Pharma packaging developers combat counterfeit medicine surge with safe and sustainable solutions

Increased rates of counterfeit medicine are inspiring pharmaceutical packagers to advance anti-counterfeit solutions while remaining focused on satisfying environmental sustainability demands and changing legislation. 

The global pharmaceutical packaging market size was valued at US$110.4 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach US$243.7 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 9.2% from 2022 to 2030, according to Straits Research. 

PackagingInsights speaks to industry experts about the key trends in anti-counterfeit and ecological products. They also call for less flux and flow in pharmaceutical packaging legislation based on frustrations from the many changes in laws this year. 

“In an area as complex as pharma, where legislation is in a near-constant state of flux, any kind of stability and assurances for business would be welcome,” says Erwin Klünder, head of sales at healthcare at Graphic Packaging International (GPI).

“What is important is to have a wide range of solutions that are cost-efficient, simple to interpret and easy to implement globally – but difficult to replicate. This is certainly a challenge, but an extremely motivating one, as innovations could change people’s lives,” adds Anniina Loippo, product manager for pharma at UPM Raflatac.