Global Sterile Medical Packaging Market - 2021-2028

Global Sterile Medical Packaging Market - 2021-2028

Market Overview

The global sterile medical packaging market size was valued US$ XX billion in 2019 and is estimated to reach US$ XX billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of XX % during the forecast period (2021-2028).

The sterile packaging products primarily help protect drugs and medical devices, among other pharmaceutical products, from getting contaminated or from the physical damages. These are tear-resistant, durable, breathable, and have a superior microbial barrier, making the packaging sterile and safe. Good quality, strength, and performance in the sterile barrier can improve the reliability and efficiency of processing and handling the supplies.

Market Dynamics

The sterile medical packaging market growth is driven by the increasing awareness regarding sterilization practices, rise in demand for single-use medical equipment, the surge in usage of sterile packaging systems. In addition, the surge in healthcare awareness among consumers regarding sterile medical supplies, rise in adoption of advanced healthcare devices, increase in demand of disposable devices by ambulatory surgical centers, ongoing development of single disposable use sterile packaging through R & D activities are some factors that drives the growth of the sterile medical packaging market.

High consumption rate of sterile medical packaging in healthcare and pharmaceutical industries, is expected to drive the growth in the forecast period

The sterile medical packaging market is witnessing growing demand from the healthcare industry, specifically from biotechnology industry. The use of plastics and paper & paperboard offers advantages, such as low weight, recyclability, and longevity. Sterile medical packaging also helps protect from damage caused by environmental conditions, such as moisture during transit, leading to a rise in demand from the medical sector. Properties such as microbial barriers make sterile medical packaging the perfect choice in the healthcare industry, where it is used to packaging medical devices and pharmaceutical products. The sterile medical packaging market has a positive outlook due to increasing health awareness and growing concerns for infection control. It is convenient to handle sterile medical packaging products, which drives its demand. The rising consumer income level will move consumer preference toward increased spending on healthcare services, which will support the growth of sterilized medical packaging products. These products require sterile packaging to withstand moisture and other environmental influences that may affect pharmaceutical products. For instance, In June 2020, Placon, a manufacturer of injection molded and thermoformed plastic packaging products headquartered in the United States, announced it is planning to expand its thermoforming production capacity in Elkhart (Indiana).

Stringent regulatory standards for sterile medical packaging are likely to hamper the market growth

Strict regulations concerning the specifications and materials used by the firms in manufacturing sterile medical packaging are expected to restrain the market growth. Compliance with the regulations is required as the small flaw in the packaging can contaminate the product and endanger a patient's life. For instance, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has established several sterilization validation standards, such as ISO 11137 consensus standard for radiation validation. Such standards necessitate specialized skills, resources, money and time, that limit the growth of sterile medical packaging.

COVID-19 Impact Analysis

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has posted a significant impact on market growth. Healthcare systems across the world are being put under unprecedented strain by the devastating impact of COVID-19. Hospital sterilization centers are experiencing increased pressure to ensure the safety of both patients and frontline healthcare workers. The pandemic has opened up opportunities for innovation. Uflex, an FMCG and pharma package manufacturing firm, expects COVID-19 to propel the development of sterile and anti-microbial packaging solutions.

Segment Analysis

The plastic segment is expected to hold largest share in this market segment

Plastic is the largest and fastest-growing raw material used in sterile medical packaging. They are mainly preferred in medical packaging, include polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC), high impact polystyrene (HIPS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and high-density poly ethylene. These plastics are an ideal choice for medical packaging solutions as they offer easy moldability, cost-effectiveness and protective properties. They protect the drugs, devices and medical instruments from contamination and damage.

A huge number of partnerships in the industry have resulted in several innovations. The collaborative efforts between the chemical/polymer resin companies and medical device packaging converters have primarily resulted in new technologies and products. For instance, In November 2019, Sonoco, one of the most sustainable, global packaging companies, acquired Thermoform Engineered Quality, LLC, and Plastique Holdings, LTD, also known as TEQ, a global manufacturer of thermoformed packaging serving healthcare and medical devices. For example, the metallocene is a linear low-density polyethylene that offers greater seal integrity and robust performance. The new oxygen and moisture-barrier resins are autoclave sterilization compatible. The new polymer chemistries offer improved thermoformability performance in both speed and quality. The key focus of the manufacturers has been the improvement of the overall performance of the sterile barrier medical device packaging. This primarily relates to elements, such as physical properties, aged package stability, sterile barrier performance, ease of opening, and materials clarity.

Moreover, hospitals have influenced the packaging industry by demanding more recyclability from the materials used for sterile packaging. Additionally, the ongoing demand for lower costs/pricing drives various innovations in the industry with materials and packaging designs. In June 2020, Placon, a manufacturer of injection molded and thermoformed plastic packaging products headquartered in the United States, announced it is planning to expand its thermoforming production capacity in Elkhart (Indiana). This is intended to meet the increasing demand for medical packaging. Likewise, there are other such companies who are gradually contributing to the sterile medical packaging industry.

The thermoform tray segment is expected to hold largest share in this market segment

These thermoform trays are versatile and easy to transport because of their low weight. Thermoformed trays are manufactured from plastics, come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and are equipped for internal use. Plastic trays have a highly versatile packaging design as the plastics used for trays can be molded to form different shapes by the thermoforming process. This versatility makes them advantageous for everything. Semi-rigid and flexible are two types of thermoform trays used in the healthcare industry. For example, Thermoformed trays sealed with DuPont Tyvek® lipstock are 100% synthetic material made from high-density spunbound polyethylene fibers. It is lightweight, durable and breathable, yet resistant to water, abrasion, bacterial penetration and aging.

For instance, in April 2021, Amcor announced consumer trials of the world's prime recyclable Polyethylene-based thermoform blister packaging, building on its recent developments to offer recyclable packaging. The new packaging meets the strict criteria of highly specialized and regulated pharmaceutical packaging while also providing a more sustainable alternative to the most popular healthcare packaging. This innovation also benefits from a carbon footprint reduction of up to 70%.

The pharmaceutical & biopharmaceutical segment is expected to hold largest share in this market segment

The pharmaceutical & biopharmaceutical application is projected to lead the sterile medical packaging market. The growth of this segment can be attributed to the growing healthcare industry and the advent of new healthcare medicines. Technological advancements have optimized and integrated the sterile packaging process of pharmaceutical products and made it more capital-intensive. This process reduces the risk of contamination. More than 80 classes of over-the-counter (OTC) medications are prescribed every year, ranging from acne medicines to weight loss products. In 2019, the United States was still the largest single pharmaceutical market, generating more than 490 billion U.S. revenue. Europe was responsible for generating around 195 billion U.S. dollars. The processing and packaging of pharmaceutical & biological products go through various inspections and quality checks and ensure that they adhere to regulatory compliance about the drug contents and the material used in packaging. Several pharmaceutical companies are switching to environmentally friendly sterile packaging to meet their sustainability goals. For instance, in September 2020, Johnson & Johnson consumer health division invested $800 million through 2030 to adopt future sustainable packaging solutions.

Geographical Analysis

North America region holds the largest market share of global sterile medical packaging market

North America is expected to be one of the largest markets for sterile medical packaging, primarily owing to the many players and stringent regulations imposed by the USFDA, the market has become very competitive in the region, which, in turn, is driving the demand for sustainable and high-quality products in this region. To gain a sustainable advantage over the competitors, companies in the area are increasingly offering better packaging solutions.

A significant challenge for the market in this region is the availability of counterfeit drugs and packaging. The United States, which has multiple regulations to prevent the manufacture and distribution of these counterfeit medical products, is witnessing the penetration of fake and substandard drugs in the market.

Furthermore, in 2020, MedAccred announced to continue its expansion and support for the medical device industry. MedAccred has added new sterile device packaging and plastics mechanical assembly audit processes, added four new subscribers and accredited many new suppliers within the last year. The program is also entering its second year of partnering with the US Department of Commerce through the Medical Manufacturers MedAccred Accreditation Pathway (MedMMAP) for manufacturers and suppliers seeking accreditation.

Competitive Landscape

The global sterile medical packaging market is highly competitive with presence of global companies. Some of the key players which are contributing to the growth of the market include Amcor PLC, Dupont De Nemours, Inc., West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc., Sonoco Products Company, 3M Company, Ampac Group, Oracle Packaging, Steripack Ltd, Wipak Group, and Placon Corporation, among others. The major players are adopting several growth strategies such as product launches, acquisitions, and collaborations, which are contributing to the growth of the market globally. For instance, in August 2021, The US Department of Defense (DoD), in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has approved SteriPack Group (""SteriPack"") a USD 14.743 million contract to develop domestic production capability for XpressCollectTM used in support of COVID-19 diagnostic testing.

Key Companies to Watch

Amcor PLC

Overview: Amcor plc is an Australian-American, Swiss domiciled packaging company. It develops and produces flexible packaging, rigid containers, specialty cartons, closures and services for food, beverage, pharmaceutical, medical-device, home and personal care, and other products. There are ~47,000 employees located in 40+ countries.

Product Portfolio: The Company’s medical and pharmaceutical packaging portfolio comprised of include oral, dermal, medical devices, hospital packaging, injectables, pulmonary, ophthalmic and vision care.

Key Developments: For instance, in June 2021, Amcor has introduced a multi-chamber pouch explicitly designed for drug-device combo goods. For the first time in Europe, the new Amcor Dual Chamber Pouch uses a high-strength foil laminate to guard against light, moisture, and oxygen penetration, extending shelf life and improving medicine efficacy. One side is peelable, allowing for aseptic presentation and convenient device access. The second non-peelable chamber houses the desiccant sachet or other scavenging technologies.

Why Purchase the Report?
• Visualize the composition of the sterile medical packaging market segmentation by product type, application and region highlighting the key commercial assets and players.
• Identify commercial opportunities in sterile medical packaging market by analyzing trends and co-development deals.
• Excel data sheet with thousands of data points of sterile medical packaging market - level 4/5 segmentation.
• PDF report with the most relevant analysis cogently put together after exhaustive qualitative interviews and in-depth market study.
• Product mapping in excel for the key product of all major market players

The global sterile medical packaging market report would provide an access to an approx. 40+ market data table, 45+ figures and 180 pages.

Target Audience
• Service Providers/ Buyers
• Industry Investors/Investment Bankers
• Education & Research Institutes
• Research Professionals
• Emerging Companies
• Manufacturers

Market Segmentation

Global Sterile Medical Packaging Market - By Material type
• Plastic - PP, Polyester, PS, PVC, HDPE, etc.
• Paper and Paperboard
• Glass
• Metal
• Others

Global Sterile Medical Packaging Market – By Product Type
• Thermoform Trays
• Sterile Bottles and Containers
• Pouches and Bags
• Blisters Packs
• Vials and Ampoules
• Pre-Filled Syringes
• Wraps
• Others

Global Sterile Medical Packaging Market – By Application
• Pharmaceutical & Biopharmaceutical
• Surgical and Medical Appliances
• IVD
• Other Applications

Global Sterile Medical Packaging Market - By Region
• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• Middle East & Africa
• South America