The pharmaceutical packaging sector has seen significant growth in recent years, showing no signs of slowing down. The market is projected to expand from $159.31 billion in 2024 to approximately $397.71 billion by 2034. This expansion has brought innovative solutions to the forefront to address the increasing needs of the industry. Given the ever-evolving market, PharmaPack 2025 – Europe’s leading event for pharmaceutical packaging, drug delivery, medical devices, and machinery, which took place in January – was pivotal for the European pharmaceutical sector.
After attending PharmaPack 2025, Remi Turbet Delof, global strategic account manager at Systech, comments on the key trends that stood out, all of which are set to influence pharmaceutical packaging in the year ahead:
“As the pharmaceutical packaging industry continues to expand, organisations operating in the sector are faced with an ever-growing number of issues. At PharmaPack, industry experts continued to explore key challenges the market experienced, including supply chain disruptions caused by geopolitical instability and extreme weather events, as well as counterfeiting and diversion, which remain prominent issues within the industry.
“PharmaPack highlighted the pressing need for secure, cost-effective data exchange between stakeholders. What options exist for pharmaceutical companies to achieve this? The event showcased smart packaging innovations aimed at enhancing patient engagement and adherence to medication regimens. Solutions like smart blisters and bottles with embedded sensors can track dosage, send reminders via smartphone apps, and share data with healthcare providers for real-time adjustments. Beyond improving patient outcomes, these advancements strengthen supply chain visibility. As regulatory demands grow, scalable, secure data exchange will be key to building a more connected and resilient pharmaceutical ecosystem.
“After several years of highlighting serialisation solutions, discussions at PharmaPack underscored the critical need for pharmaceutical companies to continuously update their technology and operations. Beyond compliance, serialisation must be viewed as a strategic enabler—one that enhances supply chain security, operational efficiency, and regulatory adaptability. To achieve this, aligning IT infrastructure with evolving serialisation requirements is essential. Seamless integration depends on a well-managed roadmap, proactive planning, and cross-functional collaboration between packaging, IT, and regulatory teams. By anticipating future needs, organisations can secure their operations, improve traceability, and future-proof supply chains.
“Aggregation, while not a legal requirement, is also becoming essential for enhancing supply chain visibility and operational efficiency. It streamlines reconciliation, simplifies recalls, and prevents diversion by linking individual units to cases and pallets. Pharmaceutical companies might consider scaling aggregation adoption up to ensure full traceability. Those who invest now will gain a stronger, more resilient supply chain.
“As is the case across most industries, the proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) was a major topic of conversation. One notable development discussed was AI-powered authentication technology, which leverages machine vision and machine learning to create a digital blueprint of packaging artwork features – enabling precise product identification through pattern recognition. This provides a powerful tool in the fight against counterfeiting and diversion.
“Today’s consumers are more informed and increasingly demand transparency in product authenticity and ethical sourcing. Discussions at PharmaPack reinforced how the pharmaceutical industry is actively addressing these concerns by integrating AI-driven verification solutions. These technologies will not only empower consumers to authenticate products in real time but also strengthen trust and reinforce brand integrity.
“With evolving regulations, companies must engage proactively with industry bodies and partner with adaptable vendors. Future-ready solutions ensure seamless integration and turn compliance challenges into opportunities. Choosing flexible vendors mitigates risks while enhancing efficiency. A forward-thinking approach keeps businesses compliant and operationally strong.