The Breathable Films Market is experiencing several noteworthy trends that are shaping its trajectory:
Growing Demand in Hygiene Products: One of the prominent trends in the breathable films market is the increasing demand for these films in hygiene products. Breathable films are extensively used in diapers, sanitary napkins, and adult incontinence products to provide comfort, breathability, and moisture control. With a growing emphasis on hygiene and comfort, manufacturers are innovating to develop breathable films with enhanced properties to meet the evolving needs of consumers.
Rise in Medical Applications: There is a significant trend towards the adoption of breathable films in medical applications. These films are utilized in wound care dressings, surgical drapes, and medical tapes to create a breathable barrier that allows moisture vapor to escape while providing protection against liquid contaminants and bacteria. As healthcare providers prioritize patient comfort and infection prevention, the demand for breathable films in medical settings is expected to continue growing.
Increasing Focus on Sustainability: Sustainability is a key trend driving innovation in the breathable films market. Manufacturers are developing eco-friendly breathable films using biodegradable polymers, recycled materials, and bio-based additives to address environmental concerns and meet consumer preferences for sustainable products. This trend aligns with the global push towards sustainable packaging solutions across various industries.
Expansion in Food Packaging: The food packaging industry represents a significant growth opportunity for breathable films. These films are utilized in food packaging applications to extend shelf life, maintain product freshness, and prevent spoilage by allowing gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide to pass through while acting as a barrier against moisture and contaminants. With the increasing demand for packaged food products, the adoption of breathable films in food packaging is expected to rise.
Advancements in Film Technology: Technological advancements play a crucial role in driving market trends in breathable films. Manufacturers are continuously innovating to enhance film properties such as breathability, strength, and flexibility through developments in film extrusion, coating, and lamination processes. Advanced materials, such as microporous structures and nanocomposites, are being incorporated into breathable films to improve performance and functionality.
Customization and Specialization: There is a trend towards customization and specialization in the breathable films market. Manufacturers are offering a wide range of breathable film solutions tailored to specific applications and requirements across different industries. Customized films with unique properties, such as moisture management, antimicrobial protection, and barrier performance, are gaining traction among end-users seeking tailored solutions.
Demand in Agricultural Applications: Breathable films are finding increased application in agriculture for crop protection and mulching purposes. These films help regulate soil temperature, moisture levels, and gas exchange, contributing to improved plant growth, yield, and weed control. As farmers adopt modern farming practices and seek sustainable solutions, the demand for breathable films in agriculture is expected to grow.
Focus on Comfort and Performance: Comfort and performance are key considerations driving consumer preferences in breathable films used in personal care and hygiene products. Manufacturers are focusing on developing films that offer superior comfort, softness, and flexibility while maintaining high-performance attributes such as moisture management and leakage prevention. Breathable films that strike the right balance between comfort and functionality are likely to gain popularity among consumers.
Emerging Applications in Apparel and Footwear: There is a trend towards the adoption of breathable films in apparel and footwear applications. These films are being integrated into clothing, footwear, and sportswear to enhance breathability, moisture management, and comfort for users. As consumers prioritize performance and comfort in their apparel and footwear choices, the demand for breathable films in these industries is expected to rise.
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic: The COVID-19 pandemic has influenced market trends in the breathable films industry. The heightened focus on hygiene and infection control has led to increased demand for breathable films in personal protective equipment (PPE), medical textiles, and disposable hygiene products. Additionally, the pandemic has accelerated trends towards online shopping and e-commerce, driving the demand for breathable films in packaging materials for shipped goods.
Breathable Films Market Size was valued at USD 4.00 Billion in 2023. The Breathable Films Market industry is projected to grow from USD 4.34 Billion in 2024 to USD 7.70 Billion by 2032, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.43% during the forecast period (2024 - 2032). Consumers' increased expenditure on personal hygiene and rising demand for infant diapers are the primary market drivers that are boosting market growth.
Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database and Analyst Review
Market CAGR for breathable films is being driven by the increasing demand for baby diapers. With an increasing population, the demand for hygienic and comfortable diapers rises, driving the diaper business tremendously. The rise in per-capita disposable income and the increasing number of working mothers can be attributed to market growth. Growing awareness of newborn cleanliness and technological developments in diaper materials, breathability, and absorption capabilities have pushed producers to develop bio-based solutions.
Breathability refers to a fabric's resistance to air flow in and out of the weave or construction. Breathability is vital in a baby diaper for comfort and healthy skin. It helps to keep a baby's skin fresh and healthy by reducing the onset of diaper rash. Diaper dermatitis is caused by the breathability of the diaper. As a result, infants wearing permeable diapers reduce their risk of dermatitis by 38% to 50%.
Imerys is also a supplier of high-performance minerals used in the production of breathable film for diapers. FilmLink products are made from fine grade wet ground calcium carbonate (GCC). Its porous and round shape provides the best moisture vapour transmission rate (MVTR), allowing water vapour and air to travel through while moisture remains in the diaper.
Moreover, Consumers are getting more conscious, and they are willing to spend more money on personal cleanliness and a better lifestyle. Increasing female hygiene awareness and use is one of the primary drivers of the female hygiene market, which is estimated to increase by more than $43 billion by 2024 at a CAGR of more than 3.2% during the forecast period, with North America holding the lion's share. Other causes, such as a rising female workforce and better economic conditions, are increasing product availability through multiple channels, such as supermarkets, specialty stores, hypermarkets, and product developments aimed at catering to consumers' diverse demands. Consumers are also utilizing more baby diapers as the number of brands, promotional activities, and technical improvements in the baby diaper market increase.
The spread of the coronavirus epidemic has resulted in a major increase in the demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) kits and other critical medical supplies around the world. This is one of the key reasons fueling the market's expansion. The market is expanding as a result of rising demand for feminine hygiene products, which has been fueled by plans and initiatives established by governments around the world to increase the supply of sanitary napkins. There is also potential for the market for breathable films to grow over the forecast period due to rising applications from various industries such as personal care, pharmaceuticals, building and construction, medical, and food.
The Breathable Films Market segmentation, based on type includes Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polyurethane Polyether Block Amide, Co-Polyamide, and Polyether Ester. In the next years, the polyethylene segment is likely to dominate the market. Because of its outstanding breathing characteristics and inexpensive cost, PE is employed in the hygiene business. It's a barrier film that's utilized in newborn diapers, surgical drapes, and adult incontinence products. Growing knowledge about the use of hygiene products has increased demand for sanitary pads, adult incontinence products, and diapers that use polyethylene-based films as a barrier to reduce moisture and skin infection concerns. During the projected period, these variables are likely to fuel industry growth.
The Breathable Films Market segmentation, based on Application, includes Hygiene, Medical, Food Packaging, and Construction & Fabric. The food packaging segment was the largest by Application and is expected to remain at the top during the forecast period. Various packaging technologies have been created to meet the efficiency, comfort, safety, and freshness needs of packaged commodities. Breathable Films have various advantages, including decreasing CO2 buildup in packaging, which causes anaerobiosis, and automating steam release in a microwave. Other benefits of this packaging include improved gas exchange, an appealing appearance without fogging, longer product shelf life, and less loss during processing and coordinating.
Figure1: Breathable Films Market, by Type, 2022&2032(USD Billion)
Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database and Analyst Review
By region, the study provides the market insights into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World. The North American Breathable Films Market area will dominate this market, due to construction industry boom. Rising building and construction activity in the United States and Canada, as well as increased infrastructure investment by businesses and governments, will boost regional industrial growth. Polyethylene films are used in the construction sector to safeguard important equipment and machinery by covering specified spaces.
Further, the major countries studied in the market report are The US, Canada, German, France, the UK, Italy, Spain, China, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, and Brazil.
Figure2: BREATHABLE FILMS MARKET SHARE BY REGION 2022 (USD Billion)
Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database and Analyst Review
Europe Breathable Films Market accounts for the second-largest market share because of growing packaging material usage in the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and personal care industries. Further, the German Breathable Films Market held the largest market share, and the UK Breathable Films Market was the fastest growing market in the European region
The Asia-Pacific Breathable Films Market is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR from 2023 to 2032. This is because of the growing need for Breathable Films in the food packaging, medical, and sanitary industries. Moreover, China’s Breathable Films Market held the largest market share, and the Indian Breathable Films Market was the fastest growing market in the Asia-Pacific region.
Leading market players are investing heavily in research and development in order to expand their product lines, which will help the Breathable Films Market, grow even more. Market participants are also undertaking a variety of strategic activities to expand their footprint, with important market developments including new product launches, contractual agreements, mergers and acquisitions, higher investments, and collaboration with other organizations. To expand and survive in a more competitive and rising market climate, Breathable Filmsindustry must offer cost-effective items.
Manufacturing locally to minimize operational costs is one of the key business tactics used by manufacturers in the Breathable Films industry to benefit clients and increase the market sector. In recent years, the Breathable Films industry has offered some of the most significant advantages to medicine. Major players in the Breathable Films Market, including TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC. (Japan), Covestro AG (Germany), NITTO DENKO CORPORATION (Japan), Fatra A.S. (Czech Republic), Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc.(U.S.) and others, are attempting to increase market demand by investing in research and development operations.
Mitsui Chemicals is a Nikkei-listed Japanese chemicals corporation with operations in Japan, Europe, China, Southeast Asia, and the United States. It is a subsidiary of the Mitsui group and one of Japan's top chemical firms. The company primarily specializes with functional polymeric materials, petrochemicals, and basic chemicals. Mitsui Chemicals was formed in 1968 by the amalgamation of Toyo Koatsu and Mitsui Chemical Industry. The former was created in 1933 and mostly manufactured fertilizers, whilst the later was founded in 1941 and produced dyes and organic intermediates. In February 2019, Mitsui Chemicals established a new breathable film manufacturing facility through its wholly-owned subsidiary Mitsui Hygiene Materials (Thailand). To satisfy the expanding demand in South East Asia, the plant's capacity has been increased to 10,900 tons per year.
Berry Group, Inc. is a Fortune 500 plastic packaging maker and marketer. It is headquartered in Evansville, Indiana, and has over 265 sites and 46,000 employees worldwide. In Fortune Magazine's rating, the corporation is one of the largest Indiana-based companies, with revenues of $14 billion or more in fiscal year 2022. Berry replaced Berry Plastics as the company's name. The business is divided into three segments: (1) Health, Hygiene, and Specialties; (2) Consumer Packaging; and (3) Engineered Materials. In January 2020, Berry has announced a USD 20 million capacity expansion for environmentally friendly and breathable films. In North America, the company will extend its healthcare, hygiene, and speciality films platform.
January 2020, RKW Group launched RoofTooGuard breather, a synthetic roofing underlayment with selectable adhesive and breathability. This product has distinct characteristics such as increased permeability and water resistance.
July 2019, Arkema acquired Pochoir SAS, a French company that specializes in high-performance thermo-bonding adhesive films. This acquisition will allow for the incorporation of environmentally friendly breathable membranes as well as product portfolio growth.
March 2021, Printpack has introduced the Preserve brand of breathable laminated film for fresh food that has been pre-qualified by the How2Recycle organization. The film is made entirely of polyethylene and is suitable for in-store recycling.
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