17th May 2023
The pharmaceutical packaging market refers to the industry that produces packaging materials and solutions specifically designed for pharmaceutical products. This includes various types of packaging, such as bottles, blister packs, vials, ampoules, syringes, and cartons, among others.
Pharmaceutical packaging serves multiple purposes, including protecting the medication from external factors like moisture, light, and contamination, ensuring product integrity and safety, providing information about the drug and dosage instructions, and facilitating proper dispensing and administration.
Key trends in the pharmaceutical packaging industry include the adoption of eco-friendly and sustainable packaging materials, the integration of smart packaging technologies for improved patient adherence and tracking, and the implementation of tamper-evident and anti-counterfeiting measures.
The Global Pharmaceutical Packaging Market size was valued at 114.6 billion USD in 2022, it is projected to reach 343.3 billion USD by 2030 at a CAGR of 14.7% in the forecast period of 2023-2030. The pharmaceutical packaging market is driven by several factors, including:
Growing Pharmaceutical Industry: The growth of the pharmaceutical business and the rising demand for medications fuel the demand for appropriate packaging solutions. The prevalence of chronic diseases is increasing, the population is expanding, and healthcare access is becoming more widely available.
Regulatory Compliance: Strict rules and regulations set out by regulatory organizations, such as the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), have a significant impact on the pharmaceutical packaging business. The adoption of particular packaging solutions is driven by compliance requirements for product safety, labeling, child-resistant packaging, tamper-evident features, and serialization.
Product Safety and Protection: To retain their efficacy and shelf life, pharmaceutical items need to be shielded from outside influences such as moisture, light, air, and contamination. Blister packs and tamper-evident packaging are in demand to protect the drugs since they offer improved barrier qualities and guarantee product integrity.
Market Competition and Brand Differentiation: Pharmaceutical firms look for packaging solutions that distinguish their goods, strengthen their brand image, and improve patient perception in a competitive market. Attractive designs, distinctive package forms, and specialized packaging options all contribute to brand awareness and market share growth.
There are various significant participants in the pharmaceutical packaging market, ranging from global leaders to regional and niche firms. The following are some well-known businesses involved in the pharmaceutical packaging sector:
Amcor Plc, Gerresheimer AG, Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD), West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc., Schott AG, AptarGroup, Inc., Berry Global, Inc., WestRock Company, Owens-Illinois, Inc., CCL Industries Inc., Uflex Ltd., Constantia Flexibles Group GmbH, Bilcare Limited, Nipro Corporation, SGD Pharma.
By establishing a new manufacturing plant in Skopje, North Macedonia, in 2020, Gerresheimer increased its manufacturing capacity. The facility specializes in creating premium plastic pharmaceutical packaging.
Berry Global Group and Raw Elements USA collaborated to introduce a sustainable tube produced from sugarcane in January 2022. The tubes are created from discarded sugarcane, which is transformed into HDPE and LDPE to produce a substance with the same chemical composition as polyethylene derived from fossil fuels.
The Global Pharmaceutical Packaging Market is segmented based on Material, Drug Delivery, and Type. Based on material Global Pharmaceutical Packaging Market is further segmented into Plastics, Paper & paperboard, Glass Metal, and Others. Based on Drug Delivery Global Pharmaceutical Packaging Market is further segmented into Oral Drugs, Injectables, Topical Ocular/ Ophthalmic, Nasal, Pulmonary, Transdermal, IV Drugs, and Others. Based on Type Global Pharmaceutical Packaging Market is further segmented into Plastic bottles, Blister, Labels & Accessories, Caps & closures, pre-filled syringes, medical specialty bags, Temp controlled packaging, Pouches & strip packs, pre-filled inhalers, Vials, Ampoules, Medication tubes, Jars & Canisters, Cartridges, and Others.
Based on material, the most significant raw material utilized in the creation of pharmaceutical product packaging is plastic. Most of the plastics used in this packaging are high-impact polystyrene (HIPS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PTE), and high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Plastics make an excellent packaging medium for pharmaceutical preparations since they are inexpensive, easy to mold into any form or size, and have protective characteristics. These polymers shield pharmaceuticals from physical harm and tampering. Bottles, closures, blister packs, jars and canisters, and overwrap all use it.
The bottles category is the most significant product type among these based on product type. The segment's expansion is ascribed to this material's lightweight, cheap, and simple-to-mold qualities. Packaging solid and liquid medications such as tablets, capsules, syrups, eye drops, and nose drops is also preferred to be done in plastic bottles. Market expansion is anticipated to be aided by rising pharmaceutical industry demand for plastic bottles. Additionally, it is predicted that during the forecast period, there will be an increase in the consumption of caps and closures due to the rising demand for bottles, vials, and jars.
The global market is dominated by the oral medication delivery packaging segment based on the mechanism of drug delivery. The majority of pharmaceutical preparations are taken orally as tablets, capsules, powders, liquids, and semi-liquids. Oral medication delivery is a great option due to its adaptability in dosage design and affordable manufacturing, which has further fueled the growth of oral drug delivery packaging.
In 2022, North America held the greatest revenue share in the market, and the region's largest end-use sector was pharmaceutical manufacturing, which comprises in-house production. Over the course of the forecast period, the existence of numerous producers of pharmaceutical plastic bottles in the nation, including AptarGroup Inc., Gerresheimer AG, Amcor Ltd., and Berry Plastics Group, Inc., is projected to have a beneficial effect on the demand for these bottles.
Over the following years, the Asia Pacific region is expected to experience the fastest growth rate. Because of their rapidly expanding populations and ongoing economic expansion, China, South Korea, Japan, and India are some of the key regions that are expected to drive the demand for packaging in the next years. Furthermore, it is anticipated that favorable government laws relating to medication safety will accelerate the region's growth.
The safety, integrity, and effective administration of pharmaceutical goods are crucially dependent on the pharmaceutical packaging industry. The market is still developing as a result of elements such as the expanding pharmaceutical business, the need for regulatory compliance, and technological improvements. The importance of patient-friendly packaging, sustainability, and creative solutions has grown. To keep up with the changing demands of the market, major businesses including Amcor, Gerresheimer, BD, West Pharmaceutical, and Schott have been actively investing in new technology and sustainable practices. The packaging business will remain essential to safeguarding medications, enhancing patient satisfaction, and supporting the pharmaceutical industry's overall performance as demand for pharmaceutical products rises.