The packaging market is constantly evolving due to available technologies, social pressures/consumers, and government-imposed regulations. This creates significant opportunities for innovation and the development of new packaging solutions with improved functional properties, always with a focus on product and consumer safety, as well as customer satisfaction.
Innovation trends vary greatly across different markets and segments. However, over the past decade, there has been a clear industry trend of investing in the materials used, aiming to find more sustainable solutions for their products without compromising the integrity of the packaged goods. There is also a focus on optimizing material usage. This trend is particularly evident in fast-moving consumer goods and some food products. A holistic approach is taken in the development of packaging, considering the origin and types of materials used, their functionality, as well as what will happen to them after serving their purpose.
The pharmaceutical market has particularly demanding requirements, making innovation in pharmaceutical packaging a unique challenge that differs from other markets. Creativity is essential in developing new solutions for this industry. One of the current limitations is the use of alternative materials to conventional plastics, as there is still insufficient scientific evidence regarding their safety. Currently, disclosed R&D activities are more focused on developing drug administration solutions, particularly for specific cases, and on the development of smart packaging solutions that provide information and safety to users.
It is believed that in the future, with more scientific data and the development of new material solutions, there will be investment in pharmaceutical packaging with novel materials. The development and industrialization of chemical recycling processes can undoubtedly contribute to a more positive lifecycle for packaging.