental testing can be used across a variety of industries but may prove particularly useful to medical device manufacturers. In the medical device industry, sensitive products must be well-protected in order to prevent damage and maintain sterility. Damaged products can pose a safety hazard to end-users and potentially damage the manufacturer’s reputation.

Additionally, certain packaging materials should undergo environmental package testing to evaluate their integrity. Plastic and cardboard packaging, in particular, become vulnerable to deformity or damage when exposed to high temperatures or excessive humidity.

What types of environments can package environmental tests simulate?

Environmental package testing can simulate a range of environments. By subjecting product packaging systems to high and low temperatures, as well as high and low humidity, you can see how well your product packaging is able to withstand extreme environmental conditions.

Which tests may be combined with package environmental testing?

In addition to package environmental testing, you may conduct other tests to evaluate package integrity while in transit. Compression testing, vibration testing, and other types of package testing can be conducted under specific environmental conditions that allow manufacturers to better understand how packages perform when exposed to a combination of environmental conditions and other transit conditions.