The present invention provides a gas permeable sterilization and shipping package system for medical products. The system includes a gas permeable sterilization package composed of an upper panel and a lower panel. Each panel has a main panel element, panel edges, and panel margins at or near the panel edges. The upper panel and the lower panel are joined at their respective panel margins so the respective main panel elements define a compartment for holding one or more articles to be sterilized. At least a portion of at least one panel is permeable to sterilant gas. The system includes at least one reinforcement strip joined to a panel at least at one location on its main panel element between its panel margins. Also disclosed is a method of sterilizing and shipping one or more items used in a medical procedure by utilizing the gas permeable sterilization and shipping package system.
