Anti-counterfeiting Packaging Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Technology (RFID, Holograms, Barcode, and Others), By End-Use (Food & Beverages, Healthcare & Pharmaceutical, Industrial & Automotive, Consumer Electronics, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2025-2032

The global anti-counterfeiting packaging market size was valued at USD 159.87 billion in 2024. It is projected to be worth USD 171.51 billion in 2025 and reach USD 294.71 billion by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 8.04% during the forecast period.

Anti-counterfeiting packaging is a solution developed to prevent the production and sale of several counterfeit products. This form of packaging is specially developed to prevent various counterfeit practices by making it impossible to imitate the packaging of genuine products. High demand for counterfeit protection in many end-use industries, such as food & beverage, healthcare & pharmaceutical, consumer electronics, luxury goods, and many others, will foster the market’s growth.

CCL Industries Inc. and 3M Company are the leading anti-counterfeiting packaging product manufacturers, accounting for the largest global market share.

MARKET DYNAMICS

MARKET DRIVERS

Increasing Government Support for Anti-Counterfeiting Technologies to Foster Market Growth

Rising government regulations and the emphasis on eliminating counterfeit goods in several developed and developing economies will boost the market growth. The increasing government support for implementing anti-counterfeit technologies, followed by many favorable policies for food and healthcare packaging, is a major factor driving the market’s growth. Furthermore, increasing technological advancements by key manufacturers will also aid the market’s growth. With rising concerns among consumers and manufacturers regarding brand dilution, many companies have increased their investments in anti-counterfeit packaging solutions, boosting the market’s growth. Moreover, rising innovations for developing secure packaging solutions for use in several end-use industries are anticipated to further contribute to the market’s growth over the forecast period.

• For instance, according to the data published by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), it is estimated that counterfeit foodstuffs and beverages generate USD 49 billion annually, while counterfeit wine accounts for 20% of international sales.

Increasing Focus of Manufacturers On Maintaining Brand Image to Drive Market Growth

The primary factors that drive the anti-counterfeit packaging market are the rising quantity of counterfeit products and growing emphasis on product safety and security. Anti-counterfeit packaging is emerging as a significant business to ensure that a product is protected from being misrepresented. Implementing these technologies on the labels and packaging of the products reduces losses, decreases tampering with evidence, and maintains brand image. Anti-counterfeit packaging focuses on monitoring, controlling, and supplying certain products and upholding a company’s brand image. Manufacturers utilize barcodes, holograms, and batch coding on a large scale to authenticate their original products. It helps them maintain the brand image and retain their business value. These factors are driving the global anti-counterfeiting packaging industry globally.

MARKET RESTRAINTS

High Initial Costs and Low Awareness Among Consumers Can Hamper Market Growth

The high upfront costs required for the manufacturing and setup of anti-counterfeiting packaging solutions is the key factor hampering the anti-counterfeiting packaging market growth. This can lead to the easy adoption of counterfeit practices, which will limit the growth of anti-counterfeit solutions. Moreover, as barcodes and RFID are easy to replicate, consumers can be fooled, thus hindering the global market growth. In addition, there is a lack of appropriate knowledge and awareness regarding the importance of anti-counterfeiting technologies among consumers. This can also impede the market’s development.

MARKET OPPORTUNITIES

Growth in Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Sectors Will Generate Market Growth Opportunities

Fake medicines are a major issue globally, making the pharmaceutical sector one of the largest adopters of anti-counterfeiting packaging technologies. Governments mandate serialization and tamper-evident packaging to prevent the sale of counterfeit drugs, thereby creating opportunities for advanced solutions.

• According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), in 2019, the global illegal trade of counterfeit and pirated goods amounted to USD 464 billion, or 2.5% of the world trade. In absolute terms, the value of trade in fakes is close to the entire GDP of advanced OECD countries, such as Austria and Belgium.

MARKET CHALLENGES

High Temperature Excursions to Challenge Market Growth

Maintaining the integrity of cold chain logistics is a challenging task, particularly in the face of supply chain disruptions. Factors, such as transportation delays, infrastructure failures, and unpredictable weather conditions can result in temperature excursions, compromising the quality and safety of temperature-sensitive products. These disruptions can lead to significant financial losses, especially in industries like pharmaceuticals, where the value of biologics and vaccines is exceptionally high.

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MARKET TRENDS

Increasing Usage of Anti-Counterfeiting Packaging in Healthcare & Pharmaceutical Sectors

The growing usage of anti-counterfeiting packaging products for medicinal drugs has emerged as a major trend for the market’s growth across the world. Implementing several technologies in the packaging of pharmaceutical drugs to prevent the sale of fake goods is in high demand, further boosting the market’s growth. Fake drugs can harm and kill consumers and seriously impact the brand image of pharmaceutical and healthcare companies. Hence, the usage of anti-counterfeiting technologies for packaging drugs and medicines is emerging as a key trend in the global market. Many recent incidents regarding the supply of fake COVID-19 vaccines were observed and reported. For instance, the WHO recorded sales of many counterfeit Covisheild vaccines, leading to concerns among stakeholders, consumers, and governments. Furthermore, many government bodies have put forth laws on counterfeiting medicines and enabled the use of anti-counterfeit packaging solutions to overcome such concerns. These measures will boost the anti-counterfeit packaging market share in the healthcare industry.

• For instance, the United Nations has already warned that counterfeit products are ranked among the highest income sources for organized crime. Doctors have recommended upgrading the UN's sustainable development goals so that the global agency would ensure that at least 90% of medicines are of standard quality. By incorporating anti-counterfeit packaging solutions to protect medical products, companies are saving customers from fake medicines and fortifying their brand value.

IMPACT OF COVID-19

The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic hurt many industries across the globe. The lockdowns and business shutdowns imposed by governments led to a slowdown in the anti-counterfeiting packaging production. Additionally, a decline in the demand for fast-moving consumer goods was majorly observed during the early stage of the pandemic; the fear among consumers regarding contracting the virus by directly touching the product caused a decline in retail sales. However, to ensure the product’s safety and the quality of its packaging materials, several packaging manufacturers, in collaboration with authentication technology providers, developed solutions to deliver the advantages of anti-counterfeit packaging effectively. It boosted the global anti-counterfeit packaging market growth during the pandemic era.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Counterfeiting in pharmaceuticals, food & beverages, cosmetics, and electronics drives the need for advanced packaging solutions. Technologies, such as RFID, NFC, and blockchain are gaining traction for their real-time tracking and verification capabilities. Recent collaborations between blockchain startups and packaging companies aim to build end-to-end anti-counterfeiting systems. Labels embedded with sensors that notify stakeholders about product tampering, environmental conditions, or expiration are also essential for the anticounterfeiting packaging.

SEGMENTATION ANALYSIS

By Technology

RFID Dominates Market Due to its Significant Usage Among Varied End-Use Industries

Based on technology, the market is segmented into RFID, holograms, barcodes, and others.

RFID is the dominating segment and holds the largest market share. RFID holds a microchip under the label of any product, which monitors and secures the product’s motion by tracking and authenticating it. This technology is highly used by the food & beverage and pharmaceutical industries to prevent the spread of fake products, such as FMCG products, food items, vaccines, and drugs. This will result in the rapid growth of the RFID segment. The medical sector highly utilizes anti-counterfeit technologies to maintain organized records of medicinal products and prevent them from being counterfeited.

By End-Use

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Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals Dominates Market Due to Widespread Usage of Anti-Counterfeiting Packaging in Food Industry

Based on end-use, the market is segmented into food & beverage, healthcare & pharmaceuticals, industrial & automotive, consumer electronics, and others.

Healthcare & pharmaceuticals is the leading end-use segment in the anti-counterfeiting packaging market share. The rising demand for anti-counterfeiting products owing to the increasing sale of fake drugs is the key factor driving the growth of the healthcare & pharmaceuticals segment. The segment also accounts for the highest market share due to the rapid adoption of anti-counterfeit packaging solutions to eliminate the manufacturing of duplicate medicine.

ANTI-COUNTERFEITING PACKAGING MARKET REGIONAL OUTLOOK

The market has been studied geographically across five main regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa.

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Well-established Pharmaceutical Industry Drive North America Market Growth

North America is the dominating region in the global anti-counterfeiting packaging industry. The rapid development of several end-use industries and presence of key pharmaceutical manufacturers in the U.S. will drive the regional market’s growth. Moreover, the rising demand for products equipped with the track & trace technology will also foster the market’s growth in the region.

• According to the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Association, in 2021, North America accounted for 49.1% of the global pharmaceutical sales. 64.4% of sales of new medicines were also recorded during the period of 2016-2021 in the U.S. market.

Growing Demand from Personal Care and Cosmetic Sector to Enhance Europe’s Market Growth

Europe is the second-largest region in the global market and expected to grow rapidly in the coming years. Growing usage of RFID tag technology in the region will drive the regional market’s growth. The rapidly augmenting food and personal care & cosmetic industries in the European region will also support the market’s growth.

• According to Cosmetics Europe, a personal care association, Europe is a global flagship market for cosmetics and personal care products, which was valued at USD 103 billion at retail sales price in 2023.

Rising Pharmaceutical Initiatives to Cushion Market Growth in Asia Pacific

Asia Pacific is witnessing rapid growth in the global anti-counterfeiting packaging market, driven by the increasing demand for these packaging products from the e-commerce and pharmaceuticals sectors, particularly in emerging economies.

• According to the Department of Pharmaceuticals, the Indian pharmaceutical industry ranks third globally in pharmaceutical production by volume. From FY18 to FY23, the Indian pharmaceutical industry recorded a growth rate of 6-8%, which was majorly driven by an 8% increase in exports.

Surge in Demand from Personal Care Sector Will Encourage Steady Growth in Latin America

The anti-counterfeiting packaging market in Latin America is growing steadily, driven by increasing consumer demand for cosmetics and food products, particularly in Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina.

• Mexico is one of the world's top 10 markets for personal care and cosmetic products and ranks second for beauty products in Latin America, behind Brazil. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration (ITA), Mexico imported USD 1.4 billion worth of cosmetics and personal care products in 2022.

Growing Demand for Frozen Foods and Fresh Produce in Middle East & Africa to Drive Market Growth

The Middle East & Africa presents both opportunities and challenges for the anti-counterfeiting packaging market. While the market is growing, especially in the food & beverage and pharmaceutical sectors, limited infrastructure in certain regions, particularly in Africa, can hamper the faster adoption of these products.

• According to the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association, the chemical industry in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) generated USD 107.8 billion in revenue in 2022. This further contributed 5% to the region's GDP and 39% to the manufacturing GDP.

FUTURE OUTLOOK

The anti-counterfeiting packaging market is poised for robust growth, driven by technological advancements. AI-enabled verification systems are expected to revolutionize authentication. Biometrics combined with packaging could become a future trend. Development of recyclable and biodegradable anti-counterfeit packaging will contribute to the market growth in the forthcoming yeats.

COMPETITVE LANDSCAPE

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

Key Market Participants to Witness Significant Growth Opportunities With New Product Launches

The global anti-counterfeiting packaging market is highly fragmented and competitive. A few significant players are dominating the market by offering innovative packaging solutions. They are constantly focusing on expanding their customer base across regions by innovating their existing range of products. The market report also highlights the key developments by the manufacturers.

Major players in the industry include CCL Industries Inc., 3M Company, Zebra Technologies Corporation, SML Group, SICPA Holding SA, and others. Numerous other companies operating in the market are focused on delivering advanced packaging solutions.

Some of the Key Companies Profiled in the Report:

• CCL Industries Inc. (Canada)


• 3M Company (U.S.)


• Zebra Technologies Corporation (U.S.)


• SML Group (China)


• SICPA HOLDING SA. (Switzerland)


• Avery Dennison Corporation (U.S.)


• AlpVision. (Switzerland)


• Authentix. (U.S.)


• BrandWatch Technologies (U.K.)


• Impinj, Inc. (U.S.)


• Applied DNA Sciences (U.S.)


• Kao Collins Corporation (U.S.)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• October 2022 – Drug delivery systems maker Gerresheimer and science and technology company Merck jointly developed a digital twin solution to maintain traceability and trust in the pharmaceutical supply chain. The firms collaborated and developed a Proof of Concept (PoC) to offer primary packaging with a unique ID to access its trustworthy digital twin.


• June 2022 - ExxonMobil Lubricants declared the launch of the 'Mobil Super'. It is a lubricant for passenger vehicles made available with improved packaging that offers a new QR-code-based anti-counterfeit feature on the bottles for the customers to verify the product’s authenticity.


• September 2021 – Systech, a leading company, announced the expansion of its business into the food & beverages industry with the launch of its UniSecure platform at AIPIA. The company is known for its solutions in traceability, anti-counterfeiting, pharmaceutical regulations, and supply chain technologies.


• February 2021 - Covectra launched a new version of StellaGuard, a 'smart' label and mobile authentication technology. It allows brand owners, retailers, consumers, and other end-users to identify, validate, and track several products, including pharmaceuticals, to maintain safety and combat counterfeiting.


• July 2020 - Ventiv Design introduced its sustainable, anti-counterfeit, and bespoke packaging line to the nascent cannabis market. The company is committed to combating counterfeit THC products and environmentally unsustainable packaging that is becoming increasingly prevalent in an industry riddled with excess plastic, tainted counterfeits, and non-recyclable packaging.


• October 2019 - Toppan Printing and Amcor collaborated to offer an anti-counterfeiting solution for the wine and spirits markets. Toppan's expertise in developing NFC tag-based high-security technologies and Amcor's manufacturing and supply capabilities to develop InTact were combined. This led to the creation of a capsule with an integrated NFC tag that detects opening or tampering of a product.

REPORT COVERAGE

The report provides a detailed market analysis. The market overview also focuses on key aspects, such as top key players, competitive landscape, product/service types, market segments, Porter’s five forces analysis, and leading segments of the product. Besides, it offers insights into the market trends and highlights key industry developments. In addition to the above-mentioned factors, the report encompasses several factors that have contributed to the market’s growth in recent years.

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REPORT SCOPE & SEGMENTATION