Functional Films Market

Updated on : August 22, 2024

Functional Films Market

The functional films market was valued at USD 30.5 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 49.6 billion by 2030, growing at 7.2% cagr from 2023 to 2030. The market experiences robust growth driven by a multitude of influential factors. These functional films, engineered materials with exceptional properties, find applications across a diverse range of high-tech industries.

Attractive Opportunities in the Functional Films Market

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Functional Films Market Dynamics

Driver: Growing demand for smart packaging solutions

Growing demand for smart packaging solutions might increase demand for functional films by up to 20% over the next five years. It is a prominent driver of the functional films market, notably in the food & beverage, pharmaceutical, and logistics industries. Functional films are increasingly being used to create smart packaging solutions that can effectively monitor and track the status of diverse products throughout transportation and storage. Because of their customized features, functional films play an important role in a wide range of smart packaging applications. These specialized materials are designed to have specific qualities such as barrier capabilities, conductivity, or antibacterial properties. Functional films play an important role in smart packaging applications such as time-temperature indicators (TTIs), radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags, and active packaging systems.

Restraint: Limited availability of high-purity raw materials

The growing demand for functional films in the automotive industry is being driven by the need for lightweight and durable materials for car bodies, interiors, and windows, as well as the growing trend towards autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles, the increasing demand for safety features, and the growing awareness of environmental issues. Functional films are thin, flexible materials that can be created to have a range of features such as barrier capabilities, conductivity properties, and antibacterial qualities. This makes them suitable for a wide range of automotive applications. For example, by replacing traditional materials such as metal and plastic, functional films can be used to make lightweight and durable materials for automobile bodies. This can help to enhance vehicle fuel efficiency and reduce pollutants. Functional films can also be utilized to make interior components that are more durable and easier to clean. Furthermore, functional films can be utilized to make windows that are lighter, stronger, and less prone to scratching and breaking. The use of functional films in the automobile sector is predicted to increase by 15% over the next few years, as these materials have certain advantages over traditional materials. Functional films are lightweight and robust and can be created with a range of qualities to satisfy specific requirements.

Opportunities: Use of functional films in agriculture

The development of new functional films for emerging applications is an important opportunity element for the functional films market. This is primarily due to increased demand for creative solutions in a variety of industries, such as wearable electronics, smart packaging, and energy storage. Functional films are critical components in the production of flexible, lightweight, and durable electronic devices in the field of wearable electronics. As the need for wearable technology grows, functional films will play a critical role in addressing customer demands for pleasant and multifunctional gadgets. Smart packaging is another growing use where functional films might help. Sensors, RFID technology, and even antimicrobial qualities can be incorporated into these films to improve product protection, traceability, and ease. The market for functional films in smart packaging is predicted to grow significantly as the emphasis on sustainable packaging and customer involvement grows. Another possible application for functional films is energy storage.

Challenges: Competition from traditional packaging materials

Traditional packaging materials might present considerable obstacles to the functional film sector. For many years, traditional packaging materials such as glass, metal, and paper have been frequently employed for packing. When compared to some functional films, these materials are well-established, trusted, and frequently viewed as more ecologically benign solutions. One significant challenge arising from this competition is resistance to change. Many sectors and consumers have long-standing associations with traditional packaging materials, so the transition to functional films may be difficult. Furthermore, the impression of functional films as less eco-friendly due to their reliance on plastics can stymie their uptake, particularly in areas with severe environmental regulations or growing environmental consciousness. Cost can also be an important consideration. Functional films may necessitate investments in new production techniques or equipment, which may be more expensive at first than continuing to use standard materials. This cost barrier may dissuade businesses from switching to functional films, even if they offer improved performance or novel features.

Functional Films Market Ecosystem

Prominent companies in this market include well-established, financially stable manufacturers of wet room waterproofing solutions. These companies have been operating in the market for several years and possess a diversified product portfolio and strong global sales and marketing networks. Prominent companies in this market include Toray Industries Inc. (Japan), Eastman Chemical Company (US), Covestro AG (Germany), Honeywell International (US), 3M Company (US), Nitto Denko Corporation (Japan), Dupont Teijin Films US Limited (US), Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (Japan), Toyobo Co., Ltd (Japan), Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd (Japan).

Based on material, Polyethylene Terephthalate is projected to account for the second largest share of the Functional films market.

PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is the fastest-growing material in the functional film market due to its favorable properties such as high strength, transparency, and recyclability. It is also lightweight and has good barrier properties, making it suitable for a variety of applications, including food packaging, flexible electronics, and medical devices.

Based on type, barrier film is projected to account for the second largest share of the Functional films market.

Due to their capacity to protect items against moisture, oxygen, and other dangerous elements, barrier films are the fastest-growing material in the functional film market. This is especially crucial for food and pharmaceutical products, which must be kept safe from rotting and contamination. Barrier films are also employed in a range of other applications, including flexible electronics, medical devices, and building materials. The growing popularity of flexible electronics is fuelling demand for barrier films. Flexible electronics are gadgets made of thin, flexible materials such as plastics and metals. Barrier films are used in flexible electronics to protect the devices from moisture, oxygen, and other dangerous substances.

Based on substrates, Glass is projected to account for the second largest share of the Functional films market.

Because of its unique qualities, such as high surface smoothness, chemical stability, and optical clarity, glass is the fastest-growing substrate in the functional film industry. The increasing demand for smartphones and other mobile devices, the expanding popularity of touch displays, and the increasing acceptance of solar energy are all driving the expansion of the glass substrate market. Smartphones and other mobile devices are the biggest users of glass substrates, and demand for these devices is likely to rise in the future years. Touch screens are another key application for glass substrates, and their demand is likely to rise as they become more widely used in a variety of applications such as car displays and industrial control systems.

North America is expected to be the fastest growing market during the forecast period.

North America is the fastest-growing area in the functional films market due to numerous factors, including its strong economy, high disposable income, and advanced technical infrastructure. The region is home to a large number of renowned functional film manufacturers, including Dow Chemical Company, DuPont, and Eastman Chemical Company. These companies are heavily spending on research and development to generate new and innovative functional film products. The growing need for functional films in a variety of applications, such as packaging, electronics, and medical devices, is also driving the North American functional films market. The need for longer shelf life and greater protection for food goods is driving the demand for functional films in packaging.

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Functional Films Market Players

The Functional films market is dominated by a few major players that have a wide regional presence. The key players in the Functional films market are Toray Industries Inc. (Japan), Eastman Chemical Company (US), Covestro AG (Germany), Honeywell International (US), 3M Company (US), Nitto Denko Corporation (Japan), Dupont Teijin Films US Limited (US), Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (Japan), Toyobo Co., Ltd (Japan), Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd (Japan). In the last few years, the companies have adopted growth strategies such as Product launches, Investments, Acquisitions, and expansions to capture a larger share of the Functional films market.

Functional Films Market Report Scope

This report categorizes the global functional films market based on raw material, Type, uses, application, and region.

On the basis of type, the functional films market has been segmented as follows:

• Conductive Films
• Optical Films
• Protective Films
• Barrier Films
• Adhesive Films
• Decorative Films
• Label Films
• Others

On the basis of material, the functional films market has been segmented as follows

• Polypropylene
• Polyethylene Terephthalate
• Polyethylene
• Polyvinyl Chloride
• Others

On the basis of Substrates, the functional films market has been segmented as follows

• Glass
• Plastic
• Metal
• Wood
• Others

On the basis of end-use, the functional films market has been segmented as follows:

• Automotive
• Packaging
• Healthcare & Pharmaceutical
• Electronic
• Others

On the basis of region, the functional films market has been segmented as follows:

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

Recent Developments

• In August 2020, Dai Nippon Printing Co., LTD (Japan) acquired Toyo Seikan's (Japan), a leading manufacturer of functional films. This acquisition expanded DNP's functional film portfolio and strengthened its position in the market. DNP is now one of the leading providers of functional films in the world.
• In December 2020, Honeywell acquired Pluvitec, a leading provider of optical coatings and surface treatments for display and semiconductor applications. The acquisition expands Honeywell's portfolio of functional films and enhances its capabilities in the development and manufacturing of high-performance optical coatings.
• In March 2021, DNP partnered with Covestro AG to develop new functional films. This partnership combined DNP's expertise in materials science and printing with Covestro's expertise in polymer chemistry and materials development.

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