US demand for aseptic packaging is predicted to rise by 8% to USD 5.1 bn in 2015, largely driven by drug sterility requirements as well as distribution and storage advantages for food and beverages, a new study by market researcher Freedonia (Cleveland, Ohio / USA; www.freedoniagroup.com) has found. In unit terms, demand is forecast to rise by 4.1% each year to 52.4 bn units come 2015.

The most dominant application field is the pharmaceutical market, which is expected to grow by 8.4% per year to USD 3.4 bn by 2015 and will then account for about 67% of overall US aseptic packaging demand. In this particular sector, Freedonia says, growth will mainly be driven by the rise in both availability and consumption of biotechnology-based drugs as well as septic filling requirements for other liquid pharmaceuticals. Other growth drivers include preferences for unit-dose delivery formats, including vials, ampuls, prefillable syringes and premixed IV solutions. In fact, Freedonia predicts that prefillable syringes will represent the fastest growing aseptic packaging product type to 2015, with demand expected to grow at 11% each year to USD 1.1 bn.

In the beverage market, the growth of aseptic packaging will be driven primarily by ready-to-drink wellness-type beverages, improved aesthetics as well as the perception that aseptically packaged products are of a higher quality than those packaged in other types of containers. In addition, as safety concerns over the use of bisphenol A (BPA) increase, many will be looking for alternative packaging, including aseptic cartons. Aseptic packaging gains in the beverage field will also be driven by environmental benefits, Freedonia says, especially in terms of shipping and storage.

Aseptic packaging is also projected to see gains in the food market, mainly as a result of shelf-stability advantages and the rise in liquid, low-particulate and pumpable foods.

All in all, Freedonia predicts that by 2015, plastic bottles will account for 23% of US aseptic packaging demand, followed at 22% by vials and ampuls, prefillable syringes (21%), bags and pouches (16%) as well as cartons and other applications (18%).