Antimicrobial Plastics Market

Updated on : March 19, 2024

Antimicrobial Plastics Market

The global antimicrobial plastics market size was valued at USD 41.7 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 64.8 billion by 2028, growing at 7.7% cagr from 2023 to 2028. Packaging industry is one of the major consumer of antimicrobial plastics, especially for food packaging application. This growth is due to the emergence of e-commerce platforms. Packaging has become a necessity for marketing to attract customers. In 2021, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a final rule which allows the use of certain antimicrobial substances in food contact surface materials, including plastics.

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Antimicrobial Plastics Market Dynamics

Driver: Growing awareness pertaining to antimicrobial plastics

According to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) the National Health Expenditures (NHE) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of US are projected to grow 5.1% annually up to 2030. However, the NHE patterns are pointedly influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, even with social distancing, facemasks, and strict hygiene measures, it is nearly impossible to keep every surface sanitized. Hence, there is a need for self-cleansing property to neutralize the surface from contaminant pathogens and reduce the risk of possible spread. Hence, the awareness of antimicrobial plastics has increased, so there is a strong demand for antimicrobial plastics industry in various applications.

Restraints: Volatility in raw material prices

Plastic is a petrochemical-based material, which is mainly obtained from natural gas and oil; volatility in the prices of these resources affects the price of plastic products. Manufacturers of antimicrobial plastics find it difficult to innovate new products due to price fluctuation, thus impacting their operating profits. There are also cost pressures from customers, and the end-users have to adjust between the cost and performance tradeoff, thereby affecting the performance of final products and their profit margins.

Opportunities : Growth of textile industry

From fiber, yarn, and fabric to garments, global textile and apparel industry has strengths along the whole value chain. India and China are one of the largest textile market across the globe. The traditional handloom, handicrafts, wool, and silk items, as well as the organised textile industry in India, make up a large portion of the widely diversified Indian textile and apparel market. With the advancement of nanotechnology in textile manufacturing, antimicrobials can be implemented in various technical and non-technical textiles. This is expected to create new opportunities for the antimicrobial plastics and additives market in textile industry.

Challenges: Disposal of plastics

Antimicrobial plastics are made of thermoplastics, which is hazardous to the environment. Currently, the recycling rate of plastics worldwide is very low compared to its production; as a result, poor disposal of plastics is done, which is harmful to the environment. This causes slow decomposition, thus creating microplastics and further causing leaking in the ecosystem. Considering these issues, many countries have banned the use of plastics, promoting environmental awareness and limited consumption. Even the biodegradable plastics are biodegradable, they still need to be properly disposed of, as they can release harmful chemicals and pollutants if not treated appropriately. Additionally, there are concerns about the impact of biodegradable plastics on the environment cycle, as they can affect nutrient availability and soil microorganisms

Antimicrobial Plastics Market Ecosystem

Prominent companies in this market include well-established, financially stable manufacturers of antimicrobial plastics. These companies have been in business for a while and have a broad range of products, cutting-edge technologies, and robust international sales and marketing networks. Prominent companies in this market include DuPont De Nemours, Inc. (US), BASF SE (Germany), Microban International (US), Sanitized AG (Germany), Biocote Limited (UK), Avient Corporation (US), and King Plastic Corporation (US).

Based on additive, inorganic is projected to hold the largest market share of antimicrobial plastics.

Inorganic additive are expected to dominate the antimicrobial plastics market during the forecast period. This is majorly due to their advanced properties. Also the increasing demand from major end-use industries including healthcare, packaging, automotive and building & construction is expected to fuel the demand for inorganic additive in antimicrobial plastics industry.

Based on type, commodity plastics was the largest segment for antimicrobial plastics market, in terms of value, in 2022.

Commodity plastics are the in large quantities for a variety of applications. They are used in applications where mechanical properties and service environments are not critical. PE, PP, PS, PVC, PMMA, PET, and PUR are some of the most common used commodity plastics considered for the study. Commodity plastics are manufactured in large quantities and are low cost for the most common disposable items and durable goods such as food containers, lids, packaging films, and trash containers. The extensive applications, easy availability, and low-cost materials are the key factors driving the commodity plastics market.

Based on application, medical & healthcare was the largest segment for antimicrobial plastics market, in terms of value, in 2022.

The medical & healthcare segment led the antimicrobial plastics industry due to the rising spread of life-threatening diseases such as H1N1, nosocomial infections, COVID-19, and other health-related issues.. Innovation in the healthcare industry, for instance, the development of non-toxic plastic equipment, is anticipated to fuel the antimicrobial plastics market. Antimicrobial plastics are used in surgical and medical devices including catheters, cubicle curtains, beds, and dental implants.

“Asia Pacific accounted for the largest market share for antimicrobial plastics market industry, in terms of value, in 2022”

The antimicrobial plastics market in Asia Pacific is led by the medical & healthcare and automotive segment mainly due to the rising awareness about the use of antimicrobial plastics in vehicles and medical devices to decrease the prevalence of infections. Mobility requirements for people and commodities have expanded in Asian nations due to rapid urbanization, economic success, and a growing population. Despite increased passenger travel anticipated, few people own cars. Because of this imbalance, automotive service providers now have a huge advantage in the Asia Pacific market, which is predominantly dominated by a young population. This demand for new and advanced vehicles is expected to drive the market for antimicrobial plastics in Asia Pacific region.

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Antimicrobial Plastics Market / Industry Players

The key players profiled in the report include DuPont De Nemours, Inc. (US), BASF SE (Germany), Microban International (US), Sanitized AG (Germany), Biocote Limited (UK), Avient Corporation (US), and King Plastic Corporation (US) among others, are the key manufacturers that secured major market share in the last few years. Major focus was given to the contracts and new product development due to the changing requirements of commercial, homeland security and defense & space users across the world.

Antimicrobial Plastics Market Report Scope

This report categorizes the global antimicrobial plastics market based on additive, type, application, and region.

On the basis of additive, the antimicrobial plastics market has been segmented as follows:

• Inorganic
  • Silver
  • Zinc
  • Copper
• Organic
  • OBPA
  • Triclosan

On the basis of type, the antimicrobial plastics market has been segmented as follows:

• Commodity Plastics
  • PP
  • PE
  • PVC
  • PS
  • PMMA
  • PET
  • PUR
• Engineering Plastics
  • ABS
  • PC
  • PA
  • POM
  • Others
• High Performance Plastics

On the basis of application, the antimicrobial plastics market has been segmented as follows:

• Packaging
• Medical & Healthcare
• Automotive
• Building & Construction
• Consumer Goods
• Others

On the basis of region, the antimicrobial plastics market has been segmented as follows:

• Asia Pacific
• North America
• Europe
• Middle East & Arica
• South America

Recent Developments

• In April 2020, Cummins Inc. and DuPont Company partnered to supply an antimicrobial additive for N95 respiratory masks. They combined Cummins's NanoNet & NanoForce Technology with DuPont's Hybrid Membrane Technology to make the material.
• In April 2021, Microban International partnered with Continental Accessory and launched the first collection of office and school supplies. These supplies, like notebooks, pencil pouches, and portfolio covers, have antimicrobial properties.
• In November 2021, Microban International partnered with Sunbeam Products, Inc. to manufacture antimicrobial knife handles to make the handles hygienic and bacteria-free.
• In August 2021, Microban International partnered with Verbatim to manufacture USB drives with antimicrobial protection to keep devices safe from bacterial growth.

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