Pharmaceutical Plastic Packaging Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, & Forecast Segmented By Raw Material (Polypropylene (PP), Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE), High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Other), By Product Type (Solid Containers, Dropper Bottles, Nasal Spray Bottles, Liquid Bottles, Oral Care, Pouches, Vials and Ampoules, Cartridges, Syringes, Caps and Closures, Other), By Region, Competition 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 79.61 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	6.57%
Fastest Growing Segment	Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 116.62 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Pharmaceutical Plastic Packaging Market will grow from USD 79.61 Billion in 2025 to USD 116.62 Billion by 2031 at a 6.57% CAGR. Pharmaceutical plastic packaging encompasses a diverse range of polymeric containment solutions, including rigid bottles, vials, blister packs, and prefilled syringes designed to preserve drug stability and ensure patient safety. The market is primarily propelled by the escalating global prevalence of chronic diseases and an aging population necessitating reliable medication delivery systems. Furthermore, the intrinsic advantages of plastics, such as their lightweight nature, durability, and design flexibility compared to traditional glass, continue to drive their adoption in pharmaceutical logistics.

Despite this expansion, the sector faces a significant impediment arising from intensifying environmental scrutiny and stringent regulatory frameworks regarding plastic waste. Manufacturers must navigate these sustainability pressures while maintaining strict compliance with safety standards. The scale of this sector is considerable. According to the Flexible Packaging Association, in 2024, medical and pharmaceutical applications accounted for approximately 17% of flexible packaging demand. This substantial market share underscores the magnitude of the challenge as the industry strives to balance essential healthcare needs with evolving environmental mandates.

Key Market Drivers

The expansion of the biologics and injectable drug markets is fundamentally altering the landscape of pharmaceutical plastic packaging, necessitating high-performance containment solutions. As complex large-molecule therapies and GLP-1 weight-loss drugs surge in popularity, manufacturers are shifting towards advanced polymer syringes and auto-injectors that offer superior break resistance and dimensional precision compared to traditional glass. This structural shift is directly translating into revenue gains for specialized manufacturers. According to Gerresheimer, September 2024, in the 'Preliminary figures for Q3 and first nine months of the 2024 financial year', the Plastics & Devices division reported organic revenue growth of 9.2% for the nine-month period, a performance largely attributed to the robust demand for these medical plastic systems.

Simultaneously, the adoption of sustainable and eco-friendly packaging solutions has emerged as a critical imperative, forcing the industry to balance safety with circular economy principles. Companies are aggressively integrating post-consumer recycled (PCR) resins and lightweight designs to comply with tightening environmental regulations and client sustainability targets. According to Amcor, October 2024, in the '2024 Sustainability Report', the company purchased over 224,000 metric tons of recycled material globally to support the transition toward circular packaging portfolios. This drive for scale and sustainability is also triggering major industrial consolidation. According to Amcor, in 2024, the company announced a definitive agreement to acquire Berry Global in a transaction valued at approximately $8.4 billion, a strategic move poised to reshape the global healthcare packaging supply chain.

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Key Market Challenges

The intensifying environmental scrutiny and stringent regulatory frameworks regarding plastic waste constitute a formidable barrier to the growth of the Global Pharmaceutical Plastic Packaging Market. This regulatory pressure hampers the market by forcing manufacturers to divert significant resources toward compliance rather than capacity expansion or innovation in standard logistics. Companies must navigate a complex landscape of new laws demanding recyclability and waste reduction, which often requires expensive reformulation of packaging materials to ensure they meet both sustainability mandates and critical drug safety standards. The necessity to validate these eco-friendly alternatives creates operational bottlenecks, effectively slowing the time-to-market for pharmaceutical products and increasing overall production costs.

The sheer volume of material utilized in the sector amplifies the urgency of these regulations, making the compliance burden even heavier. According to the Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council, in 2024, global healthcare plastics production was projected to reach 48 billion pounds by 2025. This significant figure illustrates the massive environmental footprint that regulators are aiming to curtail, thereby tightening the constraints under which the pharmaceutical packaging industry must operate.

Key Market Trends

The implementation of on-pack anti-counterfeiting serialization is fundamentally reshaping the sector as manufacturers align with rigorous track-and-trace mandates like the Drug Supply Chain Security Act. This trend compels the integration of 2D data matrix barcodes and tamper-evident features directly onto plastic bottles and vials to ensure end-to-end supply chain visibility and patient safety. The industry has made substantial progress in establishing the digital infrastructure required for this transparency, moving beyond basic regulatory compliance to operational optimization. According to the Healthcare Distribution Alliance, August 2025, in the 'HDA Statement on DSCSA Implementation Milestone For Distributors', a survey of members revealed that the median level of accurate data exchange between trading partners at the piece level had reached 98.5% as of early June, signaling a mature adoption of these security protocols.

Simultaneously, the integration of smart adherence tracking technologies is transforming standard plastic packaging into connected digital assets. By embedding Radio Frequency Identification inlays and Near Field Communication tags into labels and closures, pharmaceutical companies are enabling automated inventory management and real-time medication verification in hospital settings. This connectivity addresses critical challenges in stock visibility and drug integrity while streamlining clinical workflows. According to Schreiner MediPharm, August 2025, in the press release 'Schreiner MediPharm & Bluesight Introduce RFID-Based Inventory Solution', the company's collaboration with KitCheck has successfully captured over 325 million units of injectable emergency and anesthetic drugs to date, highlighting the substantial industrial scale of adoption for these intelligent packaging systems.

Segmental Insights

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) has emerged as the fastest-growing segment in the Global Pharmaceutical Plastic Packaging Market, driven by its exceptional balance of durability and chemical inertness. Manufacturers increasingly prefer PET over glass due to its shatterproof nature and reduced weight, which significantly lowers transportation costs. Additionally, the material provides an effective barrier against oxygen and moisture, essential for preserving formulation efficacy. The extensive approval of PET by regulatory agencies, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, for pharmaceutical applications further accelerates its adoption, particularly for liquid and oral solid dosage forms requiring stringent safety compliance.

Regional Insights

North America leads the Global Pharmaceutical Plastic Packaging Market, supported by its extensive pharmaceutical manufacturing infrastructure and high healthcare expenditure. The region’s dominance is driven by the growing demand for biologics and specialty medications, which require specialized, sterile plastic containment. Furthermore, stringent regulatory frameworks established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mandate rigorous standards for patient safety, tamper evidence, and child-resistant features. These requirements compel manufacturers to utilize high-quality, compliant plastic packaging solutions, thereby reinforcing North America’s primary position in the global landscape.

Recent Developments

• In January 2025, SCHOTT Pharma launched a next-generation prefillable polymer syringe system designed to enhance safety and efficiency in the healthcare sector. The new system features an innovative cap design that provides tamper evidence at the individual syringe level, thereby reducing the risk of drug waste. Developed in collaboration with partners from the Alliance to Zero, the solution includes an integrated label with first-opening indication and options for RFID tracking. The company highlighted that the system's carton secondary packaging eliminates the need for plastic blister packs, which significantly lowers the carbon footprint of the entire supply chain while saving storage space.
• In December 2024, Berry Global Healthcare introduced a new line of clarified polypropylene (PP) jars and bottles branded as ClariPPil, targeting the oral solid dose pharmaceutical market. These containers were developed as a sustainable alternative to colored PET bottles, offering improved recyclability and a reported reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of up to 71% compared to traditional materials. The company stated that the new packaging provides a high moisture barrier and is compatible with standard child-resistant closures. This launch addressed the growing industry demand for clear, aesthetically pleasing, and environmentally responsible packaging solutions for vitamins, supplements, and over-the-counter medications.
• In November 2024, the Sanner Group expanded its manufacturing footprint by establishing a new facility in Greensboro, North Carolina, dedicated to pharmaceutical packaging and medical device components. The site was designed to house advanced injection molding and desiccant filling machinery, specifically to produce desiccant packaging solutions that protect moisture-sensitive drugs. This expansion allowed the company to serve the North American market more directly with its portfolio of healthcare packaging products. The facility included clean room capabilities to ensure compliance with stringent quality standards required for pharmaceutical production and to meet the increasing demand for secure supply chains.
• In January 2024, Bormioli Pharma collaborated with Loop Industries to unveil a novel pharmaceutical packaging bottle manufactured from 100% recycled virgin-quality polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin. Presented at a major European packaging exhibition, the bottle was the result of a year-long partnership aimed at introducing market-ready, sustainable solutions for the industry. Extensive testing confirmed that the recycled resin met strict pharmacopeia standards and did not release toxicologically relevant substances. This development offered pharmaceutical companies a secure and compliant option to reduce their environmental impact through the use of circular packaging materials without compromising safety or performance.

Key Market Players

• Gerresheimer AG
• Amcor PLC
• Berry Plastics Group Inc.
• Aptar Group Inc.
• Berk Company LLC
• Pretium Packaging LLC
• Klockner Pentaplast Group Ltd
• Comar LLC
• Gil Plastic Products Ltd
• Drug Plastics Group Inc

By Raw Material	By Product Type	By Region
Polypropylene (PP) Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Other	Solid Containers Dropper Bottles Nasal Spray Bottles Liquid Bottles Oral Care Pouches Vials and Ampoules Cartridges Syringes Caps and Closures Other	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Pharmaceutical Plastic Packaging Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Pharmaceutical Plastic Packaging Market, By Raw Material:

• Polypropylene (PP)
• Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
• Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
• High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
• Other

• Pharmaceutical Plastic Packaging Market, By Product Type:

• Solid Containers
• Dropper Bottles
• Nasal Spray Bottles
• Liquid Bottles
• Oral Care
• Pouches
• Vials and Ampoules
• Cartridges
• Syringes
• Caps and Closures
• Other

• Pharmaceutical Plastic Packaging Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE