This year marks 30 Years of SPMC Excellence and 5 Years of Sterile Packaging Day! As we look back on our organization's extraordinary journey, we're excited to celebrate our entire industry on February 5, 2025. This year's theme, From Foundations To Futures, recognizes the advances in medical device and pharmaceutical sterile packaging and looks at the next generation of innovation on the horizon. Please join us on Wednesday, February 5 as we lead the 2025 Sterile Packaging Day celebration both in-person at MD&M West in Anaheim, California and online via our growing LinkedIn community! This web-based toolkit provides details about this year's event, what it means to leaders in the industry, and ways you can join the celebration on February 5!
SPMC was founded in the early 1990s to develop sterile packaging standards and reproducible test methods that could improve the safety of medical device packaging. Scroll through to see SPMC's evolution over the last several decades.
Shortly after its founding as a council of the Flexible Packaging Association, SPMC developed its first standard for medical packaging peel strength, notably addressing differences in technique. This standard was later incorporated into ASTM F88 Standard Test Method for Seal Strength of Flexible Barrier Materials. By 1998, SPMC had published Standards and Test Methods, which included nine standards.
During the 2000s, the SPMC made major contributions to the industry by collaborating with other standards setting organizations. Several of SPMC's standards formed the basis for eventual ASTM standards, and SPMC's members led key committees within ASTM, AAMI, and as convener of the ISO TC198/WG07 task force — drafting an expanded guidance document for ISO 11607.
A searchable database of SPMC's online Frequently Asked Questions was launched on SPMC's website to help users find key guidance on everything from package development to validation. The FAQs quickly became the most frequently visited section of SPMC's website. Today, SPMC's Technical Committee continues developing FAQs and has expanded its resource library by publishing white papers that are available for download at no cost.
SPMC launched Sterile Packaging Day on March 10, 2021 to celebrate the entire industry and raise awareness for the critical role sterile packaging plays in everyone's health and well-being. The celebration was held online and coincided with the initial launch of the first nationwide COVID-19 vaccination rollout. Now in its fifth year, SPMC celebrates Sterile Packaging Day both in-person at MD&M West and online on LinkedIn.
Patient safety is at the heart of sterile packaging. Nurses, doctors, EMTs, caregivers and even patients themselves can effectively administer care thanks to the safety and integrity of the sterile packages protecting the medical devices and supplies they need.
When you or a loved one requires medical care, your focus is on a successful outcome and recovery. Knowing that the medical tools necessary for treatment are protected from contamination offers you and your medical team important peace of mind.
From the procurement of raw materials, to the stringent manufacturing process of the package itself, every link in the supply chain plays a vital role in creating protective packaging that can withstand rigorous sterilization processes and maintain its sterility until it's opened.
SPMC and Informa are teaming up for a Red Cross Blood Drive on Wednesday, February 5 from 9:30AM to 4:00PM at the Anaheim Convention Center. We encourage all attendees to positively impact lives and help countless others by donating blood. Our goal is to fill every slot available for the blood drive. Please click the button below to make your appointment.
Schedule Your Appointment
The medical device packaging industry boasts some of the best and brightest minds in the field. That's why we encourage you to take a moment to recognize and thank a colleague who's thinking outside the box and leading innovation. Give them a shout-out on social media using one of our graphics below. Be sure to tag the person you're honoring and use the hashtags #SterilePackagingDay and #FromFoundationsToFutures to be part of the celebration.
Colleague Recognition Graphics
Show your support and join the celebration by sharing what you and your company are doing on Sterile Packaging Day. If you're at MD&M West, be sure to have your photo taken in one our commemorative frames! You'll find them at our member company booths, the Flexible Packaging Association's booth, and the Blood Drive location. Not traveling this year? No problem! Simply download the photo frame artwork below and place your photo inside! Be sure to use the hashtags #SterilePackagingDay and #FromFoundationsToFutures so that we can re-post on our LinkedIn channel.
LinkedIn Photo Frame Artwork
We want everyone to be part of this celebration, and it couldn't be easier! Please tell us in one word what “From Foundations To Futures” means to you. We'll share all of your answers on LinkedIn. Simply fill out the one question form below!
Tell Us in One Word
As a consortium of like-minded companies committed to patient protection, the member companies of the SPMC volunteer their time and expertise to provide packaging requirement guidance, test methodology clarity, standards development, and user education. Follow SPMC on LinkedIn to stay up-to-date on all of our free resources as well as celebrating our incredible industry on Sterile Packaging Day!
Connect on LinkedIn
DOWNLOADABLE GRAPHICS | Download, share, and post these high quality graphics and messages to raise awareness for Sterile Packaging Day and the many professions which work together to deliver safe healthcare!
Every time a sterile pouch is opened, a life-enhancing possibility is created. Use one of these five downloadable graphics to underscore your Sterile Packaging Day social media messages and events. Be sure to use hashtags #SterilePackagingDay and #FromFoundationsToFutures.
DOWNLOAD
Amplify Sterile Packaging Day's Blood Drive at MD&M West by using one of these three downloadable graphics and the following message: "Schedule your lifesaving appointment at RedCrossBlood.org for Wednesday, February 5, 2025 from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM at the Anaheim Convention Center." Be sure to use this link.
DOWNLOAD
This year we're honoring the visionaries who are moving us into the future and those who have gotten us to this incredible point! Use one of these three downloadable graphics with your message of support for an esteemed colleague on social media. Add hashtags #SterilePackagingDay and #FromFoundationsToFutures.
DOWNLOAD
Use the official 2025 Sterile Packaging Day logo with this year’s theme — FROM FOUNDATIONS TO FUTURES — to tie your celebration together. Black + white and color logo files are available for download!
DOWNLOAD
