Antimicrobial Plastics Market

Market Overview

The Total Addressable Market (TAM) for Antimicrobial Plastics was valued at USD 34.3 billion in 2021. It is expected to reach USD 66.31 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 7.6% during the forecast period (2022–2030).

 A synthetic polymer material with an integrated active ingredient (antimicrobial additive) that makes it effective against microbial growth, including algae, fungi, and mildew, is an antimicrobial plastic. As a result of the tendency of these microbes to shorten the lifespan of plastic products, antimicrobial plastics have recently grown across a range of industries, including building and construction, automotive and transportation, medical, and others. Utilizing antimicrobial plastics is most advantageous because they are safer and more hygienic. The risk of people contracting staph, strep, MRSA, and related microorganisms is reduced because they cannot survive or spread.

Market Dynamics

Market Drivers

Rising Product Demand for the Medical Devices

Antimicrobial plastics are necessary for medical devices because they prevent microbes from adhering to the surfaces of tools, equipment, and implants. These antimicrobial plastics stop the growth of pathogenic microorganisms like carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus that can cause infections. There is a greater need to build hospitals and clinics in developing nations due to rising healthcare costs and population growth. This is anticipated to drive demand for high-tech medical equipment and devices in these areas.

Additionally, several government initiatives to support early diagnoses of diseases, such as the United Nations Task Force's cervical cancer prevention and control program, the rising use of home healthcare services, the opening of long-term care facilities, and supportive policies like reimbursement coverage are the main factors favorably influencing the growth of the diagnostic and monitoring segment. This will likely drive the demand for antimicrobial plastics over the forecast period.

Growing Demand from many End-User Industries for Antimicrobial Plastic Packaging

The food and beverage industry uses antimicrobial plastic packaging extensively because it is preservative-free, requires little processing, and prevents the growth of microorganisms, thereby extending the shelf life of perishable goods. Antimicrobial plastic packaging has been used more frequently recently. This trend is anticipated to continue over the forecast period due to rising consumer health awareness and the growing demand for products with a longer shelf life. Antimicrobial additives are used to create antimicrobial plastic packaging products, which aid in preventing microbial contamination-related spoilage of food, beverages, and medicines. These additives are used in plastic food packaging structures, and the choice of additives depends on the product type. The demand for antimicrobial plastics is anticipated to rise as the number of fast-food restaurants and restaurants rises.

Market Restraints

Strict Environmental Regulations and Laws

One of the critical trends in the healthcare sector is the use of antimicrobial plastics in producing disposable hygiene products and medical devices. To comply with strict regulations like the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR) EU 528/2012 and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), antimicrobial plastic manufacturers have had to develop new compositions. These regulations are anticipated to restrain the growth of the antimicrobial plastics market over the forecast period.

Global regulations on antimicrobial products are in place to safeguard the public and the environment from potentially harmful substances. When antimicrobials are incorporated into plastics, those items are said to be treated. These items are treated with a biocidal substance but are not biocidal products. As a result, many regulations about biocidal products and active substances for the approval and registration of antimicrobial additives are waived, restricting the expansion of the antimicrobial plastics market.

Market Opportunities

Expanding Textile Industry

Microorganism growth is made possible by textiles' large surface area and moisture-retentive nature. This growth has numerous negative consequences for the material and the end user. In areas where moisture and microbes mix, antibacterial textiles are used. Health care, hygiene, medical devices, sportswear, food packaging, storage, mechanical and thermal protection, automotive textiles, heating, ventilation, air conditioning systems, air filters, and water purification systems are just a few of the applications for the materials. Functional clothing and fabrics from all over the house, such as socks, mattresses, baby diapers, and covers, are used to protect healthcare workers. All these factors are expected to create tremendous opportunities for the global market growth over the forecast period.

Additionally, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) estimated that the global textile industry had a market value of USD 900 billion in 2018 and contributed 2% of the global GDP. India and China, two of the world's biggest textile markets, are anticipated to increase by about 10% over the next ten years, reaching a market size of USD 2,634 billion by 2025. The top eight textile-consuming countries collectively made up 70% of the world textile market.

Regional Analysis

The global antimicrobial plastics market is segmented by North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Central and South America, and the Middle East and Africa.

Asia-Pacific Dominates the Global Market

Asia-Pacific is the most significant global antimicrobial plastics market shareholder and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.7% during the forecast period. The expanding end-user industries like automotive and transportation, healthcare, building and construction, food and beverage, and packaging fuel the Asia-Pacific antimicrobial plastics market. It is anticipated that a strong manufacturing base for the automotive and transportation sectors in China, Japan, and India, along with rising sales of passenger cars, will accelerate the growth of the market in the region.

Additionally, the government of India's favorable policies, such as foreign direct investments (FDI) and Make in India, are anticipated to open a wide range of growth prospects for the automobile and transportation industries, which in turn are anticipated to boost the consumption of antimicrobial plastics in automotive and transportation applications. The demand for antimicrobial plastics in industrial machinery, equipment, and containers is expected to increase as the region's industrial development continues. The demand for the product is primarily driven by the expansion of the building and construction sectors in Asia-Pacific's emerging economies and by the governments of China and India increasing their infrastructure spending.

North America is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.2% during the forecast period. As demand for non-residential construction projects like hospitals, schools, and colleges rises over the forecast period, the North American construction industry is anticipated to expand significantly. Implementing the "Affordable Healthcare Act" in the United States sparked the construction of hospitals and healthcare facilities. The demand for antimicrobial plastics in the construction industry is expected to be driven by the growth in office buildings, industrial facilities, schools, and colleges. Over the forecast period, it is anticipated that favorable government policies in the U.S. regarding domestic infrastructure development under the National Infrastructural Protection Plan (NIPP) will encourage market growth. Growth in several industries, including building and construction, automotive and transportation, healthcare, packaging, food and beverage, textiles, consumer goods, and others, can be attributed to the region's rising gross domestic product (GDP) as higher industrial output. This is anticipated to fuel the growth of the global market in the area over the forecast period.

Europe is currently one of the world's top automakers and is anticipated to maintain its leading position during the forecast period. According to projections, the automotive industry will expand as a result of the growing demand for electric and hybrid vehicles and the presence of major automakers in the area, such as AUDI AG, BMW AG, Mercedes-Benz AG, JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED, ASTON MARTIN, Volkswagen, Volvo Car Corporation, FCA Italy S.p.A., Ferrari S.p.A., Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., and Porsche Austria GmbH & Co. Due to advances in electric vehicle technology, the European Commission has been encouraging FDI from Asian automakers like Honda and Toyota, further fostering the sector's growth. This is anticipated to increase the consumption of antimicrobial plastics in the automotive end-user industry over the forecast period. Over the forecast period, it is anticipated that a growing construction sector in several nations, including the U.K., the Netherlands, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Sweden, and Ireland, will drive product demand.

The demand for antimicrobial plastics drives the CSA's recovering residential building and construction sector. Colombia's infrastructure growth is anticipated to be boosted by significant new government investments in housing and public works, which will drive the demand for antimicrobial plastics in the area over the forecast period. Additionally, Bogota's urban renewal project, which consists of 50 skyscrapers, 500 high-rise structures, a subway system, and a smart city, aims to make the city the industrial, financial, and technological hub of Central and South America. Thus, it is anticipated that the region's growing number of infrastructure development projects will fuel product demand in the years to come.

It is anticipated that the Middle East's rapid industrialization and improving infrastructure will positively affect product demand. The region's demand for antimicrobial plastics is anticipated to be driven by the expansion of the construction industry, particularly in the UAE and Qatar, as a result of the economic recovery, an advanced real estate regulatory framework, and an increase in the number of infrastructure projects. Over the next few years, it is anticipated that the Middle East and Africa will experience growth as a market for medical device coatings. A thriving healthcare sector in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and other GCC nations will likely spur market growth for antimicrobial plastics.

Segmental Analysis

The global antimicrobial plastics market is segmented by product and end-user.

By Product Analysis

Based on product, the global market is bifurcated into commodity plastics, engineering plastics, and high-performance plastics.

The commodity plastics segment is the highest contributor to the market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.1% during the forecast period. Over the forecast period, it is anticipated that the growing use of commodity plastics in the healthcare, consumer goods, packaging, and food and beverage industries will propel the segment's growth. The growing consumer awareness of personal hygiene issues and the shifting lifestyles of consumers worldwide are the main factors driving product demand in these end-user industries.

The engineering plastics segment is anticipated to grow the fastest over the forecast period. Due to their simple processing, improved thermal stability, and superior mechanical, thermal, chemical, and electrical properties, engineering plastics are increasingly used in place of traditional plastics and other materials in several end-user industries, including automotive, healthcare, packaging, and consumer goods. The automotive industry's growing need for lightweight, high-performance materials is anticipated to increase demand for thermoplastic polyurethane over the forecast period. Additionally, supportive government policies regarding lightweight materials and increased fuel efficiency are anticipated to increase demand for thermoplastic polyurethane in the global automotive industry.

By End User Analysis

Based on end-user, the global market is bifurcated into building and construction, automotive and transportation, healthcare, packaging, food & beverages, textiles, and consumer goods.

The healthcare segment owns the highest market share and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.8% during the forecast period. In 2021, the healthcare end-use segment dominated the antimicrobial plastics market, which accounted for more than 31.0% of global sales. Due to the lower costs associated with home healthcare compared to hospital care and the rising demand for intensive care medical devices, the high share is a result of these factors. Antimicrobial plastics are used in floors, handles, beds, wall and ceiling paints, case note holders, cubicle curtains, pull cords, and nurse call systems. Antimicrobial plastics significantly contribute to infection control by reducing the risk of microbes like MRSA, Legionella, and E. coli. The healthcare industry is predicted to see increased demand for antimicrobial plastics to make sterile, infection-preventive products like surgical cables, tubing, and orthopedic sutures.

In the packaging industry, antimicrobial plastics are frequently used for food, beverages, and personal care products. They provide protection from microbes, lengthen the product's shelf life, and improve its aesthetic value. Consumption of antimicrobial plastics is anticipated to rise over the forecast period due to the rising demand for packaged food and personal care products in nations like India, China, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka due to changing lifestyles and growing GDP.

Recent Developments

• October 2022- In Mumbai, India, BASF started building its new Polyurethane Application Development Laboratory. In the space of about 2,000 square meters, the new lab will have the most up-to-date equipment for applications. When it opens in 2024, the lab will make it easier for Indian customers in high-growth industries like consumer appliances, construction, footwear, furniture, transportation, and more to work together.
• August 2022- Covestro invested money into making polycarbonates in Asia-Pacific that are better for the environment. By 2026, the region will be able to deliver more than 60,000 tons of recycled polycarbonates annually. The company is starting to build its first dedicated mechanical recycling production line in Shanghai.