NONWOVEN MATERIALS MARKET ANALYSIS

Nonwoven Materials MarketSize and Trends

Global nonwoven materials market is expected to reach US$ 83.76 Bn by 2031, from US$ 50.61 Bn in 2024, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.5% during the forecast period.  Nonwoven materials are structures bonded together by interweaving filaments or fiber chemically, mechanically, or thermally. Nonwoven materials have applications as filtration materials, household fabrics, and are also used in personal care and hygiene products. The use of renewable resources in various industries for the production of polypropylene is expected to attract a larger customer base.

Global Nonwoven Materials Market Trends:

Focus on sustainable and eco-friendly nonwovens: The trend towards more sustainable and eco-friendly products has significantly impacted the global nonwoven materials industry in recent years. Consumers are increasingly conscious of the environmental impact of the products they use and demanding options that are made from recycled or renewable materials. This shifting attitude is forcing companies in the nonwoven sector to invest heavily in developing new lines of nonwovens that are biodegradable, compostable, or derived from plant-based sources instead of fossil fuels or other petroleum-based ingredients commonly used today.

Many nonwoven manufacturers have pivoted their product development efforts to focus on solutions featuring post-consumer and post-industrial recycled materials. For example, Freudenberg, a technical nonwoven brand, launched a new line of cleaning cloths made from up to 100% recycled polyester fibers derived from plastic waste. Freudenberg collaborated with recycling specialists to develop the closed-loop production process. According to Freudenberg's 2021 sustainability report, the company doubled its use of recycled materials in nonwovens between 2019 and 2021.

Rising adoption of spun bond technology: The textile industry has seen a significant rise in the adoption of spun bond technology in recent years. Spun bond is a nonwoven fabric manufacturing process where thermoplastic polymers are melted, extruded through a spinneret to form many fine strands that are then drawn, laid on a moving mesh conveyor belt and bonded together. This technology offers manufacturers the ability to mass produce nonwoven materials in a continuous and cost-effective manner. As a result, many leading nonwoven fabric producers have heavily invested in setting up new spun bond lines. For example, as per the 2021 annual report of Dupont, one of the largest spun bond producers, it added three new production lines in Asia Pacific and Europe between 2020 and 2022.