Clamshell style packaging has been placed as the forerunner in the burgeoning high visibility packaging industry, with blister packs also on the increase according to a US research company.
The Freedonia Group, who carried out the research, expects the high visibility sector of the US packaging industry to grow by 5.1 per cent a year to $8.5bn (€6.4bn) by 2010.
The growth in this area will be driven by increased consumer spending and mass market retailers, who prefer the high visibility option as a combined marketing tool and theft deterrent.
While clamshell style packs are due to see an increase of 6.5 per cent per year, reaching $2.7bn (€2bn) by 2010, carded blister packs are due to see an even sharper increase of 7.6 per cent per year.
This will take the demand from approximately $1.8bn in 2005 to an estimated $2.5bn by 2010, largely stimulated by regulations regarding unit dose packaging, but also its adaptability for use in clinical trial, sample and over-the-counter formats.
"Demand for high visibility packaging in the pharmaceutical market is projected to expand 8.3 per cent per year to $1.7bn in 2010, driven by expanding usage of blister packs as a result of FDA regulations favouring unit dose packaging," the report states.
"Favourable sales growth for blister packs will be aided by their advantageous appearance, functional and convenience features, as well as their ability to improve patient medication compliance and institutional drug distribution efficiency."
The US pharmaceutical packaging industry is made up of around 450 companies, with the top eight supplying over 30 per cent of total demand for pharmaceutical packaging in 2005 and over 40 per cent of the merchant market.
Approximately 80 per cent of the demand for the industry comes through the drug producing industry, with other end users including contract-packaging firms.
The global pharmaceutical packaging market is valued at an estimated $23bn (€17.2bn), with the eight largest drug-producing countries - the US, Japan, Germany, France, China, the UK, Italy and Switzerland - accounting for over 80 per cent of demand.
Blister packaging currently represents approximately 20 per cent of this market.