Methods for packaging and sterilizing elastomeric articles and packaged elastomeric articles produced thereby

A method of packaging an elastomeric article, the method comprising:

• providing an elastomeric article comprising synthetic polyisoprene and an antiozonant;
• placing the elastomeric article in a package;
• exposing the package to a vacuum to form a reduced-oxygen environment inside the package, wherein the reduced-oxygen environment contains less than about 20 cm3 of trapped oxygen;
• sealing the package to provide the elastomeric article within the reduced-oxygen environment inside the package;
• and
• sterilizing the elastomeric article provided within the reduced-oxygen environment inside the package using a sterilization process comprising radiation sterilization,
• wherein the elastomeric article exhibits reduced degradation compared to a comparison elastomeric article that does not comprise an antiozonant but is provided within a similar reduced-oxygen environment or a comparison elastomeric article that comprises an antiozonant but is provided within a higher-oxygen environment.