The shift to tube packaging in pharmaceuticals
According to a report by Towards Packaging, tube packaging is revolutionising how pharmaceutical businesses guarantee product integrity and patient compliance with topical pharmaceuticals, dermatological creams and gels.
18 Jun 2025 | By Jiya Somaiya
Pharmaceutical tubes offer defence against UV radiation, moisture, and contamination
Pharmaceutical plastic tube packaging is becoming a preferred method for providing healthcare items with convenience and safety.
The pharmaceutical tube packaging market is anticipated to increase significantly between 2025 and 2034 due to rising healthcare costs and customer desire for safer, more efficient medication delivery methods.
The pharmaceutical tubes are constructed of plastic, aluminium, or laminated materials and are made with raw materials and machinery. The tubes can be used for keeping creams, gels, ointments, and lotions. In addition, the tubes offer defence against UV radiation, moisture, contamination, and outside contaminants.
The tubes are developing in the form of squeeze and twist tubes. The former helps patients provide precise dosages without being contaminated, while the latter is becoming more popular in areas with strict environmental requirements because of their eco-friendly design and low material use.
The market is expanding at the fastest rate in Asia Pacific. Due to their growing pharmaceutical industries and rising investments in packaging technologies, nations like China, Japan, and India are emerging as key participants. The key drivers of growth in the region include increased prevalence of skin conditions, advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities, packaging automation and robotics, and a move towards environmentally friendly production techniques.
The pharmaceutical tubes are relatively inexpensive and help to uphold the stringent safety and hygienic requirements imposed by regulatory agencies like the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), European Medicines Agency (EMA), Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA), and the Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency.
The packaging industry is changing due to environmental concerns, with the use of recyclable and biodegradable materials on the rise. Manufacturers of pharmaceutical tubes are supporting global environmental goals by using recycled aluminium and plant-based polymers.