The key function of healthcare packaging to protect medical devices and drugs from contamination and damage will drive demand for the foreseeable future. According to Future Market Insights, the market will rise at more than 5 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR), reaching a valuation of over $37.2 billion in 2021.
 
These products are sterilized and have unique specifications, minimizing the risk of contaminants and unwanted reactions. Metal and glass packaging formats are commonly used materials for medical devices even as weight and breakage concerns hold back adoption.
 
High-quality plastic packaging material is gaining ground as it meets the stringent standards of the medical and healthcare packaging industry. Plastic materials such as polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate can help safeguard healthcare products.
 
Plastic packaging in the healthcare industry can be found in the form of blister packaging, bottles, containers, IV bags, medication tubes, prefilled inhalers, syringes, caps and closures and even medical devices such as incubators and surgical machines.
 
The proliferation of medical devices in hospitals and in home care settings is reducing the dependency on clinical support. Across the global market, consumption of plastic healthcare packaging is expected to remain high in European and North American countries, due to the presence of key players of the market and easier availability of technological advancements.
 
Countries in Asia Pacific are witnessing rapid developments in terms of pharmaceutical drug inventions which in turn is triggering the growth of the plastic healthcare packaging sector for the coming decade.
 
Prefilled inhalers, syringes and cartridges are anticipated to grow owing to the use of prescribed units dosing, creating an incremental opportunity of $9.7 billion by 2031.
 
Polypropylene plastic healthcare packaging is gaining traction and is forecast to increase by 400 bps to reach up to 37.3 percent in 2031, supported by cost efficiency.
 
Germany holds the lead in the Europe market, accounting for over $1 billion in 2021, supported by expansion of production facilities.
 
The United States holds 66.7 percent of the North America market value share in 2021, with the presence of matured healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors.
 
China and Japan are fast-growing markets in East Asia reflecting CAGRs of over 8.5 percent, driven by higher consumer demand and growing investments towards product research.
 
Impact of COVID-19 on Plastic Healthcare Packaging Market
The COVID 19 pandemic has spread across the globe and its impact on the healthcare sector has been significant, positively affecting industries that provide essential items. Demand for plastic packaging in healthcare will rise across different countries owing to consumer demand for dietary supplements, and essential medications, required to combat the spread of the virus.
 
The COVID-19 outbreak has also affected the prices of the raw materials such as the price of oil based raw materials. At the same time the lockdown hasn’t been favorable for overseas supply of raw materials or end products especially for manufacturers who majorly rely on the international supply chains.
 
Factors such as demand, supply, cost of production, and government actions to diminish the impact of pandemic have led to moderate growth of the plastic healthcare packaging market.
 
Who is Winning?
The tier 3 players in the plastic healthcare packaging market hold 70 percent to 80 percent of the global plastic healthcare packaging value share. Market leaders contribute almost 20 percent to 30 percent of the global demand. Market participants are largely focusing on capacity and product portfolio expansion strategies.
 
Wipak Ltd., Aptar Group Inc., West Rock Company, West Pharmaceutical Services Inc., Bilcare Limited, Gerresheimer AG, and Constantia Flexibles Group, among others, are the prominent players in the global plastic healthcare packaging market.