Europe Pharmaceutical Blister Packaging - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2024 - 2029)

Europe Pharmaceutical Blister Packaging - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2024 - 2029)

The Europe Pharmaceutical Blister Packaging Market size is estimated at USD 4.76 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 6.61 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 6.77% during the forecast period (2024-2029).

Pharmaceutical blister packaging plays a substantial role in ensuring the safety of drugs and medicine against unfavorable external influences such as biological contamination, counterfeiting, etc. The market is expected to grow due to the demand for drug delivery in blister packaging.

Key Highlights

• The rise in the consumption rate of generic drugs and the growth in the pharmaceutical sector in emerging economies are projected to influence the market's growth. Rapid technological advancements, a rise in health awareness, and the adoption of new regulatory standards drive the demand.
• According to Flexible Packaging Europe, the first aspirins were made from aluminum foil in strip packaging. This foil material is used exclusively for blister packaging. Also, rising awareness regarding the importance of high-quality pharmaceutical packaging material, especially during transport and storage, is expected to drive market growth.
• The pharmaceutical sector is one of the important industries for the United Kingdom, owing to the significant usage of drugs, improvement in medical science, and the increasing number of diseases in the country. The region's vital, well-established pharmaceutical sector comprises domestic companies and inward investors.
• The market is expected to grow as the pharmaceutical sector is one of the significant engines of innovation and research. The sector is spending billions of dollars on R&D and employing vast numbers for highly skilled R&D roles. These massive investments and the proportion of skilled workers show how the region is building the pipeline of medicines and future drugs. This is an ideal opportunity for the packaging vendors.
• According to a study by Copenhagen Economics A/S in 2023, the EU pharmaceutical industry faced significant changes to the EU pharmaceutical legislation over the last two decades, impacting the incentives to develop and market orphan and non-orphan medicines. With the revision, the European Commission (EC) is offering measures to allow for faster access to generic medicines while at the same time incentivizing the continued development and introduction to the market of innovative medicines. Such changes would leverage the demand for blister packaging in the region.
• According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the pharmaceutical sector's costs and pricing structure are often indistinct, and there are legitimate inquiries about the degree of innovation and value offered by increasingly costly new treatments. Aluminum and plastic were used in pharmaceutical blister packaging. Over time, these materials became too expensive (due to raw material prices and other factors) to provide a commercially viable solution for packaging high-volume products.

Europe Pharmaceutical Blister Packaging Market Trends

The Demand for Sustainable Packaging is Increasing

• Blister packaging's convenience, user-friendly features, and segmented compartments elevate the consumer experience and fuel the demand for such solutions. With a heightened emphasis on sustainability and a surging need for eco-friendly packaging, the regional blister packaging market is expected to record substantial growth. Manufacturers proactively embrace sustainable packaging to align with consumer preferences and regulatory mandates.
• This includes using environmentally friendly materials, bio-based plastics, paper, and recyclable alternatives. By adopting sustainable packaging practices, the blister packaging market can align with the growing consumer focus on environmental responsibility. This shift toward sustainable blister packaging demonstrates an opportunity for market growth and contributes to reducing the environmental impact of packaging materials.
• According to the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), pharmaceuticals and medical goods account for about 18.4% of total health spending. In high-cost illnesses like cancer and rheumatoid arthritis, medications typically represent less than 20% of the overall disease expenditure. Moreover, medicines play a pivotal role in treatment and can lead to significant cost savings by curbing expenses in other healthcare domains, such as hospitalizations and long-term care.
• In October 2023, Aldi, one of the UK's leading supermarkets, launched a blister pack recycling scheme. In collaboration with TerraCycle, a recycling company, Aldi encouraged customers to recycle empty medicine packets, typically made from plastic and aluminum foil. These recycled resources could be utilized in manufacturing various products, including aluminum-based items like nuts and bolts and plastic products such as waste bins and outdoor furniture. The nationwide trial served as a gauge of customer interest and engagement in this recycling solution.
• According to Bundesverband der Pharmazeutischen Industrie e.V., the pharmaceutical market in member countries of the European Union was predicted to grow by 5.3%. This statistic depicted the growth forecast for European pharmaceutical markets compared to global developments between 2022 and 2027. The market share is rising, propelled by a growing consumer preference for sustainable packaging.
• With an increasing environmental consciousness, consumers are actively seeking products that mirror their values. Sustained consumer engagement is essential for the pharmaceutical sector to embrace mono-material packaging widely. This entails educating consumers and highlighting the environmental advantages that mono-material packaging offers, like enhanced recyclability and minimized waste.

The United Kingdom is Expected to Witness Growth in the Market

• Blister packaging is growing in the country due to compliance with medical adherence. Increasing strictness related to counterfeit medicines and other products boosts the demand for blister packaging.
• The country has various significant pharmaceutical players operating in the region, such as AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Haleon, Hikma Pharmaceuticals, and Dechra Pharmaceuticals. AstraZeneca took the top position as one of the leading companies in the United Kingdom based on market capitalization.
• According to SwiftPak in October 2023, pharmaceutical packaging is vital when shipping sensitive and tightly regulated products. Not only must it protect the contents from physical damage, but it should also ensure zero alteration of the chemical composition. Standard and custom packaging can be manufactured with various pharmaceutical products to fulfill product demands. Even delicate medicines can be shipped safely, from temperature-controlled solutions to tamper-evident tape and customs labeling.
• The growing emphasis on sustainable solutions is encouraging vendors to increase their investments in developing innovative pharmaceutical packaging solutions. For instance, in February 2024, Boots Company PLC launched a pilot scheme for blister pack recycling in over 100 stores in London and Southeast England. It plans to roll out the scheme to more stores across the UK. Customers near participating stores can drop off their used blister packs for recycling in dedicated collection bins and be rewarded.
• The UK government's proposed revisions to its Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme included delaying implementation until 2024 and fees until 2025, the exclusion of glass for England and Northern Ireland's Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), and requiring standardized labeling, including 'do not recycle' on all compostable or biodegradable packaging.

Europe Pharmaceutical Blister Packaging Industry Overview

The European pharmaceutical blister packaging market is fragmented, with various significant players, such as Amcor Limited, Constantia Flexibles, Klockner Pentaplast Group, Sonoco Products Company, and Tekni-Plex Inc. The players are focused on expanding their business in the region through acquisitions, collaborations, and mergers.

• May 2024: Amcor Limited expanded its packaging innovation and opened its Amcor Innovation Center Europe (AICE) in Ghent, Belgium. The AICE will pioneer new material technologies to make packaging more sustainable and performant while focusing on attractive designs. The AICE facilitates various activities, including testing whether a child-resistant push-through blister pack for pharmaceuticals is easy for an adult with arthritis to open.
• January 2024: TekniPlex Healthcare and Alpek Polyester developed the pharmaceutical-grade PET blister film containing post-consumer recycled content. The new blister film is expected to meet all requirements for PET in pharmaceutical applications as per the European Pharmacopoeia Section 3.1.15, and 30% of the film is made of post-consumer recycled monomers.

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