100% Paper Based UN3373 envelopes by GP Medical Devices

Safe UN3373 Transport – Now More Sustainable with 100% EU-Sourced Paper

UN3373 envelopes are an essential component in healthcare logistics, enabling the safe and compliant transport of biological samples classified as Biological Substance, Category B.

These samples are moved daily between patients, healthcare providers, and laboratories, making packaging both a safety and operational requirement.

At the same time, the growing volume of diagnostic testing has increased the environmental footprint of transport systems—particularly due to the widespread use of traditional plastic bubble‑lined envelopes.

As sustainability becomes a priority across healthcare systems, transitioning to 100% paper‑based UN3373 envelopes provides a practical way to maintain compliance while significantly reducing environmental impact.

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Three perspectives on one problem

Different People – Different Challenges

A UN3373 envelope must solve practical challenges for different users across the healthcare chain:

Patients

  • Uncertainty in handling biological samples
  • Risk of incorrect packaging
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Doctor and Hospital

  • Time pressure
  • Compliance responsibility
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Laboratory

  • Sample integrity
  • Waste volume and costs
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The Solution

Safe UN3373 Transport – Now More Sustainable with 100% EU-Sourced FSC Certified Paper

GP Medical Devices provides 100% paper‑based UN3373 envelopes designed to function as the rigid outer packaging required in the P650 triple‑packaging system.

When to use

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Biological Substance Category B transport

Intended for courier and postal transport of feces, urine, blood, and other diagnostic samples by road, and suitable for air transport where the contents are packed in pressure‑resistant containers that can handle altitude changes.
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Home sampling programs

Examples include colorectal cancer screening, HPV screening (cervical cancer), diabetes monitoring, and non‑invasive IBD monitoring, among many other applications.
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Hospital‑to‑laboratory logistics

Organised handling, packaging, transport, and delivery of patient samples (e.g. blood, urine, feces) from healthcare facilities to laboratories in a safe, traceable, and compliant manner.

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Primary care sample dispatch

Workflows where healthcare providers package, label, and send patient samples (such as blood, urine, or feces) from a GP practice or clinic to a laboratory for analysis.

How it works

01

Sample is placed in a primary container

The primary container is the tube, cup, or vial that the sample is put into right after it is collected.
02

Place the container in a leak‑proof secondary packaging

The leak-proof secondary packaging is typically a sealed safety bag or a sealed tube (secondary container) with absorbent material inlay to prevent leaks.
03

Press the tape onto the slide

The complete unit consists of the sample securely sealed in a primary container, which is then enclosed within a leak‑proof secondary packaging containing sufficient absorbent material to contain any potential leakage.
04

Envelope is sealed and ready for compliant transport

The envelope provides protection against mechanical impact, humidity, and handling during transport. For air transport, compliance with the 95 kPa pressure requirement must be ensured by the primary or secondary container.

Key Benefits

  • Fully compliant with UN3373 / P650 requirements
  • 100% recyclable (when uncontaminated)
  • Reduced plastic waste
  • Lower CO₂ footprint
  • Simplified waste handling
  • Supports public healthcare sustainability goals

Technical Features Behind the Benefits

  • 6‑layer FSC‑certified kraft paper construction
  • Reinforced sides and folded bottom for structural integrity
  • Embossed surface maintaining material strength
  • Water‑resistant kraftliner layers
  • Pre‑printed UN3373 markings
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We offer customised UN3373 envelopes and kit solutions to support hospitals, laboratories, and screening programs, to ensure efficient handling and reduced risk of user error.

Customisation Options

  • Pre‑printed recipient and sender addresses
  • Integrated postal labels or barcodes
  • Branded printing (hospital, lab, or program identity)
  • Pre‑assembled sample kits
  • Examples of kit content
  • Sample containers (feces, urine, blood)
  • Absorbent materials
  • Secondary leakage‑proof packaging
  • Instructions for use
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100% Paper UN3373 Envelopes by GP Medical Devices

Designed and developed to makereduced environmental impact easier in healthcare

Six reasons for hospitals, clinicians and laboratories to choose 100% paper UN3373 Envelopes over traditional “Bubble-plastic” envelopes.

01

Fully compliant with UN3373 / P650 requirements

This is achieved through a multi‑layer kraft construction that provides the rigidity required for the outer packaging. Reinforced edges and a folded bottom ensure structural stability, enabling the envelope to withstand transport stress, vibration, and drop impact.

02

100% recyclable

The use of single‑material FSC‑certified paper allows the envelope to enter standard paper recycling streams. Unlike mixed‑material products, no separation is required, making recycling operationally feasible.

03

Reduced plastic waste

By eliminating LDPE plastic components, the envelope directly replaces fossil‑based materials with renewable resources. This reduces the quantity of non‑recyclable plastic entering healthcare waste streams.

04

Lower CO₂ footprint

The paper‑based construction, combined with optimized material use and sustainable sourcing, results in lower carbon emissions compared to plastic production. Manufacturing processes can further reduce emissions through renewable energy use.

05

Simplified waste handling

Because the material is homogeneous, the envelope can be disposed of in straightforward waste streams, reducing the workload and cost of waste sorting and handling.

06

Supports healthcare sustainability goals

Public healthcare systems increasingly require suppliers to demonstrate environmental responsibility. Paper‑based envelopes align directly with these objectives.

Switching to 100% paper UN3373 envelopes is a practical, compliant, and scalable step toward more sustainable healthcare logistics

—delivering value across the entire chain from patient to laboratory and beyond.

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Customization

Need a customized solution?

We provide fully customised UN3373 envelopes and kits tailored to healthcare operations.

Customisation includes pre‑printed recipient and sender addresses, integrated postage labels, and barcode tracking for logistics systems. Branding can be aligned with hospitals or national screening programs.

Kits can include sample containers, absorbent materials, secondary leak‑proof packaging, and clear instructions. These configurations reduce manual handling steps, ensure correctness, and improve consistency across large‑scale distribution systems.

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Examples of customization

Return address

We print your laboratory’s return address directly on the UN3373 mailing envelope.

Patient ID labels

Tube labels that secure the unique ID of the sample, provided with customized print.

Contact details

Contact information of the health professional, hospital, department or laboratory printed on the kit.

QR codes & web links

A designated webpage or QR code in the instructions that points participants to the right next step.

Languages & pictograms

Standard user guides in multiple languages, or customized pictograms for specific patient groups.

Transport tubes & boxes

Mail- and airmail-approved tubes, transport tubes and boxes — selected to match your laboratory’s analysis equipment.