Expected Aseptic Packaging Market Growth for 2021 and Beyond

First developed in the 1940s, aseptic packaging is an essential tool for industries like beverage bottling/canning, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and food packaging. Aseptic packaging is used to complete aseptic processing—a packaging technique in which thermally sterilized products are placed in sterilized containers. With complete sterilization, food products can last longer on shelves without compromising flavor, nutritional value, or product freshness. In regards to pharmaceutical products, sterilization prevents the possibility of contamination, thus keeping consumers safe and companies compliant with government regulations. 

Since entering the market, aseptic packaging in its various forms has been consistent in its popularity. Today, the leading name in aseptic packaging is the Swedish-Swiss company, Tetra Pak®. According to their released sales figures, Tetra Pak makes more than €1,000,000,000 in global sales, with the Asia Pacific region accounting for 35%, Europe and Central Asia 30%, the Americas 25%, the Greater Middle East and Africa ​10%.

Beyond Tetra Pak, the aseptic packaging field as a whole is also thriving. To provide greater insight into this industry, we have examined the latest reports on aseptic packaging market growth and developed the following overview.

Today’s Aseptic Packaging Market by Numbers

In 2020, market experts reported that the global aseptic packaging market is valued at USD 49.15 billion. This is an increase from earlier years such as 2017 when the market was valued at USD 39.38 billion. Today, experts expect this market growth to continue over the next few years. By 2026, experts predict that the global aseptic packaging market will be worth over USD 70 billion, having grown at a CAGR of 6.65%.

Aseptic packaging market growth can be attributed to a number of factors including:

  • An increasing interest in a variety of beverages.

  • Healthcare workers’ growing need for disposable sterilized instruments including vials and pre-filled syringes.

  • A rising need for long-lasting processed food due to worldwide urbanization.

  • Sustained customer interest in environmentally-friendly, recyclable product packaging.

Aseptic Packaging Market Growth Broken Down by Application

By and large, the aseptic packaging market can be divided into three major sectors:

  • Beverage bottling/canning, where aseptic materials are used to preserve dairy products and juices.

  • Pharmaceutical manufacturing/healthcare product development, where aseptic materials are used to prevent bacteria from contaminating medicine and assorted medical instruments.

  • Food packaging, where aseptic materials are used to prepare meat, seafood, fruit, and vegetables for sale.

Among these fields, experts maintain that beverage packaging holds the largest overall market share largely driven by rising global sales of milk, juice, and other ready-to-drink products. 

Pharmaceutical manufacturing/healthcare product development is the second largest sector after that. Aseptic packaging is essential to keeping drugs and medical tools both safe and effective, making the material common across the industry. Further, experts predict that the use of self-administered injectable drugs will rise in upcoming years. When packaging these drugs, pharmaceutical manufacturers place them in prefilled syringes to eliminate dosing mistakes. As these types of pharmaceuticals grow in popularity, so will the need for aseptic packaging. 

Finally, food packaging is the third largest sector in the aseptic packaging industry. In this field, common applications include:

  • Packaging sterilized baby food to minimize bacteria exposure.

  • Canning soups and broths for maximum shelf life. 

  • Preserving processed foods, fruits, and vegetables, to maintain flavors and nutritional values. 

With aseptic packaging, food producers enable stores and consumers alike to buy products in bulk without having to worry about short shelf lives or deteriorating quality. 

Working With Aseptic Packaging? We Can Help Improve Your Operational Efficiency

According to the latest aseptic packaging market growth reports, the material is more popular now than ever before. Elevated by common use in the beverage, drug, and food industries, the aseptic packaging market is currently worth nearly USD 50 billion. Additionally, the market is expected to continue expanding over the next few years, as the need for safe, shelf-stable products keeps growing. 

Of course, regardless of whether aseptic packaging is used to house drinks, pharmaceuticals, or food, companies need to make sure that the material is marked with mandatory labels, such as barcodes and expiration dates. Required by both government regulations and supply chain partners, these markings help companies maintain complete product traceability. To help companies keep their product lines code-compliant, we here at InkJet, Inc. offer a range of industrial printing supplies including:

No matter what you’re using aseptic packaging for, InkJet, Inc. has a printing solution that can improve your operation. Call today to learn how.  

For more information on aseptic packaging market growth, or to inquire about our printing supplies, contact InkJet, Inc. online or by phone at 1(800) 280-3245.

 

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