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 blister packaging market is projected to increase with a CAGR 0f 6.5 to 7 %  from 2023 to 2027 and reach USD 29 Billion by 2027. The global market for blister packaging is growing steadily  driven by factors such as increasing demand for unit-dose packaging, short-cycle medication, and monitored dosage systems to improve patient adherence.

• 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 

• Unit-dose blister packaging in pharmaceutical packaging has become increasingly popular due to its advantages such as ease of use, protection against contamination, and precise dosing. In developed regions such as North America and Europe, the demand for blister packaging has been driven by the increasing use of prescription drugs, and the need for safe and efficient packaging solutions.
• 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 

Regulations

• Regulatory bodies (such as, the FDA and EU Legislation) are taking stringent measures to ensure patient-compliance which is provided by blister packs compared to other packaging formats

• In an effort to avoid dispensing errors, the FDA has made it mandatory for all hospitals/clinics and pharmacies to provide medication in unit-dose format. This sees the market shift from plastic bottles to blisters in the US, driving the demand

Patient Compliance

• Improved patient compliance, child-resistance and senior-friendly features will be the major market drivers

Off-Patenting and Clinical Trails

• Off patenting of drugs will boost the growth of OTC sales, especially in emerging regions such as APAC and MEA

• Blister packaging is the most preferred type of packaging in clinical trails, mainly due to patient compliance and other features, such as expanded label content, high visibility and built-in track-and-trace features

Constraints

Recyclability

• Segregation of multiple materials, like Alu and plastics, hinder the process for efficient recycling blister packs but increasing innovations in mono-material solutions have helped increase the recyclability

Dosage

• Blister packs cater to short-cycle medication and unit-dosage formats, long-term medication requiring dosage titration would not be possible

Cost

• Volatile prices of plastic resins such as PE or PP and fluctuations in Alu foil prices affect the overall cost of blister packs compared to other pharmaceutical packaging

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

• In 2023, blister packs accounted for around 23% of the total pharmaceutical packaging globally, and it is projected to increase with a CAGR 0f 6.5 to 7 %  from 2023 to 2027 and reach USD 29 Billion by 2027. Some of the latest trends in blister packaging include CR packaging with anti-lock mechanism, pressure sensitive push-through blisters (AOF), medication compliance enabled by RFID chips, and senior-friendly features.

• European demand is driven by growing old age population in Western Europe, which is the largest consumer base  for blister packs globally, development in healthcare system promotes the growth of blister packs in developing regions, like Asia, LATAM, Middle East and Africa

• Asia Pacific and LATAM are expected to show maximum growth, with a CAGR of 8.3 percent and 7.2 percent, respectively, during 2023-2027, owing to improved healthcare developments and sale of OTC drugs

• There is a shift from plastic containers to blister in North America to aid better patient compliance for the growing old age population

Global Blister Packaging Demand by Component

• There is an increasing trend in the usage of thermoformed blisters, as it attracts customer attention by providing clear visibility of the product along with barrier properties

• A shift towards thermoformed blister packs will reduce the use of Alu, thereby improving process efficiency and cost

• 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 witnessing high growth, as 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

• Packaging accessories are inserts, shrink material, security components, tamper evident seals. Packaging inserts are drivers for any packaging format, as it aides patient compliance and provide complete product information

• Modern day blister lines can easily pack 1,000–1,200 blisters per minute

Global Blister Packaging Market by Type

• On-the-go medication, convenience, and privacy foster the growth of wallet packs in developed regions, like North America and Europe

• Carded blister packaging solutions are expected to witness continued growth due to its ability to form different shapes, increased stack ability, and improved damage prevention

• Compartment packs account for the largest share in the market, and it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4-6 percent from 2023 to 2027. They offer bulk dosage of 30 or 60, with senior-friendly push-peel packaging

• Slide packs are gradually gaining prominence growing at a CAGR of 6.5–7 percent during 2023-2027, since they provide better CR features than the other blister types in locking mechanism

• Compartment and slide packs are voluminous in demand, wallet packs are expected to post high growth at a steady CAGR of 8.5-9 percent during 2023-2027

• These packs offer convenience, in terms of adherence, as the booklet/product information remains in the pack. This is done either by printing on the side of the folding cartons or by inserting booklet in separate panel

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.