Sterilization packaging
Five ways to keep a sterilized load sterile until it's opened. This catalog currently has verified product data for four of them — pouches, reels, and both wrap types. Rigid containers are covered here for reference only.
The packaging formats
A short, factual overview of how each format holds a sterile barrier — not a buying guide for formats we don't stock.
Pouches
Pre-formed, self-sealing or heat-sealed envelopes in paper-film or Tyvek. The standard format for single-instrument or small-set loads processed one at a time.
- Includes a chemical indicator strip and a clear window for visual load identification
- Self-seal pouches skip a sealer machine; heat-seal pouches need a validated sealer
- Standard sizes range from small instrument pouches to full tray-sized pouches
- Peel-open design lets the sterile field be presented without touching the contents
Reels
The same paper-film or Tyvek construction as pouches, supplied on a roll and cut-and-sealed to length. Lower cost per pouch at volume, at the expense of an extra sealing step.
- Sold in continuous rolls, cut and sealed to the exact length needed per load
- Requires a validated impulse or rotary sealer to close each cut length
- Lowers material cost per unit at high volume compared to pre-formed pouches
- Common in high-throughput CSSDs processing many small instrument sets daily
Wrap (Crepe & SMS)
Sheet material wrapped around trays and larger instrument sets rather than sealed into a pre-formed shape. Crepe paper is the traditional choice; SMS (spunbond-meltblown-spunbond) non-woven trades a higher unit cost for better tear resistance and lower linting.
- Wrapped using a standard envelope or square fold, secured with indicator tape
- Crepe paper is single-use and less tear-resistant than SMS non-woven material
- SMS costs more per sheet but resists puncture and linting better over the cycle
- Sized to fully enclose trays or basins without leaving exposed seams
Rigid Containers
Reusable, lidded metal or polymer containers with a filter or valve system, used instead of soft packaging for heavy or sharp instrument trays. No verified rigid container products in this catalog yet.
- Reusable for hundreds of cycles, reducing per-use packaging cost over time
- Filter or valve systems must be replaced or validated on a maintenance schedule
- Heavier and bulkier to store than soft packaging, but better protects sharp sets
- No verified rigid container products in this catalog yet
What's actually live in the catalog
Pouches, reels, and both wrap types all have verified products behind them. Rigid containers are listed above for reference only — we don't show a format as “available” until there's real product data to back it.
Flexible packaging — pouches, reels & wrap
18 verified packaging products across paper-film and Tyvek, crepe and SMS, plus a 2-step selector that matches your format choice straight to the right catalog category.
- Event-related vs. time-related sterility: what a pouch's shelf-life number really means
- Peel test and seal integrity: how to actually check a pouch seal
- EN 868-5 vs EN 868-9: reading the standard a Tyvek pack actually cites
- Self-seal vs. heat-seal pouches: what the EN 868-5 minimum actually tells you
- Sterilization reels vs. pre-formed pouches: which format actually fits your workflow
Not sure which format and material fit your sterilizer load?
Open the consumable selector