Pharma Packaging Materials Market Assessment, By Packaging Type [Primary, Secondary, Tertiary], By Raw Material [Plastic, Metal, Glass, Paper and Paperboards, Others], By Drug Delivery [Oral Drugs, Topicals, Injectables, Pulmonary, Nasal, Ocular/Ophthalmi

Pharma Packaging Materials Market Assessment, By Packaging Type [Primary, Secondary, Tertiary], By Raw Material [Plastic, Metal, Glass, Paper and Paperboards, Others], By Drug Delivery [Oral Drugs, Topicals, Injectables, Pulmonary, Nasal, Ocular/Ophthalmic, IV Drugs, Transdermal, Others], By End-user [Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, Retail Pharmacy, Contract Packaging, Institutional Pharmacy], By Region, Opportunities and Forecast, 2017-2031F

Global pharma packaging materials market is projected to witness a CAGR of 10.1% during the forecast period 2024-2031, growing from USD 121.61 billion in 2023 to USD 261.63 billion in 2031F. The growth of the market can be attributed to the expansion of the pharmaceutical sector and the increase in expenditure in the healthcare sector.

The rising requirement for drugs and medication is a major factor bolstering the requirement for pharma packaging materials. For instance, according to the estimates of Center for Disease Control and Prevention reviewed in November 2023, approximately 71.9% of physician office visits involve drug therapy and around 1 billion drugs are prescribed. The frequently prescribed classes of therapeutics include vitamins, analgesics, and antihyperlipidemic agents. The increased requirement is thus bolstering the demand for pharma packaging materials. The growing strictness of different regulatory bodies, such as FDA, towards pharmaceutical packaging is bolstering investments in pharma packaging materials, which in turn is positively influencing the global pharma packaging materials market expansion.

The increasing emphasis on the development of sustainable pharmaceutical packaging materials owing to rising environmental concerns is supporting the market's expansion. The augmenting efforts of various manufacturing companies to develop pharmaceutical packaging materials with technical recyclability further boost the market growth.

For instance, TerraCycle, a global leader in collecting and repurposing hard to recycle waste recognized Honeywell’s Aclar Barrier Film Blisters as technically recyclable for PETG and PVC-based blisters. The film is a part of their Life Sciences portfolio and aids in protecting the drugs by providing moisture barrier protection to preserve the efficacy of the medicines and ensure the stability of the drug. Such achievements are supporting the expansion of the market as they provide methodologies for recycling multi-layer materials such as pharmaceutical blister packaging.

Expansion of Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Sectors Boosts Global Pharma Packaging Materials Market Growth

The increasing investments in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sector, along with advancements in manufacturing processes and technological innovations, provide lucrative growth opportunities to the market. For instance, Invest India estimated that the hospital sector in India will reach USD 219.2 billion (INR 18,348.78 billion) in revenue by the financial year 2027. The growth is expected to bolster the requirement for pharmaceutical packaging materials, supporting the expansion of the market.

The growth of the healthcare sector can be attributed to the rising investments by leading companies, increasing awareness about various benefits offered by the healthcare systems, rising income levels, and growing emphasis on health management. Due to the growth, the utilization of pharmaceutical products is augmenting, bolstering the demand for pharma packaging materials. The rising prevalence of various diseases and disorders further boosts the requirement for drugs and medications, among other pharmaceutical supplies, resulting in an increased demand for pharma packaging materials. These factors are heavily contributing to the growth of the market.

Increasing Emphasis on Development of Sustainable Pharma Packaging Provides Lucrative Growth Opportunities to the Market

Various pharmaceutical and healthcare companies across the globe are developing comprehensive sustainability packaging programs to reduce their carbon footprint and decrease their reliance on plastic across the packaging supply chain. Increased consumer demand for environment-friendly packaging products, owing to rising environmental consciousness, is further encouraging pharmaceutical companies to adopt sustainable packaging solutions and provide eco-friendly alternatives to consumers. To meet the increase in demand for sustainable packaging solutions, various leading pharmaceutical companies have boosted their investments in collaborations to reduce the negative environmental impact caused by their packaging. Such collaborations and efforts are providing lucrative growth opportunities to the market.

Moreover, due to growing concerns about the environment, leading providers of medical devices and pharmaceutical packaging are boosting their efforts to ensure the development of pharmaceutical bottles with 100% recycled plastic. For instance, in January 2024, Loop Industries, Inc., a leading clean technology company and Bormioli Pharma, an international provider of medical devices and pharmaceutical packaging, launched pharma packaging bottles that were developed using 100% recycled virgin-quality Loop PET resin. Such high-quality pharma packaging alternatives are aiding in establishing new standards for sustainable packaging in the pharmaceutical sector and bolstering investments towards developing such solutions, thus supporting the expansion of the market.

Asia-Pacific Accounts for Significant Market Share

The growth of the Asia-Pacific market can be attributed to the strong presence of key market players, the rapid expansion of the pharmaceutical sector, and increasing investments in the healthcare sector. The demand for pharma packaging materials is rising due to the increased requirement for different pharmaceutical products owing to rapid population growth. The increase in research and development activities in the pharmaceutical sector, coupled with the production of novel medications, is further bolstering the demand for pharma packaging materials in Asia-Pacific.

Additionally, the rapid expansion of the pharmaceutical sector supports market growth. For instance, Invest India estimates that the pharmaceutical market in the country will reach USD 130 billion by 2030. Moreover, India exports pharmaceutical products to over 200 countries, supplying approx. 25% of all medicines in the United Kingdom, around 40% of generic demand in the United States, and over 50% of Africa’s requirement for generics. Additionally, 70% of WHOs vaccines are sourced from India. Thus, due to the growth in the requirement and export of different pharmaceutical products, the demand for pharma packaging materials is rising, boosting the market's growth.

Technological Advancements in Primary Packaging Aid Market Expansion

The increasing integration of radiofrequency identification in various packaging, such as prefilled syringes coupled with increased efforts towards development of counterfeit prevention mechanisms are supporting the growth of the market. For instance, the developments in printing techniques and 3D visualization are aiding in pushing the design boundaries of primary as well as secondary packaging, allowing companies to save time and money in development costs and material wastage. Such advancements will positively influence the growth of the market over the forecast period. Additionally, using primary packaging provides a compatible and safe barrier for medications. Due to it, the efforts to enhance the development of primary packaging are increasing, supporting the segment's expansion.

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Will Boost Market Demand

The rising requirement for pharma packaging materials by the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector can be attributed to the increased demand for medications due to the expansion of the geriatric population and the growing prevalence of various diseases and disorders. According to WHO, by 2030, one in six individuals across the globe will be aged 60 or above, and by 2050, approximately 2.1 billion individuals will be 60 or older. The expansion of the geriatric population will bolster the demand for various pharmaceutical products as they are more prone to illnesses, propelling the requirement for pharma packaging materials and augmenting the growth of the market.

Additionally, the rapid expansion of pharmaceutical industry in various regions is further aiding the expansion of the market. For instance, the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations estimates that North America accounted for 49.1% of global pharmaceutical sales, while Europe accounted for 23.4%. Due to the rise in sales of pharmaceuticals, the demand for pharma packaging materials is rising, positively influencing the growth of the market.

Future Market Scenario (2024 – 2031F)

According to global pharma packaging materials market analysis, the market will witness significant growth over the forecast period owing to growing potential of automation, artificial intelligence, and blockchain technology for optimizing the traceability of finished products and streamlining the pharmaceutical packaging process. The requirement for intelligent packaging processes along with multiple packaging formats will witness an increase.

Furthermore, the utilization of pre-filled syringes and single-use vials that have the ability to accommodate a wider range of formulations and dosages and smaller volumes of medication will rise. The direct delivery of personalized treatment solutions to the patients will boost the demand for packaging materials that will protect the medications against various environmental factors. Thus, boosting the growth of the market and supporting the market expansion.

Additionally, due to the increasing emphasis on sustainability and burgeoning environmental crisis, various leading market players are actively investing towards the development of eco-friendly and biodegradable pharma packaging materials. Thus, providing lucrative growth opportunities to the market.

Key Players Landscape and Outlook

The increasing development of sustainable pharmaceutical packaging solutions will boost the growth of the market. For instance, high-barrier PVDC coating provided by Solvay provides an ultra-high water vapor barrier. It enables thin thermoforming films, aiding the pharma packaging material manufacturers to reduce their carbon footprint. The Diofan Ultra736’s robust barrier properties allow for reduced coating thickness, with no negative effects on the performance of the package. The product contains no fluorine, allowing it to meet the regulatory requirements for direct pharmaceutical contact. Such product developments will aid the pharma packaging materials manufacturers in reducing their carbon footprint, positively influencing the growth of the market.