Packaging refers to enclosing of a product in a container in order to protect and store it. In the pharmaceutical industry, packaging plays a crucial role in ensuring the strength and integrity of a product. Further, the type of raw material utilized for packaging highly depends on the type of product / drug enclosed. Glass, plastic, metals, cardboard and wood are some of the most commonly used raw materials in the healthcare industry. However, a huge amount of waste is generated due to these conventional raw materials primarily due to their inability to decompose naturally. It is worth highlighting that over 500 million tonnes of waste is generated through pharmaceutical packaging globally. The global demand for pharmaceutical products is also increasing continuously, hence imposing a burden on the environment. Therefore, there is a menacing need to shift towards alternative sustainable raw materials for packaging.
The sustainable packaging market size is projected to grow from $9.67 billion in 2024 to $19.19 billion by 2035, representing a CAGR of 6.43%, during the forecast period till 2035.
The use of recycled paper, plastic and cardboard has emerged as a promising alternative to conventional pharmaceutical packaging raw materials. These materials help in optimizing both cost and sustainability of the process. They have also been formulated to decompose naturally and leave no harmful residues in the environment. This has helped in substantially lowering the environmental impact, when compared to other traditional petroleum plastics. Further, they are manufactured under strict regulatory guidelines which ensures the safety and integrity of the packaging product. Owing to these advantages, green packaging materials have garnered considerable attention from the players involved in the healthcare industry. Additionally, given the increased consumer awareness about the negative impacts on environment in terms of increase in greenhouse gas emissions and growing accumulation of waste in landfills due to conventional packaging materials, paradigm shift in consumer preference has been observed towards the use eco friendly packaging materials. In this regard, many sustainable packaging companies have started the development of novel green packaging solutions made up of raw materials such as corn starch, sugarcane, cotton wool and cassava.
Need for Sustainable Pharmaceutical Packaging
Conventional packaging raw materials have several drawbacks when compared to sustainable packaging including its dependency on fossil fuels, single-use nature, inability to biodegrade, chemical leaching and negative public perception. Further, globally, only 2% of plastic packaging materials are recycled, while others are either incinerated or dumped into landfills and water bodies. It is important to mention that 30% of the plastic packaging materials are either too complex or too small to recycle; examples include sachets and wrappers. This has resulted in causing a negative impact on the environment. These packaging materials are a major concern to the environment, hence stirring an alarming need for research in this domain.
The Future of Sustainable Packaging Market
In recent years, the pharmaceutical industry has witnessed significant developments related to biodegradable / recyclable materials (potential alternatives to plastics); some of these are being widely used for packaging purposes. One such material is plastic made from sugarcane, which is biodegradable in nature. This product has shown promising results in terms of strength and has majority of advantages, such as non-reactivity and robustness, when compared to traditional petroleum plastics. Further, other plastic alternatives, such as polylactic acid obtained from corn starch, sugarcane and cassava, can serve as excellent materials for sustainable packaging.
These novel and sustainable packaging raw materials hold a promise to eliminate the unprecedented issue of environmental degradation in the pharmaceutical industry. This will eventually lead to a sustainable future not only in the pharmaceutical domain but in many other industries. Further, we believe that with increasing awareness, the sustainable packaging market space is likely to witness increased adoption in the coming years.
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