How to handle desiccants

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⏱ Reading time: 4 minutes

A desiccant sachet is considered “expired” when it has adsorbed all the moisture it can hold: at that point, it stops working.

The speed at which it saturates does not depend on chemical degradation of the material, but on how much moisture it encounters.

In a well-sealed package, with little incoming moisture, the same sachet can protect the contents for months. In a permeable package, or one filled with damp materials, it can be exhausted within a few days.

The desiccant does not expire. It saturates.

You might be tempted to look for an expiration date, as on a yogurt pot. But silica gel and activated clay do not chemically degrade over time: they adsorb water vapour until they reach their maximum capacity, then they stop.

The right question, then, is not “how long does the desiccant last”, but “how much moisture will reach the desiccant, and how quickly?”.

The packaging determines the duration

The desiccant sachet always works together with the packaging. Its job is to remove the moisture contained inside the packaging and capture the moisture that penetrates from outside over time.

If the barrier material enclosing the desiccant sachet and the goods to be protected lets large amounts of moisture through, the desiccant will saturate quickly.

The key parameter is the water vapour permeability of the packaging material (indicated on technical datasheets as WDD or WVTR, in g/m² per day): the more permeable the barrier, the more moisture enters each day, the sooner the desiccant saturates.

For this reason it is essential to always use quality barrier materials, suitable for the intended purpose and for the protection duration required.

The hidden moisture inside the packaging

There is also the moisture that the packaging itself already contains from the start. Pallet wood, cardboard, paper fillers: they are all hygroscopic materials that hold water and release it slowly into the air inside the package.

Never place damp materials inside the packaging. Every gram of water contained in wood or cardboard is a gram the desiccant will have to adsorb: capacity wasted from the start.

How long it lasts, in numbers: calculation according to DIN 55474

Estimating the required amount of desiccant — and therefore the duration of protection — is not done by eye: the DIN 55474 standard provides the calculation formula. But the formula only works if you have all the data. Here they are:

  • V — internal volume of the packaging (m³)
  • b — moisture contained in the internal air at closure (g/m³)
  • m — mass of hygroscopic materials inside the packaging: wood, cardboard, fillers (kg)
  • c — moisture content of these materials (g/kg)
  • A — surface area of the barrier packaging (m²)
  • WDD — water vapour permeability of the barrier material (g/m² · day)
  • t — required protection duration (days)
  • a, e — factors defined by the standard: adsorption capacity per desiccant unit and climatic correction factor

The result is the number of DIN desiccant units to insert in the packaging to guarantee protection for the entire time t.

We must accept that industrial packaging always has some water vapour permeability, whether higher or lower.

If the quantity resulting from the DIN calculation is correctly applied, you have the guarantee that the packaging will be preserved for the desired duration.

DIN 55474 applies to desiccants used inside packaging. For sizing desiccants used inside shipping containers, the reference is the CTU Code: we have covered this in a dedicated article.

In practice

  • The desiccant does not expire: it saturates as a function of the moisture it encounters.
  • Duration is determined by the packaging: a barrier is needed to isolate both the goods and the sachet from the outside environment.
  • Check the water vapour permeability (WDD) of the barrier material: this is the parameter that governs how much moisture enters each day. A low moisture barrier will require a larger number of desiccant sachets; a very high moisture barrier (such as aluminium Triplex) will require a smaller quantity.
  • No damp materials inside the package: wet wood and cardboard consume the desiccant before its time.
  • To calculate quantity and duration, use DIN 55474, with all the required data: without them, any estimate is a gamble.

If you would like to give us a call, we will handle the calculation for you: 0039 011 96 43 430 — info

Why do industry standards matter to customers?

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⏱ Reading time: 4 minutes

How is the adsorption capacity of a desiccant determined?

The adsorption capacity of a desiccant is determined in the laboratory by exposing the material to air at controlled temperature and relative humidity, and measuring how much water it retains at equilibrium. The result always depends on the test conditions: the same product adsorbs very different amounts of moisture depending on the climate it is exposed to. This is why the DIN 55473 and MIL-D-3464E standards define fixed test conditions, allowing desiccant bags to be compared on a single, equal basis across all manufacturers.

Why do industry standards matter to customers?

Desiccant bags used inside packaging (inside boxes, to put it simply) are generally produced with three desiccant materials:

  • Silica gel: a synthetic desiccant, the most widely used in pharmaceutical and food applications.
  • Activated clay (sometimes referred to as “expanded clay”, which has nothing to do with it): a natural desiccant, suitable for most industrial applications.
  • Molecular sieves: zeolites with calibrated pores, for applications requiring selective adsorption of moisture only, or the ability to remove moisture even at high temperatures (this product also deserves a dedicated in-depth document, as it is not widespread and little known).

As we will see, the capacity of all desiccants varies with the temperature and relative humidity conditions in which they are used, which is why technical standards have been created over the years to regulate their use, production and testing methods. These standards are a useful tool for the customer: in a landscape where extravagant claims about desiccant properties are the norm, they make it possible to understand exactly how to evaluate the various products.

The most active standard today is DIN 55473.

Capacity depends on the test conditions

A desiccant has no “absolute” absorption capacity. The amount of water it can retain at equilibrium depends on two variables: the temperature and the relative humidity of the surrounding air. Strictly speaking, it also depends, to a very small extent, on atmospheric pressure, but this can be neglected under normal conditions of use. The higher the relative humidity, the more water the material adsorbs. Temperature works in two directions: it increases the capacity of the desiccant but, as it approaches the regeneration temperature of the material, it starts releasing moisture back into the environment, reducing the capacity until it is cancelled out completely.

Example: 100 g of silica gel in two different climates

  • At 23 °C and 40% relative humidity, 100 g of silica gel adsorb approximately 24 g of water vapour (typical value).
  • At 23 °C and 80% relative humidity, the same 100 g adsorb approximately 35 g (typical value).

Same product, same quantity: the figure changes only because the test conditions change. A capacity value without the corresponding temperature and relative humidity means nothing.

In practice, if a manufacturer tells you that their silica gel desiccant bag (a manufacturer of this kind would probably call it a “salt”) is better than the competition’s because theirs absorbs 35 g, it means they do not know, or fail to tell you, that their test was carried out — assuming they actually ran it and did not just copy figures from the internet — at a higher relative humidity, and that those 35 g are merely the performance of silica gel under extreme relative humidity conditions.

The standard is a guarantee for the customer

Standards define the exact test conditions, so that buyers can compare products on a single, equal basis.

  • DIN 55473: defines the desiccant unit (DU) as the quantity of material that, at equilibrium with air at 23 °C (±2 °C), adsorbs at least 3.0 g of water vapour at 20% relative humidity and 6.0 g at 40%.

Two bags declared as “1 unit” under the same standard therefore guarantee the same minimum performance, regardless of manufacturer or adsorbent material.

The DIN standard also defines how desiccant bags must be packed: another topic we will cover separately, as it deserves proper attention. For now, let us just say that Levosil delivers its products packed in HDPE to prevent them from becoming partially saturated before use, which would reduce their drying capacity. Attention is often focused on performance figures, while how to preserve that performance over time is overlooked. Levosil guarantees a two-year shelf life on its products.

Why testing is carried out at 23 °C and 40% relative humidity

Test conditions at low relative humidity are not an arbitrary choice: they measure the water that is actually retained.

Moisture adsorbed at 20-40% relative humidity is stably bound within the finest porosity of the granule and is not released back into the packaging. In contrast, the water absorbed in a test at 80% relative humidity is partly held weakly, through capillary condensation in the larger pores: if the relative humidity of the environment drops, that extra share is easily released.

A value measured at 80% relative humidity is therefore an impressive figure, but it does not represent the real protection the desiccant provides inside the packaging. Before comparing two datasheets, always check that the test conditions are declared and identical.

Besides, you had better hope your packaging never reaches 80% relative humidity, because at that point whether the silica gel performs at 24 or 35 per cent would be the least of your problems…

What about calcium chloride container desiccants?

The same principle applies to calcium chloride desiccant bags used inside shipping containers. Here too, fanciful and optimistic claims circulate on the web and need to be analysed to be fully understood. It is worth noting that the proliferation of “optimistic” manufacturers regarding the performance of their product has been largely encouraged by the lack of an industry standard for these materials.

We will dedicate a specific publication to this topic.

If you want to make sense of all this: 0039 011 96 43 430 — info@levosil.com

CTU Code > Levodry

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⏱ Reading time: 4 minutes

CTU Code and Levodry Gel: compliant desiccant bags for container protection

Yes, Levosil’s Levodry Gel complies with the CTU Code recommendations on humidity control inside containers. The calcium-chloride-based desiccant bags of the Levodry Gel range keep the internal relative humidity of the container below the 60% safety threshold, in line with Annex 3 of the CTU Code for reaching the “container-dry” state.

What the CTU Code is

The CTU Code (Code of Practice for the Packing of Cargo Transport Units) is the code of practice jointly published by IMO (International Maritime Organization), ILO (International Labour Organization) and UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe). It was endorsed in 2014, as an update of the previous 1997 Guidelines.

The supporting informative material is published as IMO circular MSC.1/Circ.1498.

The CTU Code is not a mandatory regulation: it is a set of global recommendations, adopted as an international reference by freight forwarders, insurance companies, customs authorities and used in many countries as a basis for national legislation on cargo transport in containers.

It covers all transport modes of cargo transport units: maritime, road and rail.

What the CTU Code says about humidity in containers

Humidity control is addressed in Annex 3 of the CTU Code and further discussed in the informative material MSC.1/Circ.1498.

The key points are:

  • the cargo should be brought to the “container-dry” state before stowing, meaning a moisture content that does not release harmful amounts of water vapour during transport;
  • when pre-drying of the cargo is not sufficient, the use of desiccant bags is recommended to absorb the excess moisture;
  • risk thresholds are defined for the internal relative humidity (RH) of the container.

Relative humidity thresholds indicated by the CTU Code

Relative humidityRisk
≥ 40%Corrosion of ferrous metals
≥ 75%Mould growth on wood, food, textiles and hygroscopic goods
< 60%Level considered safe, with a margin against temperature variations

The RH below 60% value is indicated as the reference condition to prevent condensation (the so-called “container rain”) even in the presence of strong day/night temperature swings during maritime transport.

What container rain is and why it matters

Container rain is the phenomenon where the water vapour in the internal air of the container condenses on the walls and ceiling during nighttime cooling, then drips back on the cargo as actual rainfall. Consequences include:

  • corrosion of metal parts;
  • mould and fungal growth;
  • collapse of cardboard packaging;
  • stains, halos and packaging discolouration;
  • deterioration of hygroscopic products (coffee, cocoa, textiles, wood, dry food).

Even a few condensation cycles can cause irreversible damage.

How Levodry Gel ensures compliance with the CTU Code

Levodry Gel is a container-specific desiccant bag formulated with a mixture of calcium chloride and a gelling agent. Its technical features make it fully compliant with the CTU Code recommendations:

  • Absorption capacity up to 300% of its own weight: it captures the water vapour released by the cargo and packaging materials throughout the entire maritime transport.
  • Keeps the internal RH below 60%: it operates in the 40%–60% relative humidity window, exactly the range indicated by the CTU Code as safe.
  • Moisture-to-gel transformation: the gelling agent locks in the absorbed water, preventing any liquid from leaking out of the bag and contaminating the cargo.
  • Flexible formats: available in blankets, hook chains and single bags with PE side, suitable for standard dry containers, reefer containers and different loading configurations.
  • Regulatory safety: REACH-registered (Regulation EC 1907/2006), notified under EU Regulation 2017/542 (UFI) via the ECHA PCN portal and the Italian ISS, DMF-free according to Decision 2009/251/EC, free from SVHC substances.
  • Food-contact safe: suitable for the protection of food shipments and raw materials intended for human consumption.
  • FCC Guidelines compliant for the shipment of cocoa beans in containers.

How to size Levodry Gel correctly for a container

Sizing of Levodry Gel for a container is not covered by any standard: the correct quantity is determined by Levosil based on the technical experience gained since 1964 and on tests carried out in the internal climate chamber, considering several factors:

  • internal container volume (20′, 40′, 40′ HC);
  • voyage duration and route;
  • cargo type (hygroscopic or non-hygroscopic);
  • presence of wooden pallets and other materials releasing moisture;
  • possible use of plastic barrier covers or VCI films on the cargo.

Levosil provides direct technical support to recommend the optimal quantity on a case-by-case basis.

Further reading

For further information on the regulatory compliance of Levodry Gel:

The UFI code of Levodry Gel is notified via the ECHA PCN portal and the Italian ISS, and is available on request for B2B use.

Contact

You can contact us now for more information: 0039 011 96 43 430 — info@levosil.com

Desiccant and PPWR

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PPWR and Desiccant Bags: What Changes for Levosil

The Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste (PPWR) is a very broad piece of legislation, designed to regulate the life of packaging as a whole. Because of this breadth, it inevitably leaves some room for interpretation for niche products that make up only a tiny share of the packaging market. Among these are desiccant bags.

Desiccant bags are not packaging in the traditional sense. In addition, there is currently no dedicated recycling chain for desiccants, since the quantities involved do not justify one, nor is there an eco-labelling system designed specifically for these products. These elements support the view that desiccant bags may fall outside the scope of the PPWR.

To obtain a definitive view, Levosil has requested a direct opinion from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Environment. Pending an official reply, the current position is that desiccant bags would not be subject to the PPWR. They remain, however, compliant with the part of the Regulation currently in force, in particular the substance requirements under Article 5.

Timing

As a general overview, the PPWR was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 22 January 2025 and entered into force on 11 February 2025. It applies generally from 12 August 2026 and replaces Directive 94/62/EC. The main purpose of the European packaging regulation is to reduce the environmental impact of packaging waste by promoting a circular economy.

Levodry Gel and its classification.

The Levodry line, based on calcium chloride, would in any case follow different end-of-life rules: spent material falls under the general waste framework, not packaging waste streams. The Levodry bag still complies with the substance requirements of Article 5, regardless of the final classification outcome.

What if I use the desiccant bag inside a product?

If the bag is permanently inserted inside a product as an integral part for its entire life cycle — for example, housed permanently in equipment or a lamp — it is not considered packaging. In that configuration, the PPWR does not apply.

Timeline

  • 11 February 2025: entry into force of the Regulation.
  • 12 August 2026: general application; PFAS limits for food-contact packaging under Article 5(5).
  • 1 January 2028: delegated acts on recycling design criteria and recyclability classes.
  • 12 August 2028: harmonised labelling on material composition.
  • 1 January 2030: obligation for recyclability in class A, B, or C; minimum recycled content in plastic parts; minimum reduction in weight and volume.

Levosil is already compliant with Article 5 of the PPWR

Regardless of the classification outcome, Levosil confirms the compliance of all its desiccant bags with the substance requirements of Article 5. The sum of lead, cadmium, mercury, and hexavalent chromium is below 100 mg/kg (100 ppm). All products are PFAS-free, and the limits applicable from 12 August 2026 are already respected for all applications. All products are free from bisphenol A (BPA), and Levosil does not use silica gel with cobalt chloride indicator.

The sizing of Levosil bags is also optimized according to DIN 55473 and DIN 55474. The amount of desiccant is calculated on the actual adsorption requirement, without excess, in line with the principle of minimizing packaging where applicable.

You can contact us now for more information: 0039 011 96 43 430

info@levosil.com

REACH and Desiccants

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REACH and desiccants

Levosil has been compliant with the REACH regulation since it entered into force in 2007, managing registration, traceability and documentation of its desiccants according to European requirements.

What is the REACH regulation

REACH (EC 1907/2006) governs the use of chemical substances in the European Union.
It has been in force since 2007 and requires registration with ECHA of substances produced or imported in quantities above 1 tonne per year.

Desiccants under REACH

Common desiccants used in packaging — including silica gel, calcium chloride and molecular sieves — fall within the REACH framework.

In practice:

  • registration is required above 1 ton/year
  • safety data and traceability must be available throughout the supply chain

One important exception:

  • natural clay not chemically modified is exempt (Annex V – Entry 7)

Risks of non-compliance

Non-compliance with REACH has consequences across the entire supply chain.

For producers and importers:

  • customs blocking of goods
  • market withdrawal
  • financial penalties (defined at national level)
  • legal liability and reputational damage

For users:

  • possession of non-compliant products in the EU market
  • traceability issues
  • potential liability within the supply chain

REACH status of main desiccants

DesiccantREACH statusObligation
Silica gelSubject to registrationYes, above threshold
Calcium chlorideSubject to registrationYes, above threshold
Molecular sieveSubject to registrationYes, above threshold
Natural clayExempt (if not modified)No

Compliance and documentation

To meet REACH requirements, products must:

  • be registered when required
  • include updated Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
  • be fully traceable in terms of origin and quantity

Levosil applies these requirements across its product range, in line with European regulations and quality standards.e 1 tonne/year, while natural clay may be exempt. Compliance ensures safety and continuity across the supply chain.

UFI mandatory on labels: Levodry Gel is already compliant

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What the UFI is and what it does

The UFI (Unique Formula Identifier) is a unique alphanumeric code, made up of 16 characters, that must be printed on the product and on its label. Its purpose relates to health and safety: it unequivocally links information on the composition of a mixture to a specific product placed on the market. In the event of accidental exposure, it allows poison centres to quickly retrieve information on the composition and toxicology of the mixture by consulting the European database that associates each UFI code with the information notified through ECHA.

Who keeps the UFI database?

The UFI does not exist on its own: it is linked to a PCN notification (Poison Centre Notification). ECHA provides a centralised portal (the ECHA submission portal) for notification to poison centres. In Italy, the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS) is the body designated to receive the information — including the chemical composition — relating to mixtures classified as hazardous. This information makes up the Archive of Hazardous Preparations (Archivio dei Preparati Pericolosi, APP), which poison centres can consult in an emergency.

The UFI refers to a single product and is “personal”

Every UFI code is personal and non-transferable: because it is built from the VAT number of the company placing the product on the market and from a specific formulation number, it unequivocally links a given mixture to the party responsible for it. Products with a different composition have different UFIs, and every change in the formula corresponds to a new code. It should be stressed, however, that the code cannot be used to trace the composition of the mixture or any other confidential data: the UFI is not decodable, and the information associated with it is held in a database accessible exclusively to poison centres and healthcare facilities, in the event of an emergency. For this reason, its presence on the label in no way exposes resellers or those who market the product; it represents solely a guarantee of safety and compliance.

Reference legislation and obligations for those placing the product on the market

The UFI originates from Regulation (EU) 542/2017, which was incorporated into Annex VIII of the CLP Regulation 1272/2008. It is not an option but a legal obligation: companies that place hazardous mixtures on the market must transmit the necessary information to the competent national bodies, so that poison centres can rapidly provide medical advice in an emergency. The parties subject to the obligation are importers and downstream users who, in the course of industrial and professional activities, place on the market mixtures that are hazardous to health and/or present physical hazards. Failure to comply with the obligation may result in products being withdrawn from the market and in financial penalties, with possible inspections by the competent authorities.

Since when it has been mandatory to display it on the product

The final deadline has now passed: since 1 January 2025, the UFI on the label has been mandatory for all hazardous mixtures marketed within the European Economic Area, without exception. The obligation also applies to mixtures already placed on the market before that date.

The case of calcium chloride desiccants

The classification of calcium chloride — the main component of all desiccants used to protect containers, Levodry Gel included — is the reason why the irritant symbol and the information required by law are printed on the label and on the product itself. Under normal conditions of use, no contact is expected between the person using the desiccant bag and the calcium chloride contained inside it; this does not, however, relieve the manufacturer and the party placing the product on the market of the obligation to indicate the presence of a potentially irritant substance inside the packaging.

Desiccant bags based on calcium chloride, such as Levodry Gel — which contains between 60% and 90% of it — are classified as irritant (eye irritation category 2, H319 – “Causes serious eye irritation”) under the CLP Regulation. They therefore fall fully within the scope of the mixtures subject to the obligation. For this reason they must be notified through ECHA’s PCN portal and, for Italy, registered with the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS). Only after this registration is the UFI code generated, validated and affixed to the product. Once these formalities have been completed, the product can be placed on the market.

It is important to note that a product requiring any hazard classification cannot be placed on the market unless the UFI code has been registered.

Product safety

It is essential to understand that, in the case of Levodry Gel, the calcium chloride is contained within a functional barrier, and therefore in normal working operations the user is not expected to come into direct contact with the calcium chloride. Nevertheless, the law requires that the product be labelled and that the UFI code be registered with the competent authority as a precaution, in case of improper use or of leakage of the calcium chloride should the outer casing break.

Where the code must appear: label and product

The UFI must be physically present on the product and on its label, printed or affixed in a visible, legible and indelible manner, preceded by the letters “UFI”, which are not to be translated into the various languages.

Levosil has already done everything

Levodry Gel has its own code duly stated in the Safety Data Sheet and affixed to the product label, in full compliance with the CLP Regulation and its Annex VIII. Notification to the poison centres has been carried out, and the emergency contact details are indicated in every language version of the sheet. Choosing Levosil means purchasing products that are already compliant, with no risk of non-conformity for those who resell them or place them on the European market in turn.

Contact Us

How long can desiccant bags stay exposed to air?

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This is one of the questions we are asked most often: how long can a desiccant bag remain exposed to air before being used?

The basic rule is simple: as little as possible. As soon as they are removed from their packaging, desiccant bags immediately begin absorbing moisture from the surrounding environment.

Why there is no fixed time

It is not possible to determine in advance how quickly a bag will become saturated, because its absorption capacity depends on several variable factors:

  • the relative humidity of the environment;
  • the temperature it is exposed to.

A concrete example: in winter, when the air is drier, the bags saturate more slowly. In summer, especially on a rainy, humid day, the same bag can saturate much faster. This is why there is no universally valid figure.

The role of the envelope (fabric)

Beyond ambient conditions, the speed at which a bag saturates is mainly governed by the type of envelope wrapping it. A standard fabric envelope (under DIN 55473 this corresponds to Type A) lets water vapour through more quickly, so it saturates sooner. A Type B (low dust) or Tyvek® bag will take longer to saturate.

Important: molecular sieves are a special case

This rule does not apply to molecular sieve desiccant bags. Molecular sieve is an extremely moisture-hungry desiccant and absorbs water vapour from the environment very rapidly. In these cases it is essential to keep exposure times very short or to work in a controlled environment.

How to store them correctly

If the bags are not used immediately, follow a few precautions:

  • keep them in their original packaging, with the plastic bag we supply folded over the top;
  • when the product is returned to the warehouse, the ideal solution is to heat-seal the HDPE bag protecting the desiccants inside the box;
  • alternatively, close the bag with a cable tie or a knot.

This prevents ambient moisture from saturating the bags during storage and periods of non-use, before they are even put to work.

The principle to remember is always the same: the less time exposed to air, the more effective the product.

Visit Us at CPHl in Milano 6/10/2026

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🇬🇧 English

Levosil will be exhibiting at CPHI Milan, taking place at Fiera Milano from October 6 to 8, 2026. We will be pleased to welcome you at our stand 11K49. At the trade fair, Levosil will present its range of desiccant sachets developed specifically for pharmaceutical applications. These include sachets for protecting pharmaceutical APIs in bulk packaging and the full Micro Bag range of desiccant sachets, designed for direct contact use inside pharmaceutical and nutraceutical packaging. Levosil is certified to ISO 15378, the international standard for primary packaging materials for medicinal products. In addition, it operates as a MOCA producer registered with the local health authority, supporting the use of its products in direct contact with medicines and food.


🇫🇷 Français

Levosil sera exposant à CPHI Milan, qui se tiendra à Fiera Milano du 6 au 8 octobre 2026. Nous serons ravis de vous accueillir sur notre stand 11K49. À l’occasion du salon, Levosil présentera sa gamme de sachets déshydratants développés spécifiquement pour les applications pharmaceutiques. Parmi eux, des sachets destinés à la protection des API pharmaceutiques en vrac ainsi que toute la gamme de sachets dessiccants Micro Bag, conçue pour un usage en contact direct à l’intérieur des emballages pharmaceutiques et nutraceutiques. Levosil est certifiée ISO 15378, la norme internationale relative aux matériaux d’emballage primaire destinés aux médicaments. En outre, elle est enregistrée comme producteur MOCA auprès de l’autorité sanitaire locale, garantissant l’utilisation de ses produits au contact direct des médicaments et des aliments.


🇪🇸 Español

Levosil estará presente como expositora en CPHI Milan, que tendrá lugar en Fiera Milano del 6 al 8 de octubre de 2026. Será un placer recibirles en nuestro stand 11K49. Con motivo de la feria, Levosil presentará su gama de sachets desecantes desarrollados específicamente para aplicaciones farmacéuticas. Entre ellos, los sachets para la protección de API farmacéuticos en envases a granel y toda la gama de sobres desecantes Micro Bag, diseñada para su uso en contacto directo dentro del packaging farmacéutico y nutracéutico. Levosil está certificada según la norma ISO 15378, el estándar internacional para materiales de envase primario destinados a medicamentos. Además, opera como productor MOCA registrado ante la autoridad sanitaria local, lo que respalda el uso de sus productos en contacto directo con medicamentos y alimentos.


🇩🇪 Deutsch


Levosil wird als Aussteller auf der CPHI Milan vertreten sein, die vom 6. bis 8. Oktober 2026 auf der Fiera Milano stattfindet. Wir freuen uns, Sie an unserem Stand 11K49 begrüßen zu dürfen. Im Rahmen der Messe wird Levosil seine Reihe von Trockenmittelbeuteln präsentieren, die speziell für pharmazeutische Anwendungen entwickelt wurden. Dazu gehören Beutel zum Schutz pharmazeutischer APIs in Großpackungen sowie die gesamte Micro-Bag-Reihe von Trockenmittelbeuteln, die für den direkten Kontakt im pharmazeutischen und nutraceutischen Verpackungsbereich konzipiert wurde. Levosil ist nach ISO 15378 zertifiziert, dem internationalen Standard für Primärverpackungsmaterialien für Arzneimittel. Darüber hinaus ist das Unternehmen als MOCA-Hersteller bei der örtlichen Gesundheitsbehörde registriert und unterstützt damit den Einsatz seiner Produkte im direkten Kontakt mit Arzneimitteln und Lebensmitteln.


🇷🇴Română

Levosil va fi prezentă ca expozantă la CPHI Milan, care va avea loc la Fiera Milano în perioada 6–8 octombrie 2026. Vă așteptăm cu drag la standul nostru 11K49. Cu ocazia târgului, Levosil va prezenta gama sa de plicuri desicante dezvoltate special pentru aplicații farmaceutice. Printre acestea se numără plicurile pentru protecția API-urilor farmaceutice în ambalare vrac și întreaga gamă de plicuri desicante Micro Bag, concepute pentru utilizare în contact direct în interiorul ambalajelor farmaceutice și nutraceutice. Levosil este certificată ISO 15378, standardul internațional pentru materialele de ambalare primară destinate produselor medicamentoase. În plus, operează ca producător MOCA înregistrat la autoritatea sanitară locală, ceea ce susține utilizarea produselor sale în contact direct cu medicamentele și alimentele.

🇵🇱 Polski


Levosil będzie wystawcą na targach CPHI Milan, które odbędą się w Fiera Milano w dniach 6–8 października 2026 roku. Serdecznie zapraszamy na nasze stoisko 11K49. Z okazji targów Levosil zaprezentuje swoją gamę saszetek osuszających opracowanych specjalnie do zastosowań farmaceutycznych. Wśród nich znajdą się saszetki do ochrony farmaceutycznych API w opakowaniach zbiorczych oraz cała gama saszetek osuszających Micro Bag, zaprojektowana do bezpośredniego kontaktu wewnątrz opakowań farmaceutycznych i nutraceutycznych. Levosil posiada certyfikat ISO 15378, międzynarodowej normy dla materiałów opakowaniowych pierwotnych przeznaczonych dla produktów leczniczych. Ponadto działa jako producent MOCA zarejestrowany w lokalnym ASL, co potwierdza możliwość stosowania naszych produktów w bezpośrednim kontakcie z lekami i żywnością.

🇬🇷 Ελληνικά


Η Levosil θα συμμετάσχει ως εκθέτης στην CPHI Milan, η οποία θα πραγματοποιηθεί στη Fiera Milano από 6 έως 8 Οκτωβρίου 2026. Θα είναι χαρά μας να σας υποδεχτούμε στο περίπτερό μας 11K49. Στο πλαίσιο της έκθεσης, η Levosil θα παρουσιάσει τη σειρά αποξηραντικών σακουλιών της, που έχει αναπτυχθεί ειδικά για φαρμακευτικές εφαρμογές. Σε αυτά περιλαμβάνονται σακουλάκια για την προστασία φαρμακευτικών API σε χύδην συσκευασία, καθώς και ολόκληρη η σειρά αποξηραντικών φακέλων Micro Bag, σχεδιασμένη για άμεση επαφή μέσα στη φαρμακευτική και nutraceutical συσκευασία. Η Levosil είναι πιστοποιημένη κατά ISO 15378, το διεθνές πρότυπο για υλικά πρωτογενούς συσκευασίας φαρμακευτικών προϊόντων. Επιπλέον, λειτουργεί ως παραγωγός MOCA με καταχώριση στην τοπική υγειονομική αρχή, γεγονός που υποστηρίζει τη χρήση των προϊόντων της σε άμεση επαφή με φάρμακα και τρόφιμα.

Natural and Safe Dehydrating Solution

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The Moisture Grabber is a dehydrating bag specifically designed for the leather goods market to eliminate quality issues associated with excess moisture in packaging. Preventing mold growth ensures that product quality remains intact even during long-term storage or sea transport in containers. The Moisture Grabber is manufactured in Italy, contains no fungicides, and does not emit any chemical substances.

Disidratante Naturale

Natural Activated Clay The dehydrating clay is a calcium bentonite that naturally adsorbs and traps moisture, removing it from the environment in which it is placed. The clay used in the Moisture Grabber complies with technical standards DIN 55473, MIL 3464E, NFH00320.

The dehydrating clay is identified by CAS number 1302-78-29. The dehydrating clay in the Moisture Grabber is a natural mineral quarry product, thus exempt from REACH registration obligations under Article 2, paragraph 7, letter (b). Besides being exempt from registration, the clay is a non-hazardous substance, free of SVHC substances, or any with PBT or vPvB classification, so there’s no need for exposure assessments or use communications along the supply chain.

Printing is done with inks suitable for food packaging, using typographic technology to ensure maximum readability, making the Moisture Grabber suitable for high-end products. The information on the bag is printed in Italian, English, Japanese, French, German, and Spanish.

The packaging allows a view of the natural desiccant inside the bag without releasing dust from the desiccant. The selected non-woven fabric is food-safe and classified as Type B (low dust release) according to DIN 55473 technical standards.

The number of dehydrating bags to use should be determined based on the product to be protected, the volume and type of chosen packaging, and the desired shelf life. Pay particular attention to the water vapor permeability of the packaging to be used.

Dehydrating Bags – “Salts”

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Dehydrating bags (commonly also referred to as “salts”) are used to remove moisture from within a package to preserve the quality of the products inside.

Although often called “dehydrating salts,” none of the desiccants used for packaging protection are actually salts. In fact, the DIN 55473 industry standard specifies that dehydrating bags must not contain any trace of salt (chlorides) to prevent oxidation when in direct contact with metal surfaces. Over the years, desiccants have been likened to salt, likely because silica gel resembles coarse kitchen salt and because salt itself has hygroscopic properties. However, salt is not technically a dehydrating agent, as it adsorbs moisture but does not retain it as effectively as clay or silica gel.

Why Are Salts Not Used in Packaging?

Firstly, dehydrating bags are placed inside packaging in direct contact with goods that need protection, so they must not cause any type of oxidation.

Secondly, silica gel and dehydrating clay have characteristics that common salts do not possess.

Desiccants Are Highly Efficient Materials:

  • They can reduce relative humidity to levels below 4%.
  • They do not easily release adsorbed moisture.

The primary desiccants used for packaging protection are:

  • Calcium Bentonie (also known as Montmorillonite, Salt, Expanded Clay, Active Clay, Desiccant, Bentonite, Dried Clay)
  • Silica Gel (often also called Salt, Silica Gel, Silica, Silicon, Drying Gel)

Are Salts Used in Protective Packaging?

The distinction between desiccants (silica gel and clay) and salts is important to avoid misunderstandings in certain situations.

Calcium chloride (which is indeed a salt) finds its natural application in dehydrating bags used to protect containers from the “rain effect.”

In this context, it’s necessary to absorb large amounts of moisture without needing to reach low relative humidity levels (typically aiming to maintain relative humidity around 50% within the container). Thus, the characteristics of calcium chloride make it the ideal desiccant for this purpose.

It is a hygroscopic salt characterized by a high capacity (the amount of water vapor it can remove from the environment) and limited efficiency (the dryness level it creates around itself is about 40% relative humidity).

Desiccant Selection

Protection within packaging

  • Dehydrating Clay: General industrial use.
  • Silica Gel: Pharmaceutical industry.

Transport Protection via Container

  • Calcium Chloride: Levodry Gel, Container Bag.