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

The North America Pharmaceutical Blister Packaging Market size is estimated at USD 10.06 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 13.23 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 5.62% during the forecast period (2024-2029).

The growing importance of modern packaging in the pharmaceutical industry has led brands to influence the potential of distinctive packaging design to stand out and increase profitability.

Key Highlights

• Blister packaging is witnessing growth in North America. The increase in over-the-counter drugs has also provided an impetus to the market. Growing pressure on pharmaceutical companies to manufacture medicines that are different in packaging is hard to replicate and are made available for patients due to disease growth. Stringent government regulations against counterfeit drugs are among the significant factors propelling the market.
• Blister packaging provides an efficient method of anti-counterfeit systems, like banknote authentication systems. The use of innovative technologies in blisters, such as RFID, deployed with a seal applied outside the packaging, is growing due to the potential to offer individual security throughout supply chains.
• New product innovations are being designed to deliver more choices. For instance, in June 2023, Pharmaworks and Serpa, brands of ProMach Inc., introduced the new, fully integrated blister transport system (BTS) at Pack Expo Las Vegas, which is ideal for pharmaceutical, medical device, biotech, nutraceutical, and other products. The new BTS transfers blisters from a blister machine and collates them to feed a carton, handling a range of blister format sizes and collating up to ten blisters per bucket. The new BTS will help address the challenge of the packaging line, which is the transfer point. This will reduce the need for separate systems for blister packaging.
• The blister packaging in the pharmaceuticals includes tablets and sachet packing of dispersible powders. Flexible packaging materials such as plastic, paper, and more are used for blister packaging. Any change in the region's regulations and standards for packaging would impact the market growth over the forecast period.
• Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic created a need for good-quality pharmaceutical packaging as it raised concerns about the virus' ability to survive on packaging surfaces. Further, according to the American Hospital Association, an increasing number of Americans are handling chronic health diseases that are ongoing and typically not curable. A calculated 133 million Americans, nearly half the residents, have at least one chronic illness, such as hypertension, heart disease, and arthritis. Heart disease affects more than 79 million Americans and is responsible for 40% of all deaths.

North America Pharmaceutical Blister Packaging Market Trends

Plastic Blister Packaging to Witness Growth in the Region

• The fundamental characteristic of blister packages is the capability of sealing individual tablets or capsules within dedicated cavities for each dose. It is typically made of thermo-formed plastics or cold-form processes to protect the drug from contaminants such as moisture, oxygen, and even light by utilizing the plastic film barrier.
• Track and trace solutions integrated with blister packaging applications drive the market as they can trace an individual product dose back to a single blister cavity. They also give the manufacturer, pharmacists, and patients a mechanism to verify and confirm if their product is authentic.
• The steady growth of the pharmaceutical industry is pushing the demand-supply curve upward, and various guidelines for pharmaceutical packaging are also catalyzing blister packaging manufacturers' change. For instance, per FDA guidelines, pharmaceutical packaging must have features that avert mix-ups and cross-contamination and specify processes for examining packaging for suitability before packaging operations, a measure met by blister packaging.
• The aging population is increasing rapidly and is expected to continue during the forecast period, leading to high demand for pharmaceuticals and market growth. The rising incidence of chronic diseases such as cancer and infectious diseases and the aging population needing advanced and patient-friendly packaging is also expected to drive the blister packaging market during the forecast period. Blister packaging is a convenient and easy-to-use packaging format for solid oral medicines. This is especially accurate for older patients who often have difficulty opening medicine bottles.
• According to ChildStats and the US Census Bureau, the share of the old age population in 2022 was 17.3%, increasing from 16.9% in 2021. The share is anticipated to increase to 20.6% by 2030. The rise in the country's senior population is expected to further drive the demand for elder care, leveraging the demand for pharmaceutical blister packaging during the forecast period.

The United States to be the Fastest-growing Country

• Blister packaging is noticing growth in the country. The high safety offered by blister packaging solutions raises the demand for these solutions. An increase in over-the-counter drugs is also a driving factor in the market.
• In April 2024, Pharmaworks, a Promach product brand, debuted its new capability to handle recyclable, mono-material packaging films on its blister machines at Interphex. The company will provide upgrades for installed Pharmaworks blister machines in the field. It can rebuild blister machines from other suppliers to handle these new sustainable films. As North America's blister machine manufacturer, the company is helping improve sustainability by ensuring its equipment is compatible with the new mono-base and mono-lid materials.
• The market is witnessing growth with benefits offered by blister packaging, including helping patients efficiently manage their medication schedules. The individual compartments enable verification of whether a dose has been taken or missed, thereby reducing the possibility of medication errors. Blister pack packaging finds usage for medications requiring precise dosing, like birth control pills, and over-the-counter products, such as vitamins and supplements. Additionally, it is frequently employed in hospitals to dispense medications to patients.
• In March 2023, Adare Pharma Solutions, a contract development and manufacturing organization, announced it had chosen Vantage Solutions to lead a significant upgrade of its pharmaceutical packaging capabilities. Vantage's upgrades will allow Adare to serve its clients’ needs at its FDA-registered packaging facility in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The site delivers a full range of solid-dose contract packaging services at clinical and commercial scales, including blister packs and other products.
• According to Lakeside Pharmacy, blister packs provide a safe and convenient way to take the prescribed medication. Each day, any medication patients need is separated from the rest into small packs, making it a suitable choice. According to the Drug Channels Institute, the leading pharmacies in the United States in 2023 based on prescription revenue was topped by CVS Health Corporation, which was USD 159.4 billion, and Walgreens Boots Alliance took the second position with USD 91.1 billion in the same year.

North America Pharmaceutical Blister Packaging Industry Overview

The pharmaceutical blister packaging market is fragmented, with various major players such as Amcor Limited, Constantia Flexibles, Westrock Company, Klockner Pentaplast Group, and Sonoco Products Company operating in the industry. The players are focused on expanding their business in the region through acquisitions, collaborations, mergers, and more.

• January 2024: TekniPlex Healthcare joined forces with Alpek Polyester to introduce pharmaceutical-grade polyethylene terephthalate (PET) blister film, including 30% post-consumer recycled (PCR) monomers. This innovative collaboration aims to offer pharmaceutical companies a fully recyclable blister pack option that aligns with strict quality standards for product protection and consumer safety while contributing to environmental sustainability.
• July 2023: Constantia Flexibles unveiled its latest pharmaceutical packaging solution, the cold-form foil REGULA CIRC. This cutting-edge technology sets a unique standard for sustainability in blister packaging, delivering many benefits for consumers and the planet. With circularity at its core, REGULA CIRC is developed to comply with forthcoming regulations and legislation, providing a complete barrier solution that fulfills the highest sustainable packaging standards.

Additional Benefits:

• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
• 3 months of analyst support

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