Industrial and consumer polymers are highly susceptible to microbial attacks, causing undesirable effects such as staining, odors, and physical degradation. Bacteria and fungi feed on most plastic and polymer additives, leading to a potential loss of product integrity. This issue is particularly prominent in outdoor applications, where constant environmental stresses dramatically reduce the lifespan of untreated articles. Antimicrobial additives for polymers offer significant benefits, and an expanding application base is expected to drive the growth of the antimicrobial plastics market.

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Diverse Applications Across Multiple Industries

Antimicrobial polymers and antibacterial plastics are used in numerous end-use areas, including:

• 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
• Healthcare: Business supplies, medical devices, seating, countertops, storage

Growing Healthcare Sector Drives Demand

Opportunities continue to emerge in the antimicrobial plastics market, particularly in the healthcare sector. The rising prevalence of diseases is driving up the need for hospitals and clinics, increasing the demand for advanced medical devices and equipment. This surge in demand is expected to boost the market for antimicrobial polymers. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the United States spends more on healthcare per person than any other country, with annual expenditures exceeding $10,000 per person. In 2020, American families spent nearly $980 billion on healthcare, or approximately $3,200 per person.

Impact of COVID-19 on Antimicrobial Plastics Demand

The COVID-19 pandemic has further increased the demand for antimicrobial polymers for various purposes. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the United States had 158,983,746 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Despite social distancing, facemasks, and strict hygiene precautions, maintaining clean surfaces is practically impossible. Consequently, self-cleaning properties are essential to neutralize contaminating microorganisms and limit the risk of potential spread. Antibacterial polymers, known for their high antimicrobial activity, hardness, durability, and transparency, are ideal for non-toxic plastic equipment. The healthcare sector, in particular, has seen a growing demand for antimicrobial polymers as the need for medical devices rises.

Consumer Awareness Boosts Demand in Medical and Healthcare Categories

During the forecast period, the medical and healthcare segment is expected to be the largest application of antimicrobial plastics. Rising consumer awareness about personal hygiene and health-related issues is driving increased demand for antimicrobial plastics. The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened awareness of the importance of antimicrobial plastics, leading to higher demand across various industries, especially in the medical and healthcare sectors. In healthcare, antimicrobial polymers offer several advantages over traditional materials, including cleanliness, sterility, convenience, ease of use, and cost-effectiveness.

The demand for microbial infection prevention is driven by a complex epidemiological environment, healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), microbial contamination, nosocomial infections, and infection concerns in hospitals and dental equipment. The need to recycle disposable medical equipment has opened numerous opportunities for antibacterial research. Antimicrobial plastics are used in dental offices, hospitals, and nursing homes for products 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

The Asia Pacific region is the largest market for antimicrobial plastics and is expected to maintain its dominance over the forecast period. The region's antimicrobial plastics market is driven by key end-use sectors, including packaging, automotive and transportation, healthcare, building and construction, and food and beverage. The strong manufacturing base of the automotive and transportation industry in China, India, and Japan, combined with growing passenger vehicle sales, is expected to boost the antimicrobial plastics market in the region.

Government support for increased manufacturing investments, particularly in China, is likely to make the country one of the most attractive markets in the region. China's lower manufacturing costs compared to North America and Europe have attracted significant 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 automotive and transportation industries. As a result, the positive outlook for China's automotive and transportation sectors is expected to significantly boost the antimicrobial plastics market over the forecast period.

Global Antimicrobial Plastics Market: Competitive Landscape

In November 2021, Sanitized AG introduced Sanitized Puretec, a new non-leaching, metal-free, and particle-free textile antimicrobial solution to inhibit the growth of odor-causing bacteria. This product was tested using ASTM E3 162-18 and approved by the International Antimicrobial Council after 40 washes. In 2021, Microban International partnered with Sunbeam Products to create antimicrobial knife handles that are bacteria-free and hygienic.

Key players in the antimicrobial plastics market include King Plastic Corporation (US), Sanitized AG (Switzerland), DuPont De Nemours Inc. (US), BASF SE (Germany), Avient Corporation (US), Microban International (US), BioCote Limited (UK), Milliken Chemical (US), and Parx Plastics N.V (Netherlands).