Blister Packaging

Global Market Outlook on Blister Packaging

Packaging plays a very important role in certain industries like food, consumer goods, and pharmaceuticals by protecting the product. Pharma packaging requires a higher level of protection to ensure the tablets or capsules are not affected by humidity or any contaminants. In pharma, as well as in other industries, blister packaging is very helpful. This flexible packaging also helps in packing hardware, foils and films, toys, electrical items, etc.

Blisters have a pocket in which the product can be stored. A strip pack containing blister foils is made from a thermoformed plastic. Laminate blister packs that can fold inwards are known as clamshells. They are usually used for electronic goods to prevent pilferage. Blister packaging not only secures the product but can display the product easily. It also can be used for advertising, is tamper-proof, and is less expensive than other forms of packaging.

The global blister packaging market is segmented based on process, material, end-user, and region. The blister packaging industry based on the process is segmented as thermoforming and cold forming, which are the processes used for packaging. In terms of materials used, the market is segmented as plastic films, paperboard, and aluminum). In terms of the end-user industry, it is segmented as pharmaceutical, industrial, food, and consumer goods).

In terms of region, the market is segmented as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), South America, and Middle East-Africa. The North American market leads the pack as 40% of the pharmaceutical industries are based in the US. The blister packaging market trends are favorable thanks to the increasing consumer awareness of product safety. Stringent regulations have ensured companies are moving to blister packing to provide better product safety in packaging.  

• The global market for blister packaging was valued at $15.22 Bn in 2019 and is expected to grow at 4.5–5% until 2024, reaching $17.4 Bn. The growth in pharmaceuticals and consumer goods has a direct impact on the blister packaging market. The blister packaging market size is increasing mainly owing to the demand from the pharmaceutical sector.

• The key players in this sector are Amcor, The Dow chemical company, Honeywell Intl, Klockner Pentaplast Group, Owens-Illinois, and Bemis.   

• Unit-dose packaging, short-cycle medication, and monitored dosage system to improve patient adherence are the driving factors, which is expected to increase the market share of blister packaging to nearly 25% by 2024 in the overall pharmaceutical blister packaging market.

• Details of the global demand breakdown into the region-wise facts and figures are also given in the report.

Demand Market Outlook 

• The need for patient compliance and regulations are the primary drivers for the growth of blisters in the drug blister packaging market.
• Innovation in both product and material has attracted demand in developed regions. Increasing healthcare benefits and the sale of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs promote the growth of blister packs further in emerging regions.
• The region-wise breakup of details of regional supply, capacity, and the key supply trends are described for the different regions.

Global Blister Packaging Market: Drivers and Constraints

Drivers 

Cost-effectiveness

Consumers are gradually switching from conventional bottles for pharmaceutical products to blister packing, which is unit-dose packaging. Pharmaceutical blister packaging is utilized in the healthcare sector for medical devices and drugs. Also, they are commonplace in several broad applications in industrial goods, consumer goods, and food and beverages. Blister packaging consumes lesser resources for packaging, occupies less retail shelf area, and provides an exceptional hang-hook display. As such, blister packing is low-cost compared to other packaging systems, such as rigid bottles, making them cost-efficient.

Outsourcing

Rising investments in healthcare, along with the increasing demand for a comprehensive range of pharmaceutical drugs, has influenced pharmaceutical manufacturers to go with outsourcing via contract development. 

Contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMO) offer services associated with the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and drug manufacturing and packaging.

As major pharmaceutical organizations are rapidly scaling up their outsourcing operations to curb production and packaging expenses, the outlook of the blister packaging market is evolving fast. Moreover, the current trend of outsourcing is boosting the manufacturing volume of pharmaceutical drugs which are wrapped in blister packaging. 

Constraints

Unsuitable for Heavy Items

Blister packaging is not a perfect fix for the packaging of heavy products and is majorly utilized for the purpose of shielding lightweight products. Bulky items exert excess pressure on their paperboard support or the plastic coating wherein they are wrapped. 

This leads to packaging breakage while storing and transporting the items within, further leading to increased cost and product loss. As such, blister packing is not suitable for such items. Also, it is not advisable for precious and delicate items as the fallacious blister packing might break or hamper the items within, leading to a loss to the manufacturers.

Adherence to Stringent Regulations

Strict norms enacted on blister packaging, especially in the healthcare sector, is posing a challenge to the blister packaging manufacturers. Adherence to the regulations is essential as the tiniest deformity in the packaging can damage the items and trigger distributors’ loss. 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has specified that a blister cell label needs to have the patented and established name, lot number, strength, bar code, expiration date, and the manufacturer’s name must show up on all blister cells. Adhering to such norms consumes efforts, resources, and time, which becomes an obstacle for the market players.

Supply Chain –Blister Packaging 

The flow of the supply chain from the raw material through to the final blister pack is illustrated. This supply chain is also classified into tiers

Value Chain Analysis –Blister Packaging 

This part of the report describes the different stages in the value chain of blister packaging. The cost contribution at each stage of the value chain that adds up to the final contribution is detailed for each stage. Each stage has varying levels of importance to the final product. The dynamics of the important players at each stage are clearly listed in the report.

Global Blister Packaging Market Size

• Blister packs occupied nearly 18–19% of the global pharmaceutical packaging during 2019 and is expected to reach 23–25% during the next five years.
• CR packaging with an anti-lock mechanism, pressure-sensitive push-through blisters (AOF), radio-frequency identification (RFID) chip-enabled medication compliance, and senior-friendly features are some of the trends associated with blister packaging.
• Demand is driven by the growing old-age population in Western Europe, which is the largest consumer for blister packs globally. Development in the healthcare system promotes the growth of blister packs in developing regions, such as Asia, Latin America (LATAM), Middle East and Africa.
• The Middle East and Africa blister packing market is showing maximum growth, with a CAGR of 9% during 2019–2024, owing to improved healthcare developments and the sale of OTC drugs.
• There is a shift from plastic containers to blisters in North America to aid better patient compliance for the growing old-age population.

Global Blister Packaging Demand by Component

• Major components used while making blister packs are forming film, lidding material, heat sealant (additives), and ink for printing.
• Forming films account for nearly 80–85 percent, and lidding materials occupy 15–20 percent of the overall blister packaging weight.
• Films are expected to witness the highest growth at a CAGR of 7.5–8 percent during 2018–2023. This is because thermoforming films are preferred over Cold-form Foils (CFF), which are made of Alu completely.
• Lidding materials include paper, film, and Alu sheets. Paper and plastic films are gaining prominence over Alu lidding material, due to ease in innovation pertaining to child-resistance or easy-open-feature.
• These CFF types of packs provide less transparency and slow production speeds compared to thermoformed films, which offers clear visibility and optimizes production.
• Secondary containers, which include folding boxes, cartons, prescription containers, etc., are growing at 7–7.5 percent CAGR.
• Packaging accessories are inserts, shrink material, security components, tamper-evident seals. Packaging inserts are drivers for any packaging format, as it aids patient compliance and provides complete product information.
• Modern-day blister lines can easily pack 1,000–1,200 blisters per minute.

Global Blister Packaging Demand by Type

The evolving customer habits and market demands have fostered the growth of many different types and sizes of blister packaging. This section of the report details the global blister packaging market demand for each different type of blister packaging.

Global Market Outlook 

Each region has a very distinctive supply, capacity, and technology aspect, which is detailed in this section. The buyer power of each region is also described.

Global Trade Dynamics

Both imports and exports have increased worldwide. Some regions have become self-sufficient while others have become exporters. The change in the import-export trade dynamics of each region, the factors driving the change, and the actual volumes of trade are detailed in this section. The volumes of the imports by the major importing countries along with the volumes of imports are described. This report also analyzes the countries that each nation imports from. To that, the market share of the major exporting countries, the volume, and the export percentage to different countries are detailed.

Regional Blister Packaging Market Snapshot

The market dynamics and influencing factors for each region are unique. This section explores each regional market in detail. The global market is divided into the U.S., EMEA, APAC, Central, and South America regions. An overview of the market information and market maturity for each region is given.

Demand Trends and Outlook of the Blister Packaging Industry

The key growth facts and figures of each market over the last few years are presented. The current market status and drivers are detailed. The import share and export share by country are detailed for each individual region.

Why Should You Buy This Report?

This report on the blister packaging market contains qualitative and quantitative analysis by research analysts, first-hand insights, and inputs from industry experts and participants across the value chain. The research study provides holistic evaluations of parent market trends, macro and microeconomic indicators, and game-changing factors in tandem with the market attractiveness in terms of segments and subsegments. It sizes up the key market forces affecting the cost of blister packaging across various regions. Furthermore, this report highlights the key technology development and trends occurring in the global blister packaging market.