Antimicrobial Plastics Market

Escalating Healthcare Costs to Fuel Growth of Antimicrobial Plastics Market

The Antimicrobial Plastics Market is valued at USD 44.7 Bn in 2026 and is projected to reach USD 74.6 Bn,  growing at a CAGR of 8% by 2033.Industrial and consumer polymers can be susceptible to microbial attack, causing undesirable effects such as staining, odours, and physical degradation. Bacteria, and fungi feed on most plastic and polymer additives – often leading to a potential loss of product integrity. This is particularly true for outdoor applications, where constant environmental stresses dramatically reduce the life of an untreated article. Antimicrobial additives for polymers provide excellent benefits. An expanding application base is expected to uphold the growth of antimicrobial plastics market.

Antimicrobial polymers, and antibacterial plastics are used in many end-use areas like Housewares: Cutting boards, wall coverings, appliances, toilet seats, flooring, mattresses; Commercial: PVC blinds, car interiors, packaging, signs, electronics, seating; Fitness: yoga mats, footwear, duffle bags, sports equipment; Building Products: flooring, vinyl siding, windows, insulation, piping, roofing membranes; and Healthcare: business supplies, medical devices, seating, countertops, and storage.

Opportunities continue to emerge in antimicrobial plastics market on the back of growing usage, especially in healthcare. The rising prevalence of diseases is driving up the need for hospitals, and clinics. As a result, demand for advanced medical devices, and equipment is likely to increase, boosting the demand for antimicrobial polymers. According to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), every year, the United States spends the most on healthcare per person. The United States spends more than $3,000 per person than the second-highest country, Switzerland, at $10,586 per person. In 2020, American families spent $980 billion on healthcare or nearly $3,200 per person.

Moreover, with millions of COVID-19 instances around the world, antimicrobial polymers are in high demand for a variety of purposes. As per WHO, in the US the number of cases of covid is 158,983,746. It is practically hard to maintain every surface cleaned despite social separation, facemasks, and strict hygiene precautions. As a result, self-cleaning properties are required to neutralise contaminating microorganisms and limit the risk of possible spread. Antibacterial polymers have a high level of antimicrobial activity, as well as hardness, durability, and transparency, making them ideal for non-toxic plastic equipment. Antimicrobial polymers are becoming more popular in the healthcare sector as the demand for medical devices rises.   

Antimicrobial plastics are in high demand in the medical and healthcare industries due to the growing requirement to repel surface infections and increased knowledge of antimicrobial polymers. One of the most significant trends in the healthcare business is the use of antimicrobial plastics in the manufacturing of disposable hygiene items and medical devices. Stringent regulations, such as the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR) EU 528/2012 and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), have prompted antimicrobial plastic suppliers to introduce new compositions to meet the safe administration and anti-bacterial properties standards, which are expected to stymie the progress of antimicrobial plastics market over the forecast period.

Consumer Awareness About Personal Hygiene to Drive Demand for Antimicrobial Plastics in Medical and Healthcare Categories

During the forecast period, the medical & healthcare segment is expected to be the largest application of antimicrobial plastics, owing to rising consumer awareness about personal hygiene and health-related issues driving increased demand. This will bode well for antimicrobial plastics market. Manufacturers and consumers are more aware of the use of antimicrobial plastics because of COVID-19, which was released at the start of 2020. As a result, there is a higher need for these plastics in various industries, particularly the medical and healthcare industries. Antimicrobial polymers are mostly used in the healthcare business. In the healthcare industry, antimicrobial polymers provide several advantages over traditional materials, including cleanliness, sterility, convenience, ease of use, and cheap cost.

Demand for microbial infection prevention is being driven by a complex epidemiological environment, healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), microbial contamination, nosocomial infections, and infection concerns in hospitals, and dental equipment. The requirement to recycle disposable medical equipment opened a plethora of possibilities for antibacterial research. Antimicrobial plastics are utilised in dental offices, hospitals, and nursing homes for items like cubicle curtains, beds, nurse call systems, handrails, floors, door handles, pull cords, and case note holders.

Increased Demand for Antimicrobials in the Asia Pacific to Drive Market Growth

The antimicrobial plastics market in the Asia Pacific is the largest. Over the predicted period, the region is expected to maintain its dominance. Packaging, automotive & transportation, healthcare, building & construction, food & beverage, and other important end-use sectors drive the Asia Pacific antimicrobial plastics market. The automotive & transportation industry's strong manufacturing base in China, India, and Japan, combined with growing passenger vehicle sales, is expected to boost the antimicrobial plastics market in the area throughout the estimated period.

Moreover, with the government's support for increasing manufacturing investments, China is likely to be one of the region's most attractive markets. China's reduced manufacturing costs, compared to those in North America and Europe, have compelled major foreign direct investments in the country's automobile industry. China's vast supply of raw materials such as polymers, and metals is a positive factor in attracting new investments in the automobile and transportation industries. As a result, a good prognosis for China's automotive and transportation industries is expected to boost the antimicrobial plastics market significantly over the forecast period.

Growing industrialisation in the region, accompanied by infrastructure development, has created huge chances for the antimicrobial plastics market to expand. The need for antimicrobial plastics is being driven by the growing middle-class population, which has resulted in continued urbanisation, and growth in the manufacturing sector. The growing demand from the industrial sector, as well as legislation like pollution control and the usage of ecologically friendly products, have spurred innovation in the Asia Pacific plastics industry, transforming the region into a worldwide plastics hub.

Global Antimicrobial Plastics Market: Competitive Landscape

For instance, in November 2021, Sanitized AG introduced Sanitized Puretec, a new product. It's a textile antimicrobial solution that's non-leaching, metal-free, and particle-free to inhibit the growth of odour-causing bacteria. This was put to the test using ASTM E3 162-18, which was authorised by the International Antimicrobial Council after 40 washes. On the other hand, in 2021, Microban International teamed up with Sunbeam Products to create antimicrobial knife handles that are bacteria-free, and hygienic.

Few of the players in the antimicrobial plastics market include 

• BASF SE
• Dow Inc.
• Clariant AG
• Biocote Ltd.
• Microban International Ltd.
• Dupont de Nemours, Inc.
• AkzoNobel N.V.
• Evonik Industries AG
• Huntsman Corporation
• PolyOne Corporation (now Avient Corporation)
• Avery Dennison Corporation
• AdvanSource Biomaterials Corporation
• Ascend Performance Materials LLC
• LG Chem Ltd.
• Solvay S.A.

Global Antimicrobial Plastics Market Segmentation is Described Below:

By Additive

• Inorganic
• Organic

By Type

• Commodity Plastics
• Engineering Plastics
• High-Performance Plastics

By Application

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

By Geography

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