Sustainable Pharmaceutical Packaging Market by Raw Material (Plastics, Paper & paperboard, Glass, Metal), Product Type, Process (Recyclable, Reusable, and Biodegradable), Packaging Type(Primary Packaging), and Region - Global Forecast to 2027
The global sustainable pharmaceutical packaging market was valued at USD 71.6 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 146.3 billion by 2027, growing at a cagr 15.4% from 2022 to 2027. The global market is growing due to the to stringent laws and regulations levied by governments and governing bodies, as well as a shift in consumer preferences towards recyclable and eco-friendly packaging materials.
Attractive Opportunities in Sustainable Pharmaceutical Packaging Market
Note:e-estimated,p-projected.
Source: Expert Interviews, Secondary Sources, and MarketsandMarkets Analysis
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Sustainable Pharmaceutical Packaging Market Dynamics
Driver: Consumer preference towards recyclable and eco-friendly materials
In recent years, there has been a shift in consumer preference toward more sustainable and eco-friendly materials in the packaging industry. This trend is driven by concerns about environmental pollution and the depletion of natural resources, as well as a growing awareness of the impacts of packaging waste on the planet. Consumers are increasingly looking for packaging made from recycled materials, such as paper, cardboard, and plastic. They are also interested in biodegradable and compostable options.
Restraint: Increase in packaging cost
Sustainability policies aimed at reducing waste and increasing recycling can lead to an increase in overall packaging costs. This is because sustainable packaging materials, such as biodegradable plastics or recycled materials, are often more expensive than traditional materials. The cost of packaging design, testing, and certification to meet sustainability standards can also add to the overall cost. Implementing recycling and recovery systems for used packaging materials can also be costly. These increased costs can be passed on to consumers through higher prices for products packaged in sustainable materials.
Opportunity: Growing demand for primary pharmaceutical packaging.
Primary pharmaceutical packaging products such as plastic bottles, glass bottles, prefilled syringes, prefilled inhalers, medication tubes, and blister packaging, among others, come in direct contact with the medicine or drug. There is a surge in demand for sustainability in primary pharmaceutical packaging due to increasing consumer awareness of environmental issues, government regulations, and industry initiatives on environmentally friendly packaging. Industry initiatives have also played a role in promoting sustainable practices in primary pharmaceutical packaging.
Challenge: Fluctuation in prices of raw material
Fluctuations in raw material prices can have a significant impact on the sustainable pharmaceutical packaging industry. Sustainability in packaging often requires using alternative materials that are less common, more complex, or more expensive than traditional options. These materials are often more sensitive to price fluctuations.The cost of producing sustainable packaging increases when raw material prices increase, which can make it less competitive with traditional packaging options. This can make it difficult for sustainable packaging manufacturers to remain profitable and make sustainable packaging more expensive for consumers. This can cause a decrease in the demand for sustainable packaging and could lead to a slowdown in the growth of the industry.
Plastics segment amongst other raw material projected to grow at a highest CAGR from 2022 to 2027, in terms of volume
Plastics can be easily formed, possess high quality, are cost-effective, and provide excellent barrier properties and freedom of design. Plastic molded containers provide superior resistance to breakage and offer safety to consumers. The use of recyclable plastics in the sustainable pharmaceutical packaging industry is becoming increasingly important as companies and consumers become more aware of the impact of packaging materials. Recyclable plastics, such as PET and HDPE, can be used to create packaging that is not only environmentally friendly but also cost-effective and safe for the storage and transportation of pharmaceutical products
Biodegradable segment projected to grow at highest cagr from 2022 to 2027, in terms of value
The use of biodegradable packaging in the pharmaceutical industry has the potential to reduce the environmental impact of packaging materials and conserve resources. Biodegradable plastics can be composed of bioplastics manufactured from renewable raw materials. There are usually two forms of biodegradable plastic, injection molded and solid. The solid forms are generally used for food containers, leaf collection bags, and water bottles. Such plastics do not decompose unless disposed of properly, meaning that biodegradable plastics must be treated to compost.
Asia Pacific is projected to grow the fastest in the sustainable pharmaceutical packaging market during the forecast period.
The Asia Pacific region has emerged as the fastest growing market for sustainable pharmaceutical packaging. This is due to the increasing focus on sustainability and environmental protection, coupled with the rapid growth of the pharmaceutical industry in the region. The pharmaceutical industry in Asia Pacific is growing rapidly due to the large population and increasing healthcare spending, and this has increased the demand for sustainable packaging solutions. Companies in the region are investing heavily in research and development to create new and innovative sustainable packaging solutions to meet the growing demand from consumers and healthcare providers. Additionally, governments in the region are implementing policies and regulations to promote sustainable packaging and reduce environmental impact, further driving the growth of the market.
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Key Sustainable Pharmaceutical Packaging Market Industry Players
The key players in the sustaianble pharmaceutical packaging market include Schott AG (Germany), Amcor PLC (Switzerland), AptarGroup,Inc (US), West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (US), Berry Global (US), Gerresheimer AG (Germany), Catalent,Inc (US), and WestRock (US). The pharmaceutical packaging market report analyzes the key growth strategies, such as new product launches, investments & expansions, joint ventures, agreements, partnerships, and mergers & acquisitions adopted by the leading market players between 2019 and 2022.
Sustainable Pharmaceutical Packaging Market Report Scope
Report Metric |
Details |
Years considered for the study |
2020–2027 |
Base year considered |
2021 |
Forecast period |
2022–2027 |
Units considered |
Volume (Kiloton) and Value (USD) |
Segments |
Raw Material, Product Type, Packaging Type, Process and Region |
Regions |
North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East & Africa, and South America |
Companies |
Schott AG (Germany), Amcor PLC (Switzerland), AptarGroup,Inc (US), West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (US), Berry Global (US), Gerresheimer AG (Germany), Catalent,Inc (US), and WestRock (US) |
This research report categorizes the sustaianble pharmaceutical packaging market based on raw material, types, drug delivery modes, and region.
By Material:
- Plastics
- Paper & paperboard
- Glass
- Metal
- Others
By Packaging Type:
- Primary Packaging
- Secondary Packaging
By Product Type
- 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
- Cartriges
- Others
By Process:
- Recyclable
- Reusable
- Biodegradable
By Region:
- North America
- Aisa Pacific
- Europe
- Middle East & Africa
- South America
The pharmaceutical packaging market has been further analyzed based on key countries in each of these regions.
Recent Developments
- In September 2022, Aptar Pharma launched an innovative dispensing solution that is mono-material and fully recyclable when paired with a PE or PET bottle. It is suitable for a range of viscosities, customizable with two dosage options and two neck size options, and is available in a variety of colors with its unique, three-part design.
- In September 2022, Berry Global Group, Inc. announced a collaboration with Mars Inc. to launch its popular pantry-sized treats in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) jars that have been optimized by including 15% recycled plastic content, i.e., post-consumer resin (PCR).
- In November 2022, Aptar Pharma announced its collaboration with TFF Pharmaceuticals. This collaboration is aimed at developing and testing the administration of dry powder vaccines utilizing TFF Pharmaceutical’s Thin Film Freezing technology and Aptar Pharma’s proprietary intranasal Unidose (UDS) powder nasal spray system.
- In June 2022, WestRock Company announced a partnership with Recipe Unlimited to introduce a line of recyclable paperboard packaging, with the goal of keeping 31 million plastic bottles out of Canada's landfills annually.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
What is the current size of the global sustainable pharmaceutical packaging market?
The global Sustainable pharmaceutical packaging market size is projected to grow from USD 71.6 billion in 2022 to USD 146.3 billion by 2027, at a CAGR of 15.4%.
Are there any regulations for sustainable pharmaceutical packaging?
Several countries in Europe and North America have introduced regulations for this market. For e.g Governments all over the world are encouraging the use of sustainable packaging in order to minimize waste. In March 2020, the European Commission adopted the new circular economy action plan (CEAP). The European Commission transitioned to a circular economy that would reduce pressure on natural resources and create sustainable growth and jobs.
Who are the winners in the global sustainable pharmaceutical packaging market?
Companies such as Schott AG, Amcor PLC, AptarGroup,Inc, West Pharmaceutical Services, Berry Global, Gerresheimer AG, Catalent,Inc, Nolato, SGD Pharma, Origin Pharma, and WestRock under the winner’s category. They have the potential to broaden their product portfolio and compete with other key market players. Such advantages give these companies an edge over other companies.
What are some of the drivers in the sustainable pharmaceutical packaging market?
Consumer preference towards recyclable and eco-friendly materials and government intitative for sustainable packaging are some of the major drivers for sustainable pharmaceutical packaging. .
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The study involved four major activities in estimating the current market size for pharmaceutical packaging. Exhaustive secondary research was done to collect information on the market, peer market, and parent market. The next step was to validate these findings, assumptions, and sizing with industry experts across the value chain through primary research. Both top-down and bottom-up approaches were employed to estimate the complete market size. Thereafter, the market breakdown and data triangulation methodologies were used to estimate the market size of segments and sub-segments.
Secondary Research
In the secondary research process, various secondary sources such as Factiva, Bloomberg, World Bank, Statista, Packaging Industry Associations, Trademap, Zauba, were referred to for identifying and collecting information for this study. These secondary sources included annual reports, press releases & investor presentations of companies, white papers, certified publications, articles by recognized authors, regulations form agencies such as the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), World Health organization (WHO), The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India, regulatory bodies, and databases.
Primary Research
Extensive primary research has been conducted after acquiring an understanding of the sustainable pharmaceutical packaging market scenario through secondary research The pharmaceutical packaging market comprises several stakeholders such as raw material suppliers, distributors of pharmaceutical packaging, end-users, and regulatory organizations in the supply chain. The demand side of this market consists of pharmaceutical drug manufacturers, medical drug filling contractors, hospitals, labs, research institutes, and other healthcare institutions. Several primary interviews have been conducted with market experts from both the demand- (pharmaceutical packaging manufacturers) and supply-side (end-product manufacturers, buyers, and distributors) players across six major regions, namely, North America, Western Europe, Eastern & Central Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and South America.
Following is the breakdown of primary respondents
To know about the assumptions considered for the study, download the pdf brochure
Market Size Estimation
Both top-down and bottom-up approaches were used to estimate and validate the total size of the sustainable pharmaceutical packaging market. These methods were also used extensively to estimate the size of various sub-segments in the market. The research methodology used to estimate the market size includes the following:
- The key players, raw material, product type, process, and packaging type in the industry and markets were identified through extensive secondary research.
- The industry’s supply chain and market size, in terms of value and volume, were determined through primary and secondary research processes.
- All percentage shares, splits, and breakdowns were determined using secondary sources and verified through primary sources.
Data Triangulation
After arriving at the overall market size—using the market size estimation process explained above—the market was split into several segments and sub-segments. In order to complete the overall market engineering process and arrive at the exact statistics of each market segment and sub-segment, the data triangulation, and market breakdown procedures were employed, wherever applicable. The data was triangulated by studying various factors and trends from both the demand and supply of sustainable pharmaceutical packaging and their applications.
Report Objective:
- To analyze and forecast size of thesustainable pharmaceutical packaging market in terms of value and volume.
- To provide detailed information about the key factors (drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges) influencing the growth of the market
- To analyze and forecast the market by type, by raw material, product type, process, packaging type and region.
- To forecast the size of the market with respect to five regions: Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, South America, and the Middle East & Africa, along with their key countries
- To strategically analyze micro markets with respect to individual trends, future prospects, and their contribution to the overall market
- To analyze opportunities in the market for stakeholders and provide a competitive landscape for market leaders.
- To analyze competitive developments such as mergers & acquisitions, new product developments, investments & expansions, and agreements & partnerships in the market
- Strategically profile key players and comprehensively analyze their market shares and core competencies.
Available Customizations:
MarketsandMarkets offers customizations according to the specific needs of the companies with the given market data.
The following customization options are available for the pharmaceutical packaging market report:
Product Analysis
- Product matrix, which provides a detailed comparison of the product portfolio of each company
Regional Analysis
- A further breakdown of the pharmaceutical packaging market, by segments
Company Information
- Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five)
Growth opportunities and latent adjacency in Sustainable Pharmaceutical Packaging Market