Cold Form Blister Packaging Market Trends

Growth Drivers

• Surging need for food safety: Cold form blister packaging offers superior properties against moisture, light, and oxygen, which are crucial for preserving the freshness and extending the shelf life of food products. Moreover, the increasing popularity of specialty foods such as organic products and dietary supplements is driving demand for packaging solutions that ensure product safety and quality, and cold form blister packaging is well-suited to such needs. For instance, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. organic retail sales in 2021 were estimated to be more than USD 52 billion, or about 5.5% of all retail food sales.

• Increasing focus on sustainability: The drive for sustainability is leading to significant advancements in cold form blister packaging, with a focus on reducing environmental impact and meet consumer and regulatory demands for more eco-friendly solutions. Governments and regulatory bodies worldwide are implementing stricter regulations on packaging waste. For instance, the European Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWR) aims to minimize packaging waste and promote recycling. To comply with these regulations, manufacturers are adopting more sustainable cold form blister packaging options.
• Expanding consumer electronics sector: As consumer electronics become more advanced, they often come with numerous small parts and accessories that need secure and organized packaging. Cold form blister packaging offers precise and customizable compartments to keep these components neatly arranged and protected.

Challenges

• Fluctuations in aluminum prices: Thin aluminum-containing laminate film sheets are used in the cold-forming blister packing method, which can be expensive, and impact the overall production cost. Globally, the price of aluminum has fluctuated significantly over the last ten years owing to the equilibrium between supply and demand, geopolitical tensions, economic slowdown, and natural disasters.

• Presence of alternatives: The most popular type of blister pack is thermoformed, which employs clear PVC material provides a variety of seal options, and safeguards the goods during travel as it is strong, resilient, and impervious to tampering. Besides this, heat seal blister cards, a form of blister packing produced by applying heat, are the perfect packaging option for pharmacies to shield food items and medications from impurities, moisture, and air. All these factors may limit the adoption of cold form blister packaging.