Disinfectant Sprays and Wipes Market

Market Overview

The global disinfectant sprays and wipes market size was valued at USD 7.53 billion in 2022. It is estimated to reach USD 12.38 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 5.68% during the forecast period (2023–2031).

In the modern era, it has become clear that environmental surfaces can easily be contaminated with infectious and disease-causing agents. Hence, disinfection is vital in minimizing or reducing the chances of spreading infections. Disinfection is a process that includes physical or chemical means to control or destroy the harmful microorganisms that cause infectious diseases. Disinfectant sprays and wipes are all-purpose products that help clean and disinfect surface areas with antibacterial power by killing nearly 99.9% of viruses and bacteria. In addition, most disinfectants are non-specific, acting against various microorganisms. These products help remove common germs and allergens from surfaces and floors, preventing disease spread.

Sprays are an aerosolized form of disinfectant. They are available in various forms, including trigger, pump, and aerosolized. In contrast, wipes are pre-moistened with disinfectant solutions and are available in several forms, including towelettes, sponges, and pads. They are widely used in the residential, commercial, healthcare, hospitality, and government sectors for cleaning and disinfecting counters and regularly touched surfaces.

Market Dynamics

Global Disinfectant Sprays and Wipes Market Drivers

Rising Number of Hospital-acquired Infections

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) and their consequences have increased in recent years. These infections are common in hospitals that house many sick people with weak immune systems, medical procedures that bypass the patient's body's natural protective barriers, inadequate sanitation protocols related to equipment sterilization, increasing outpatient treatment, and others. There has been an upsurge in HAIs and associated illnesses; therefore, they must be avoided. Disinfection and environmental cleaning are the most effective infection control strategies in hospitals. In order to prevent illnesses from spreading, hospital equipment and wards are cleaned thoroughly.

Hospital cleaning chemicals are now designed to reduce HAI-causing microorganisms and other hazards. These products balance efficiency and surface compatibility. These chemicals are easy to use and kill microorganisms, disinfecting surfaces. Most infection control and prevention methods, such as proper hygiene and basic precautions during invasive operations, are low-cost and straightforward. Hence, with the implementation of these measures, HAIs are expected to witness a reduction in their prevalence rate. Therefore, using disinfectant spray and wipes in hospitals to prevent the growing prevalence of HAIs fuels the market growth.

Increasing Disease Outbreaks

The prevalence of infectious diseases and disease-causing pathogens is continually evolving. Recent years have highlighted the risk of a new disease wreaking devastation. Infections from animals, the environment, or people cause most disease outbreaks. Few epidemics like Ebola in West Africa and Zika virus in the Americas have devastated humanity in recent decades. The coronavirus pandemic of 2019 was one of the deadliest on record.

Bacteria, viruses, and fungi are projected to spread globally faster and more effectively nowadays. Global public health concerns include infectious illness outbreaks. The CDC recommends cleaning and sanitizing the most frequently handled surfaces in public spaces and households. The virus spreads mostly through surfaces or infected people. Therefore, many companies are introducing disinfectant sprays and wipes to clean homes and businesses, fueling the market growth.

Global Disinfectant Sprays and Wipes Market Restraint

Negative Perception of Chemical Disinfectants

Nowadays, nearly all public facilities, such as commercial offices, schools, and parks, use a significant amount of disinfecting or sanitizing products for cleaning the spaces. However, most of the disinfectants available nowadays possess toxic ingredients. For instance, sodium hypochlorite is an effective chemical used in treating blood-borne pathogens; however, these are respiratory irritants and corrosive. Improper usage of such chemicals is expected to cause environmental hazards, posing harm to patients being exposed.

Additionally, the increasing toxicity of these chemicals is expected to hinder the usage of different products meant for various end-user application segments. Hence, with the expanding end-user segments, the usage of disinfectants is expected to be used in lesser amounts and restricted to only non-critical items during the forecast period, hampering the market growth.

Global Disinfectant Sprays and Wipes Market Opportunities

Growth of Government Initiatives

Government initiatives to increase awareness related to the growing need for disinfection and cleanliness are expected to bolster market growth in the future. The option for specific disinfecting or cleaning agents largely depends on the product label instructions, claims, and government regulations. In the healthcare segment, EPA regulates only disinfectants mainly used on environmental surfaces, and the FDA regulations for higher-level disinfectants/liquid chemical sterilants, which are widely used on patient-care devices.

EPA emphasizes manufacturers test the formulations using accepted methods for stability, microbicidal activity, and human toxicity. In addition, manufacturers must submit this data/information to the EPA with proposed labeling. Suppose EPA concludes that a product can be used without resulting in unreasonable adversity. In that case, it provides an EPA registration number and allows the product to be sold and distributed in the country. With increasingly stringent regulations, products such as disinfectant sprays and wipes are expected to witness a significant rise in sales among consumers, creating opportunities for market growth.

Regional Analysis

Based on region, the global disinfectant sprays and wipes market is bifurcated into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa.

North America Dominates the Global Market

North America is the most significant global disinfectant sprays and wipes market shareholder and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 5.54% over the forecast period. The rising incidence of chronic diseases, the high rate of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), strict regulations, and the supportive government initiatives related to disinfection and sterilization in the North American region are the main factors driving the demand for disinfectants in the region. Additionally, it is anticipated that improvements in the healthcare infrastructure in Canada and the US will increase demand for disinfection goods like sprays and wipes to clean, disinfect, and sanitize highly touched surfaces and floors. These products are increasingly being used in various end-user application segments because they are simple and convenient. Further, the growing e-commerce industry in the North American region is projected to fuel the region's demand for disinfectants. The e-commerce sector is anticipated to exponentially increase in demand in North America over the forecast period due to the developing notion of digitalization and the proliferating use of social media.

Europe is anticipated to exhibit a CAGR of 5.61% over the forecast period. European countries are increasingly gaining prominence for their digitalization efforts in recent years. The growing awareness among individuals for various advanced and the latest innovative solutions introduced in the market is expected to impact the disinfectant products market during the forecast period favorably. Hence, key vendors are increasingly focusing on improving the formulations of their products according to their usage in various application segments. In addition to this, the expansion of the e-commerce industry in the region increases the accessibility of consumers to shop online, thereby favorably impacting the sales of various products, such as disinfectant sprays and wipes. Moreover, the growing research and development (R&D) expenditure and the primary usage of these products in the commercial and residential segments are anticipated to propel the overall sales of disinfectants over the next few years.

Asia-Pacific is witnessing rapid urbanization among all the other geographies in the past decade. From 2010 to 2030, the number of urban households in the region will increase by approximately 68%, according to the World Bank. The economic prospects in emerging and advanced market economies are expected to be challenging over the next years. In addition, China and Japan are the two largest economies in the Asia-Pacific region. China's economy is expected to continue rebalancing from the investments and manufacturing sectors to the consumption and services segment. The ongoing expansion of the current value chain and supply chain of raw material suppliers and end-users in emerging Asia-Pacific countries is also driving the overall growth of the market in the region.

In Latin America, recent government initiatives to reduce the burden of HAIs are being carried out via various initiatives, such as research for the adaptation and validation of surveillance protocols as per the required situation in the country. In the lower-income countries of Latin America, the frequency of ICU-acquired infections is higher, along with the device-associated infection densities, compared to the other developed nations. For instance, the risk of newborn babies acquiring HAIs is high in Latin America owing to the non-maintenance of hygiene protocols among hospital facilities. With the increasing number of HAIs coupled with the growing number of chronic infections in the region, there has been a high demand for disinfectant products in recent years.

In the Middle East and Africa, the disinfectant sprays and wipes market is nascent and is anticipated to witness moderate expansion during the forecast period. The increasing number of e-commerce channels, coupled with the rising outbreak of infectious diseases, is expected to propel the demand for disinfectant sprays and wipes in the region over the next few years.

Segmental Analysis

The global disinfectant sprays and wipes market is bifurcated into product, composition, end-user, and distribution channels.

Based on the product, the global market is divided into sprays and wipes. 

The wipes segment is the most significant contributor to the market and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 5.70% over the forecast period. Disinfectant wipes are acquiring popularity among consumers because pre-impregnated and mixtures of disinfectant/detergent wet wipes provide numerous benefits over sprays and solutions. In addition, one of the main purposes of using these wipes is dirt removal; however, antimicrobial activities due to the inclusion of disinfectants are beneficial in some situations. These products are mainly used for decontaminating low-risk environmental surfaces or patient equipment in healthcare settings, making them safe for users. With the increasing preference for health and hygiene facilities, disinfectant wipes are expected to witness a significant rise in demand during the forecast period. Proper hygiene has become essential in different application areas for smooth work conduct. Hence, this requires an efficient set of products to perform cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing tasks without any hassles. This makes disinfectant wipes quite popular among end-users.

Based on composition, the global market is bifurcated into alcohol-based, alkyl dimethyl benzyl, and others. 

The alcohol-based segment owns the highest market share and is predicted to exhibit a CAGR of 5.88% over the forecast period. Alcohols play a crucial role in the segment of disinfectant products. The alcohol's chemical composition is one of the most influential determinants of product suitability. If the alcohol concentration is less than 50%, the product's usefulness declines steeply since these are not significantly effective below the desired mentioned percentage. According to the WHO, US EPA, and US CDC, alcohol-based disinfectants have proven effective against coronavirus. Further, wipes and disinfectants based on alcohol are witnessing a supply chain crunch as the major raw chemical such as ethanol and IPA are unavailable to meet the market demand. Alcohol plays an important role in the disinfectant products for tackling infectious diseases, which require higher concentrations to combat the same. Hence, key manufacturers are introducing products with an optimal composition of alcohol that can work effectively in different situations and applications.

Based on the end-user, the global market is bifurcated into healthcare, industrial, residential, commercial spaces, hospitality, and government and others. 

The healthcare segment dominates the global market and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 5.84% during the forecast period. The fight against diseases with improved living conditions, better sanitation, and wider access to healthcare facilities is gaining significant traction in today's scenario. Disinfectant products are expected to be further impacted by healthcare, science, and technology developments. The growing investments in healthcare expenditure, along with the increasing number of innovative products, are anticipated to boost the growth of the disinfectants market over the next few years. In addition, healthcare expenditure across the different regions continues to escalate, posing an opportunity for the rising use of disinfectants in healthcare systems. Healthcare spending is expected to be bolstered by factors such as growing and aging populations, advancements in clinical technology, and market expansion in recent years.

Based on the distribution channel, the global market is segmented into indirect and direct channels. 

The indirect segment is the largest contributor to the market and is projected to exhibit a CAGR of 5.90% over the forecast period. The indirect channel for the global disinfectant sprays and wipes market includes the involvement of various intermediaries in the distribution of products from the manufacturer to the end consumer. These intermediaries include wholesalers, distributors, mass-market players, and retailers such as supermarkets, hypermarkets, and other retail stores. In addition, it includes online distribution through various e-commerce and specialized websites. Dealers and distributors are the keys to the distribution of disinfectant products.

Recent Developments

• August 2022- PDI announced the launch of two novels, cutting-edge disinfectants to aid infection prevention professionals in their struggle against the rise of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and the ongoing war against Covid-19. Sani-24 Germicidal Disposable Wipe, Sani-HyPerCide Germicidal Disposable Wipe, and Sani-HyPerCide Germicidal Spray, as part of an integrated approach, further support PDI's commitment to preventing infections and promoting health and wellness.
• March 2023- S.C. Johnson launched a brand of novel disinfectants called FamilyGuard. The product is available in spray and aerosol spray forms and is designed for use on over 100 surfaces, including those where children and animals play.