Joe: Hi, I am Joe Derr, editor of Contract Manufacturing + Packaging, a Packaging World supplement, here with my colleague Liz Cuneo, editor in chief of the Healthcare Packaging. Today we are going to discuss the results of the new Healthcare Packaging reader survey and give a sneak peek into the healthcare packaging trends for 2026.
The full report is available at the SHORTY link you see on your screen. It's PWgo.to/9052, and all the links to the full report should be available on whatever channel through which you're viewing this video on our website, on LinkedIn, or youtube. Give that link a click to access the full report. But today we want to give a quick taste of some of our results, and that's why I'm here with Liz who's the brains behind our 2026 healthcare packaging survey.
Hi Liz, thanks for joining me to talk about this reader survey, which I understand is the first of its kind for healthcare Packaging.
Liz: Great to be with you! And yes, that’s right Joe. This is our first report of its kind for us, but it won’t be the last.
Joe: That’s great. So, to start, why don’t you give us a big picture overview…, when you step back and look at the full 2026 outlook for healthcare packaging, what’s the defining theme?
Liz: So, there’s a few actually. The industry is changing- due to regulatory shifts, changes in technology and the uptick in biologics, to name a few. But to pick a defining theme, it’s this: The industry continues to adapt to the demands of regulatory pressures, patient safety, and sustainability… but looking at the report, you’ll notice what’s really driving packaging decisions. The number one response to the question, what most influences your packaging decisions? Is cost efficiency
Joe: Interesting. Did that surprise you?
Liz: Yes and no. when you look at the other factors listed: regulatory compliance, patient adherence, sustainability, anti-counterfeiting... it’s all the trends we write about all of the time. But the bottom line is sort of always the bottom line, right? That’s why 67% of respondents chose cost efficiency as the primary decision driver. Cost is important for any company in every industry and it’s no different in med device and pharma. The close 2nd is supply chain resilience at 62%, which makes sense since its directly related to cost of goods, and availability.
Joe: Yes true. Cost is a huge driver in any industry. So, within the report readers gave insight into the packaging innovations they’re adopting. What were some of the top responses?
Liz: When asked which packaging innovations they’re currently exploring or adopting, respondents most frequently cited smart packaging technologies—such as NFC and RFID-enabled solutions—at 73%. It’s interesting to see the industry heading that way- packaging is becoming more than a bottle or vial, or box. It’s no longer static container. it’s a chance to interact or delivery valuable data.
Then, since sustainability is always top of mind, I wasn’t too surprised to see recyclable or compostable materials following at 57% each, reflecting of course, that strong interest in sustainability.
Joe: So, what about challenges in the industry? What are people reporting as a hindrance to adopting new solutions?
Liz: Yes, While the interest and drive is there to adopt new packaging solutions, there are, of course, challenges. It was interesting to see so many responses in each category, when readers were asked about their challenges… it revealed that there are in fact many challenges that each company faces- perhaps even all at the same time. Most readers responded with material availability as the #1 challenges- 59% of readers selecting that response. Regulatory hurdles was a close second, followed by cost restraints. Compliance with stringent regulatory standards is a foundational pillar for all pharmaceutical packaging initiatives, so I honestly though that would be the top response. Circling back to material availability… While I cannot be certain which materials readers had in mind when selecting that one, I am hearing more and more about the industry navigating the transition toward single-material, sustainable packaging without compromising sterility and of course still being in compliance. There is a hunger for alternative materials.
Joe: Looking at the future, where does it look like pharmaceutical packaging is headed?
Liz: When we asked readers where the industry is headed, or more specifically, how it will change over the next 3-5 years… responses were a mix of three things, essentially. more technology, more sustainability, and more focus on personalized medicine, patient-centered care, and the like.
Joe: How important is sustainability to readers?
Liz: Sustainability is important to HCP readers: 73% say that it is extremely or very important, suggesting that while there are challenges in the pharma space, the desire and willingness is there. We also asked which sustainable packaging initiatives companies are implementing or plan to implement. And it was pretty revealing…
The main initiative being explored or implemented is the elimination of packaging components- that was 70% of responses. At 60% is switching to renewable or bio-based materials. So again, that desire is there to look at alternative materials in healthcare. It’s worth noting that 74% of respondents say the main driver behind a sustainability initiative is environmental responsibility.
Joe: In healthcare there are challenges in adopting sustainable materials due to strict regulations. Are there other hurdles or barriers to adopting more sustainable solutions?
Liz: Yes, there are always barriers. Most often, at 67%, readers selected that concerns over product stability/shelf life is a barrier, but also compatibility with existing production lines (64%), and regulatory restrictions or approval delays (54%). There is also the barrier of limited availability of suitable materials. Perhaps a shock- The cost of change is shown at 33%, but this has some experts that I spoke with surprised, thinking that number would be a lot higher.
Joe: Oh interesting yes it goes back to the bottom line being the bottom line, huh?
Liz: Yes exactly. Its about the bottom line.
And circling back to when you asked about the future of pharma. I had mentioned earlier that technology is changing and there are some really exciting new digital tools out there to help pharmaceutical companies in various ways. That’s why we cannot talk about the future of the segment without talking about digitalization.
Joe: I hear about digitalization strategies and the new tools available quite a bit- for any industry, right?
Liz: Yes. In this case, the adoption of digital tools in healthcare manufacturing is transforming how medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare packaging are designed, produced, and monitored. The primary purpose is to improve efficiency, quality, compliance, and patient safety in an increasingly complex and regulated environment. So, it’s not surprising that 63% of respondents have a digitalization strategy.
Industry experts agreed. Tom Utech, CEO for iA, a licensed pharmacist, and a leading industry expert for Medication Management said, he agrees. He says “I’m not surprised to see that 63% of companies already have a digitalization strategy. As he talks with people, the general consensus is that embracing new technologies is an essential part of our strategy moving forward.”
Joe: Yea, what’s motivating these companies to get behind these digital tools, would you say?
Liz: Yes we asked that question point blank. According to this reader report, the #1 motivation behind adopting digital tools is to reduce human error.
Joe: Any insights into what areas or which digital tools readers are implementing?
Liz: The number one area where companies anticipate growth is data analytics, followed by AI, and predictive maintenance. With connected systems and IoT-enabled devices, manufacturers can collect and analyze vast amounts of data to identify process deviations early, optimize production parameters, and predict maintenance needs— ultimately leading to more reliable and reproducible outcomes. And which tracks because when asked, readers said the number one thing driving them toward digital transformation is the desire to reduce human error.
Joe: So, you mentioned that 63% of readers have a digitalization strategy. But what about the 37% that don’t. Why do you think they are not embracing new technologies?
Liz: Yea so 63% sounds like a lot but so is 37%, so there is definitely a segment that’s not. We did ask that and the number one response, at 41% is that they do not know how to prioritize. And that can be a real hindrance- not knowing what and how to prioritize. Industry experts agree that the place to start is to look at pain points in your operation and work to alleviate those first.
Joe: Automation was a topic within the report, right?
Liz: Yes, absolutely.
Joe: What’s going on there? Are companies adding in automation to their packaging operations this year?
Liz: Yes, in fact 64% said yes, they are and the main driver is adding speed and throughput. Automated packaging lines support better quality control through built-in sensors, vision systems,
Overall, automation drives greater productivity, reliability, and scalability, helping companies stay competitive in a demanding global market, so it isn’t a shock to see that 64% of readers are planning to add automation in 2026.
What I did find a bit surprising is that those adopting automation are primarily looking to implement it in primary packaging operations, suggesting that perhaps most manufacturers’ end of lines are already highly automated.
Joe: Great. Well, thank you so much, Liz. That's about all the time we have today for this overview of the healthcare packaging chapter of the Packaging World Outlook annual report. Remember, the full report is available packworld.com, so be sure to access that report that has all the chapters of our annual Outlook report. And thank you again for joining.
Liz: Thanks, Joe.
