Cartridge and Pen Materials Market - By Material, By Product type, By Application, Growth forecast, 2025 – 2034

Cartridge and Pen Materials Market Size

The global cartridge and pen materials market were estimated at USD 2.40 billion in 2024. The market is expected to grow from USD 2.46 billion in 2025 to USD 3.65 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 4.2%, according to latest report published by Global Market Insights Inc.

• This is a significant change in market dynamics as the market is changing from both volume-driven insulin formats to more robust complexities with increased patient usability in injectable systems. This has significantly changed and refocused material innovation priorities across all levels in the supply chain.
   
• From 2021 to 2024 the market grew at a CAGR of 2.4% fueled by growth in demand for both insulin pens and GLP-1 delivery systems as well as the biologic injectors employed in self-administered chronic care therapies.
   
• The transition from injectable formats that are administered in the hospital setting to drug delivery formats designed for patient use in the home environment has created demand for materials that are robust and are also compliant with safety, compatibility, and regulatory requirements.
   
• In 2024, glass materials accounted for 52.4% of the value in the market. Sales of polymer materials (COC/COP/PP) will grow from 21.3% of the market in 2021 to 24% by 2034 as they become more widely used in areas such as GLP-1 agonist pens, wearable injectors, and vaccine delivery.
   
• In terms of metal materials, which mostly relate to pen housing and injection mechanisms, we can expect moderate growth from USD 400 million to USD 600 million, while elastomers, which are important for seals and plungers, are projected to go from USD 200 million at CAGR 0.5%.
   
• In terms of regions, North America holds the major market share with 34.5%, however Asia-Pacific is forecast to be the largest regional market with 22.1% by 2034 as a result of the high prevalence of diabetes, growth of biosimilars and domestic production of injectors and devices.
   

Cartridge and Pen Materials Market Trends

• In 2024, polymer materials represented 21.3% of the market, with a massive increase projected to 38.7% in 2034 and building from over 14.2% CAGR. Coc and cop are preferred materials for biologic drug delivery because of the low reachability and break resistance with compatibility with protein-based formulations. This has led to new cartridge design demands across both reusable and disposable pen systems.
   
• The emergence of glp-1 drugs for diabetes and weight loss is creating demand for cartridge-barrel systems at higher volumes and higher levels of quality. In 2024 glp-1 therapies constituted more than 18% of material demand for injecting pen cartridges - and projected to surpass 30% by 2030 due to patient access expansion and multi-dose pneumonia pens.
   
• There is increasing pressure from the industry and regulatory side to increasingly incorporate reusable injector pens with replaceable cartridges, to eliminate medical waste. In Europe alone, reusable pens represented 41% of new injector pens in design in 2024. This is relevant across the whole product life cycle for both the material durability standard, and the push for sustainable polymers and recyclable metals.
   
• Smart pens with Bluetooth, sensors, and tracking by doses is gaining traction in diabetes and hormone therapy. Smart systems will represent approximately 10% of overall pen material revenue by 2034 requiring new materials in a manner consistent with electronics, durability, and modularity design.
   
• It is projected to hold 37.2% of the overall market by 2034, material innovation in the APAC region will be tied closely to low-cost production centers in India, China, South Korea. Local partnerships with contract development and manufacturing organizations are reshaping cost structure now and, in the future, as well as those for glass and polymer cartridges for biosimilar programs.
   

Cartridge and Pen Materials Market Analysis

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Based on material type, the market is segmented into glass, polymer, metal and elastomer components. The glass material segment was valued at USD 1.27 billion in 2024, and it is anticipated to expand with 4.4% CAGR during 2025-2034.
 

• In 2024, glass materials had the largest revenue share at 52.4%, with cartridge glass predominately used for the manufacture of insulin cartridges and legacy drugs. However, glass materials are projected to diminish in share to 34.1% by 2034, as more polymer alternatives are introduced for biologics and GLP-1 formats. Also, glass materials run into a few disfavoring issues including breakage, weight, incompatibility with biologics use, etc.
   
• The polymer materials market is increasing by the modest growth of the inert COC and COP polymers, going from 21.3% to 38.7% share. The increasingly used polymer types include the larger share polymer and growing demand for polymer materials that are inert, clear, and resistant to leachable will build on biological and GLP-1 pens. The metal components will grow slightly and maintain a 15-16.5% share, dominated by the housings and actuators. The elastomers (i.e., rubber seals, plungers, etc.) will have sustained demand, with slight innovation based on silicone-free components and TPE alternatives initiated by emerging elastomer developers.
   
• This material shift demonstrates the ongoing conversion to modular, lightweight, and biologics-friendly systems and accommodates pens that are more aligned with patient-centric approaches while now having the regulations focused on extractables.
   

Based on product type, the cartridge and pen materials market is segmented into cartridge systems, pen components, and closure & sealing systems. The cartridge systems segment was valued at USD 1.21 billion in 2024, and it is anticipated to expand to 4.5% of CAGR during 2025-2034.
 

• In 2024, cartridge systems represented the largest share of the market, at 49.8%, because they dominate the markets for insulin delivery and biologics packaging. However, these will decline in market share to 38.2% in 2034, as other forms of systems begin to automate both the exposure of the drug and delivery system, which often is more reusable than a single-use cartridge and pen system.
   
• The pen components will continue to gain share, from 28.5% in 2024 to 41.6% in 2034. Factors propelling larger adoption of components include increased usage of smart pens, ergonomic designs, and reusable components. With the growing use of GLP-1 agonists, combination therapies, and overall patient adherence driving usage, manufacturers are prioritizing the usability and durability of the device itself, which means more complex pen systems and material requirements.
   
• Closure and sealing systems maintained a steady 21.7% share of the market in 2024. These components accomplish an important job with maintaining sterility or product functionality but see slower growth because most designs are standardized.
   
• The industry moves to integration and usability, particularly forming into complete multi-use end-user pen systems, the sourcing, validation, and scaling of material requirements will need to change, as well.

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The Diabetes management segment was valued at USD 1.31 billion in 2024, and it is anticipated to expand to 4.5% of CAGR during 2025-2034.
 

• In 2024, diabetes management was far and away the largest application area accounting for 54.6% of the overall market. This is primarily due to the global usage of insulin pens and GLP-1 delivery systems etc.
   
• Biologics delivery holds 28.1% in 2024, and is expected by 2034, peaking at 30% with a projected CAGR of 4.9%. The demand for polymer-based cartridge systems and advanced injector pens designed for self-administration are driven by monoclonal antibodies, growth hormones, and biosimilars. All these materials must perform under strict bio-pharma requirements for sterility, reactivity, and cold chain compatibility.
   
• Specialty therapeutics, being oncology, autoimmune, and rare disease injectables, generated a share of 17.2% in 2024. While these niche segments represent less total volume than diabetes management or biologics, specialty therapeutic segments drive high-value designs and usage of premium materials.
   
• The cartridge and pen materials market are moving away from high volume, diabetes-management applications, to biological therapies that are defined by value add, demand more specialized materials, and engineering design specifications.

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North America comprises a significant segment of the cartridge and pen materials market, driven by its established education and professional markets.
 

• Based on region, the U.S. was valued at USD 670 million in 2024, and it is anticipated to expand 4.5% of CAGR during 2025-2034. The Region consistently sees demand for both disposable pens and refillable products, emphasizing the explosive usage of ballpoint and gel pens. Consumers are often motivated by the durability of the writing instruments and the smoothness of writing; as a result, there is an increased combination of advanced plastics and alloy metal components in pen manufacturing.
   
• The introductory and continual demand for promotional pens (for companies to utilize with sales and marketing efforts) is also prevalent in the U.S. and Canada. The overall demand for pens/materials is expected to remain relatively stable as there are reported trends in online shopping, and customization is on the rise for specialty or unique pen materials.
   

Europe maintains a competitive portion of the global cartridge and pen materials market, and their materials market is focused on sustainability and unique design.
 

• In Europe, consumers are increasing their demand for pens made from recycled plastics, biodegradable polymers, and refillable cartridges. This trend supports regional regulations concerning compliance and consumer choice.
   
• The European consumer maintains a culture of appreciating quality pens, and some of the European countries (Germany, France, and Italy) are observing increased demand for premium pens made from metal, wood, and composites that are ecological. Towards the end of institutional-market growth in the stationery pen product, as well, artifacts and niche material pens expand the consumer-usage of products.
   

The global cartridge and pen materials market is notably supported by the Asia Pacific region, owing to the region's large populations and robust manufacturing base.
 

• The region is dominated by widespread use of writing instruments, particularly in educational and professional settings and creative fields. Emerging market countries including China, India, and Japan indicate strong demand for affordable and functional writing instruments, particularly in ballpoint and gel formats.
   
• Local producers benefit from low-cost production and distribution systems while growing urbanization and disposable incomes in these markets have sparked customer interest in stylized and ergonomic designs.
   

Latin America is steadily increasing its foothold in the cartridge and pen materials market. Countries including Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina have expressed interest in colorful, affordable, and personalized pens with an eye toward appealing to younger consumers.
 

• The pen material market remains dominated by plastic for cost reasons; however, there is opportunity for hybrid materials that can increase grip and durability. The segment continues to benefit from the growth in retail and e-commerce which is broaden the product mix and offers more accessibility in traditional, as well as online channels. Regional cultural diversity and economic factors influence preferences for traditional as well as modern pen styles and in the near-term we expect that mix of styles to remain.
   

Emerging markets in this sector include both the Middle East and Africa, which are gradually proliferating as literacy rates and infrastructure develop.
 

• Urban markets are moving toward adapting higher quality and bespoke pens, particularly for corporate and promotional use. The market is further being supported by significant increases in educational investments and business growth that will propel demand for functional and attractive writing instruments. As retail and online access grows, material diversity is expected to also grow across the region.
   

Cartridge and Pen Materials Market Share

• The cartridge and pen materials 2024 market is somewhat consolidated, with the top five players making up 63% of the total, the total revenue. SCHOTT Pharma AG & Co. KGaA gained the lead market share with an estimated market share of 14.2% due to its history with borosilicate glass cartridges for insulin and biologic injectables. The company is continuing to expand into polymer space through its TOPPAC platform and has seen high demand to service biologics and temperature-sensitive formulations.
   
• Gerresheimer AG and Stevanato Group S.p.A. have about 13% share of the market with the benefits of vertically integrated organizations with the capacity to create both polymer and glass. Gerresheimer has made significant progress launching PFAS-free, silicon-oil free cartridge options, while Stevanato is beginning their marketplace expansion into wearables with pen injectors with smart delivery capabilities.
   
• West Pharmaceutical Services has about 11.5% share and focuses on developing elastomer plunger systems and safety seals for use specifically in pen injectors. BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) rounds out the top five with approximately 11% total market share, they remain a leader in full pen injector platforms and are positioning to make more investments in U.S. production.
   
• The marketplace remains competitive, especially as polymer focused, Asia-based manufacturers gain more field-level presence, and as CDMO–OEM partnerships expand. Future product development in sustainability, smart injectors, and biologics compatibility will define market leadership prominence.
   

Cartridge and Pen Materials Market Companies

The top 5 prominent players in cartridge and pen material market are:

• SCHOTT Pharma AG
• Gerresheimer AG
• West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.
• Stevanato Group S.p.A
• Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD)
   
• SCHOTT Pharma AG & Co. KGaA, with proven in-house expertise in borosilicate glass cartridges and a growing polymer portfolio, SCHOTT has recently introduced the TOPPAC® infuse platform, a hybrid glass-polymer cartridge that includes RFID traceability and a tamper-evident cap on the closure. This innovation is a reflection of advances in biologic-safe packaging and efficiencies in hospital workflows.
   
• Gerresheimer AG is well-known for its diversified glass and polymer product lines, and this year they rolled out PFAS- and silicone oil-free syringe cartridges designed specifically for very delicate biologic drugs. They are continuing to make improvements to their manufacturing processes with clean-room polymer injection production lines in Europe and Asia to enhance extractables performance, as well as regional supply liability.
   
• Stevanato Group S.p.A. combines high quality cartridge manufacturing with integrated device capabilities. Their newest work includes the Vertiva 10 mL delivery platform, a flexible, wearable on-body injector for long-acting therapies, as well as their expanded sites in Latina (Italy) and Fishers (USA) which provided additional capacity and benefit of inherited capabilities for assembling more advanced pen injectors.
   
• West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. is a leading provider of elastomer seals and plungers for pen devices. The company has also launched a range of low-extractables, biologics-grade elastomers for GLP-1 and antibody cartridges, along with recently expanded a stand-alone facility to manufacture safety and wearable injection devices.
   
• Becton Dickinson and Company (BD) continued to solidify its overall market position in the cartridge pen space by adding production lines to support Neopak and Hypak reuse pen and cartridge systems, while concurrently investing in automation and quality monitoring technologies at U.S. facilities to meet the ever-increasing biologic injection needs.
   

Cartridge and Pen Materials Industry News

• On January 16, 2025, SCHOTT Pharma, a manufacturer of drug-delivery and containment solutions, has created a system that is greater than its individual components and offers improved safety, efficiency, and sustainability. The new system was launched with SCHOTT Pharma's Alliance to Zero partners, Schreiner MediPharm and Körber Pharma. The system includes a new cap, functional label, and carton package (the permanent labelling of a usual PHI liquid). The new solution addresses the major issues facing hospitals today, including excessive medication waste, inefficient manual workflows and poor storage while providing patient safety as well as sustainability for the whole value chain.
   
• On April 22, 2025, Gerresheimer, is a sustainable innovative solutions and systems provider that acts as a global partner for the pharmaceutical, biotech and cosmetics industries, has now launched the first in the world complete silicone-oil and PFAS free syringe systems, and provide it in glass and cyclic olefin polymer (COP). Using silicone oil in glass and COP has been the proven way to significantly reduce the potential particle load in pharmaceuticals and reduce the potential harm and side effects.
   
• On September 18, 2024, BD launching their BD Neopak  XtraFlow Glass Prefillable Syringe on September 18, 2024, they have further advanced the versatility of this platform for healthcare end users to offer an 8 mm needle length and a thinner wall cannula that can help optimize subcutaneous delivery of more viscous drug profiles by minimizing the force to inject and fixing the time to inject a solution viscosity.
   

The cartridge and pen materials market research report includes in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates & forecast in terms of revenue (USD Billion) & (Units) from 2021 to 2034, for the following segments:

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Market, By Material Type

• Glass materials
  • Borosilicate glass
  • Soda-lime glass
  • Coated glass solution
• Polymer materials
  • Cyclic olefin copolymer (COC)
  • Cyclic olefin polymer (COP)
  • Other polymers (polypropylene, polyethylene)
  • Specialty polymers
• Metal components
  • Stainless steel
  • Aluminum alloys
  • Coated/plated metals
• Elastomer components
  • Rubber seals
  • Silicone elastomers
  • Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs)

Market, By Product Type

• Cartridge systems
  • Insulin cartridges
  • Biologics cartridges
  • Specialty drug cartridges
• Pen components
  • Pen bodies
  • Injection mechanisms
  • Needle assemblies
• Closure & sealing systems
  • Plunger stoppers
  • Needle shields
  • Cap and locking systems

Market, By Application

• Diabetes management
  • Insulin pens
  • GLP-1 agonists
  • Combination injectors
• Biology delivery
  • Monoclonal antibodies (mabs)
  • Growth hormones
  • Vaccine injectors
• Specialty therapeutics
  • Autoimmune disease therapies
  • Oncology treatments
  • Rare disease drug delivery

The above information is provided for the following regions and countries:

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe
  • UK
  • Germany
  • France
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • India
  • Japan
  • South Korea
  • Australia
  • Rest of Asia Pacific 
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Argentina
  • Rest of Latin America 
• MEA
  • UAE
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa
  • Rest of Middle East and Africa