Quick answer: A supplement contract manufacturer fills powders, capsules and gummies for many brands, often for more than one market, and each client may arrive with a different desiccant or none at all. The way to keep this manageable is one approved desiccant format, sized per SKU, with one document set the client's QA team can accept. The Fiber Desiccant Card is a thin round plant-fiber card, 0.7 mm or 1.0 mm thick, that holds more than 10% of its own weight in water at 20% RH, more than 35% at 50% RH and more than 70% at 90% RH (25 °C), with written open-bag limits for the packing room and a 12-month shelf life from the manufacturing date, unopened, with that date printed on the carton label.
When a client's powder cakes on a customer's shelf, the question usually comes back to the facility that filled it. Contract manufacturers sit in an awkward spot: they make the desiccant decision for many brands at once, but each brand owns its own spec. The result is often a stockroom of different sachets, a different handling rule for each, and a supplier approval file to rebuild every time a new client arrives. This guide sets out a simpler model.
The problem with one desiccant per client
- Too many parts. Each sachet size and supplier is another item to receive, store, rotate and audit.
- Too many rules. Different formats come with different open-bag times, or none at all, so the line works from memory.
- Too many approval files. Every new client QA team asks for documents, and each supplier provides a different set.
- Multi-market clients. A brand selling the same SKU in several countries wants one desiccant and one set of documents for every market's buyers to review.
The model: one format, sized per SKU
Approve one desiccant format for the facility and change only its size from SKU to SKU. A flat card works well for this because the same card shape fits tubs, jars, pouches and bottles, and size is set by the card's mass rather than a different product.
| What stays the same across clients | What changes per SKU |
|---|---|
| Material, spec sheet and test reports | Card size, set by the pack's barrier, surface area and shelf life |
| Open-bag handling limits on the line | Card thickness: 0.7 mm for compact packs, 1.0 mm for larger ones |
| Receiving, storage and lot rotation | Printing: the client's logo on the card for private label |
| Placement method, by hand or in-line | Die-cut shape, if a pack needs one |
Size each SKU with a simple water budget: the moisture that enters through the pack over its shelf life, divided by the card's capacity at the humidity the product needs. Our desiccant sizing calculator runs the arithmetic, and our guide to desiccant sizing for sugar-containing powders covers the formulas that cake most easily.
What the line needs to know
| Item | Fiber Desiccant Card |
|---|---|
| Open-bag time | Up to 2 hours at 50% RH or below, up to 1 hour above 50% RH, stop at 80% RH or above |
| Pauses | Reseal the bag during any pause over 30 minutes |
| Shelf life | 12 months from the manufacturing date, unopened, with the date printed on the carton label |
| Placement | Placed by hand or by in-line equipment; fit on your line is confirmed on samples |
| Spent check | Gently bend a card. A fresh card feels relatively stiff; one that has gone noticeably soft has absorbed moisture |
Write these straight into the packing SOP. For the full handling routine, see how to use fiber desiccant on the packing line.
What each client's QA team receives
| Document | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Minimum specification | Adsorption at 20, 50 and 90% RH at 25 °C, loss on drying under 10%, thickness and format |
| Third-party test report | SGS report on the bare plant-fiber sheet, as tested |
| Safety data sheet | Available on request |
| Sizing record per SKU | The water budget behind the card size chosen for that pack |
| Sample evaluation | A worst-case test on the client's real pack, following our sample evaluation protocol |
For clients that sell the same SKU in several markets, send the list of markets with the request. We list which documents are available for each format, so the client's QA team can review one set. Our guide to supplier approval documents shows how QA teams usually read them.
How the first job runs
- Send the SKU list. Pack format, fill weight, barrier and target shelf life for each client job that needs a desiccant.
- We size every pack. One card spec per pack, grouped so the stockroom carries as few sizes as possible.
- Samples and a line check. Samples for the worst-case test and a fit check on your in-line or hand placement.
- Quote per project. Price, minimum order and lead time come with the quote, by card size, printing and total volume across clients.
Use the form below or the quote form on our fiber desiccant page.
Frequently asked questions
Can one desiccant format really cover every client SKU?
For most powder, capsule and gummy packs, yes. The format and documents stay the same and only the card size changes from SKU to SKU, set by each pack's barrier, surface area and shelf life.
How long can a bag of cards stay open on the line?
Up to 2 hours at 50% RH or below and up to 1 hour above 50% RH. Stop at 80% RH or above, and reseal the bag during any pause over 30 minutes.
Can the card carry a client's logo?
Yes. Logo printing and custom die-cut shapes are available for private label jobs.
What documents can I give a client's QA team?
The minimum specification, an SGS test report on the bare plant-fiber sheet as tested, a safety data sheet on request, the sizing record for their SKU and a sample evaluation on their real pack.
What is the minimum order?
It is quoted per project, based on card size, printing and total volume across your client jobs.
Send your client jobs for sizing
List the SKUs that need a desiccant. We come back with card sizes, the document set and a sample plan.
Prefer email? info@atmosiscience.com
Figures from ATMOSIScience Fiber Desiccant Card product documentation and usage instructions.
