Breathable Films Market Size - By Material (Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polyurethane, Polyethylene Terephthalate), By Product Type (Microporous Films, Micro-perforated Films), By Technology (Extrusion, Lamination, Cast Film), By Application & Forecast 2024 – 2032

Breathable Films Market Size - By Material (Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polyurethane, Polyethylene Terephthalate), By Product Type (Microporous Films, Micro-perforated Films), By Technology (Extrusion, Lamination, Cast Film), By Application & Forecast 2024 – 2032

Breathable films Market Size

Breathable Films Market was valued at USD 4.5 billion in 2023 and is projected to expand at over 7.8% CAGR from 2024 to 2032. Breathable films are widely utilized in hygiene products including baby diapers, adult incontinence products, feminine hygiene products, and medical dressings. The expanding population, increasing understanding about individual hygiene, and growing expendable incomes will drive use of breathable films.

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Continual innovations in film manufacturing technologies have resulted in breakthroughs in breathable films with enhanced characteristics such as superior breathability, better moisture management, and improved barrier performance.

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Breathable films are relatively high priced in comparison to traditional non-breathable films. The raw material cost, production processes, and niche technologies needed to produce breathable films can be a challenge for manufacturers and restrict their usage in some applications. Alternate materials and innovative technologies that offer comparable features will pose competition to breathable films. For example, nonwoven fabrics with built-in breathability or other types of film coatings can be adopted as alternatives for breathable films based on the application requirements. The high-end pricing of breathable films is anticipated to reduce their adoption rate, further impeding breathable films market growth.

COVID-19 Impact

The pandemic led to the breakdown of global supply chains including the production & distribution of raw materials and finished products. Travel bans, lockdowns, and workforce shortages impacted the supply of breathable film materials and hampered the manufacturing & delivery processes. This led to supply chain challenges with distribution delays and reduced availability of breathable films. On the other hand, due to the pandemic, breathable films witnessed a high demand in hygiene products including diapers, sanitary napkins, and adult incontinence products.

The heightened attention on personal hygiene and healthcare safety measures caused a surge in the requirement for these products that used breathable films for convenience and effectiveness, in turn, augmenting product demand. The decreased number of COVID-19 cases and consequent strategies by government & non-government organizations are estimated to influence business growth.

Breathable Films Market Trends

There is an increasing stress on sustainability in the breathable films industry. Manufacturers are concentrating on producing environmental-friendly, decomposable, and recyclable films. The mounting customer understanding about ecological issues and the inclination for green products are fueling the demand for eco-friendly breathable films. This trend is predicted to last as policies on plastic usage & waste disposal are becoming increasingly rigid. Breathable films have numerous uses in diverse industrial sectors including construction, agriculture, and packaging.

Breathable films are used as weather barriers and vapor retarders in construction. These films are utilized for crop safety, greenhouse covers, and mulching in the agriculture sector. They also have applications in the packaging industry to keep the freshness of perishable goods and to increase their lifespan. The expanding scope of breathable films in such unconventional sectors will fuel business growth. Breathable films are observing considerable growth in developing nations, specifically in Asia Pacific. Population expansion, urban development, and high expendable incomes are propelling product demand.

Breathable Films Market Analysis

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Based on material, the breathable films market is classified into polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, polyethylene terephthalate, and others. The polyethylene segment accounted for USD 380 million in 2022. Polyethylene is extensively utilized in breathable films due to their exceptional breathability, flexibility, and Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate (MVTR). Cost-effectiveness, accessibility, and compatibility with various manufacturing processes will also escalate PE demand in breathable films. PE films are generally utilized in hygiene products, medical applications, and industrial packaging, impacting segment growth.

PP demand in breathable films is led by their applications in medical products such as surgical drapes & gowns and industrial sectors including construction & agriculture. These product applications will support the PP segment growth.

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Based on product type, the breathable films market is bifurcated into microporous films, non-porous films, and micro-perforated films. The Microporous films segment captured around 40% of the market share in 2022 and is likely to grow at a rapid rate till 2032. Microporous films are highly breathable films that allow moisture vapor transmission while stopping liquid penetration. They are generally utilized in applications such as medical products (surgical drapes, gowns & wound dressings), hygiene products (diapers & sanitary napkins), and protective apparel.

The requirement for moisture management, comfort, and protection in these industries will foster the demand for microporous films. The requirement for prolonged shelf life, enhanced product quality, and better customer convenience in the food industry will also complement product demand.

Based on technology, the breathable films market is classified into extrusion, lamination, and cast film. The extrusion segment held a high market share in 2022 and is set to register 6.6% CAGR through 2032. Monolithic breathable films are formed from a single layer of material that incorporates micro-sized pores or perforations. These films enable moisture vapor transmission while maintaining liquid resistance. They are usually used in hygiene products, medical products, and protective apparel. These perforations are generally smaller than the size of water droplets, stopping liquid penetration while enabling the permeation of moisture vapor. Microperforated films are extensively utilized in food packaging applications by releasing excess moisture and gases to keep the food items fresh.

Based on application, the breathable films market is classified into hygiene products, medical & healthcare products, building & construction, packaging, industrial protective apparel, agriculture, and others. Hygiene products captured major market share in 2022. The breathable film demand in this segment is predominantly impelled by increased awareness of personal hygiene, growing population, rising disposable incomes, and customer preference for more comfortable & breathable products. The others application segment where breathable films are used include sports & leisure, personal care products, and automotive, which will drive market growth.

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U.S. breathable films market dominated North America region with a revenue share of USD 1.7 billion in 2022 and is predicted to observe substantial growth from 2023 to 2032. North American consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the significance of health, hygiene, and total wellbeing. This is expected to fuel breathable film demand in hygiene products, such as diapers, adult incontinence products, and feminine care products, as it provides increased comfort, moisture management, and breathability. The growing elderly population in North America is a significant demographic factor that will propel breathable film demand, primarily in the medical & pharmaceutical sector.

Breathable Films Market Share

Some of the major market players operating in the breathable films market are

• Arkema
• Mitsui Chemicals  inc
• Berry Global Inc
• RKW Group
• Clopay Plastic Products Company Inc
• Berry Global Inc
• Covestro AG
• Nitto Denko Corporation
• Toray Industries Inc.
• Trioplast Industrier AB.

These participants concentrate on strategic partnerships, new product launches, and commercialization efforts for market expansion. They are making huge investments in research & development to launch advanced products and gain the highest market revenue.

This breathable films market research report includes in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates & forecast in terms of revenue and volume (USD Million &(  Kilo Tons) from 2018 to 2032, for the following segments

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Market, By Material

• Polyethylene
• Polypropylene
• Polyurethane
• Polyethylene terephthalate
• Others

Market, By Product Type

• Microporous films
• Non-porous films
• Micro-perforated films

Market, By Technology

• Extrusion
• Lamination
• Cast film

Market, By Application

• Hygiene products
• Medical & healthcare products
• Building & construction
• Packaging
• Industrial protective apparel
• Agriculture
• Others

The above information is provided for the following regions and countries

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe
  • Germany
  • UK
  • France
  • Spain
  • Italy
  • Russia
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
  • Australia
  • South Korea
  • Indonesia
  • Malaysia 
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
• Middle East & Africa
  • South Africa
  • Saudi Arabia
  • UAE