Double-Digit Growth Projected for Sustainable Nonwovens Market to 2015
26 April 2011
Leatherhead UK, 26 April 2011. The global sustainable nonwovens market is projected to reach $12.2 billion by 2015 with a CAGR of 12.7%, according to new research from Smithers Apex. This is almost twice the 6.9% CAGR predicted over the same period for non-sustainable nonwovens.
By 2015 Smithers Apex expects sustainable nonwovens to account for 30.6% of all nonwovens in value terms - a sharp rise from 24.1% ($4.5 billion) in 2005 and 25.3% ($6.7 billion) in 2010.
According to Smithers Apex, Europe leads the world in sustainable nonwoven consumption. It is projected to be using almost 1.5 million tonnes by 2015, up from an estimated 786,000 tonnes in 2010. Growth in the region has been stronger for longer. The 9.5%CAGR 2005-10 was almost double that seen in other regions over the same period. European growth is expected to maintain this lead achieving a projected 13.5% CAGR 2010-2015.
North America is the second largest market, projected to reach 1.1 billion tonnes in 2015 with a CAGR of 13.1% 2010-15. This is impressive acceleration coming from only 6.4% CAGR 2005-2010.
Based on extensive primary research, The Future of Sustainable Nonwovens to 2015: Global Market Forecasts quantifies global consumption of sustainable nonwovens. The study presents a complete review of the global sustainable nonwoven market, process technologies and product applications. It covers the historical market from 2005 to 2010 and provides projections from 2010 to 2015. The global market is broken down into product use, production process technology (both forming and processing technology), raw-material composition and consumption, and geographical consumption patterns.
The drive for sustainable products and processes in all markets has been growing for the last decade. For some markets the fear of global warming has been the driver, for others, the uncertainty of future petroleum supply or overflowing landfills.
The nonwovens industry is no different. In fact it may be even more driven to develop sustainable products due to its high level of dependency on disposable products, many of which are among the most visible products in the world, such as disposable nappies and wipes.
Over the forecast period to 2015, sustainable nonwovens have grown faster than non-sustainable
nonwovens since 2005, in value, square metres, and tonnes. Smithers Apex projects growth to accelerate between 2010 and 2015.
Wipes are the most developed sustainable end use, according to Smithers Apex, with a 44.4% share of sustainable disposable nonwovens versus 25.8% of all disposable nonwovens. Hygiene is the least developed sustainable end use (37.7% of sustainable disposable nonwovens versus 59.4% of all disposable nonwovens).
According to Smithers Apex, drylaid leads all processes for sustainable nonwovens. By 2015 the process is expected to account 60% of all sustainable nonwovens (1.9 million tonnes) achieving a CAGR of 15.5% to 2015.In 2005, drylaid accounted for 590,000 tonnes of sustainable nonwovens, growing to 941,000 tonnes in 2010, with a CAGR of 9.8%.
Global consumption of raw materials for sustainable nonwovens is estimated at 1.8 million tonnes in 2010. As the sustainable nonwovens market grows, this is expected to hit 3.245 million tonnes by 2015. In 2010, wood pulp accounted for 35.1% of sustainable nonwoven raw materials, with rayon/ lyocell fibre second at 28.9%, and polyester fibre third at 16.3%.
While the overall increase in percentage of raw materials for sustainable nonwovens only increases from 17.1% in 2005 to 23.5% in 2105, this does equate to an additional 1.4 billion tonnes of sustainable materials in nonwovens in 2015. The total tonnes of raw materials in sustainable nonwovens increases from 812,000 tonnes in 2005 to 2.2 billion tonnes in 2015, a change of about 273%.
In the study sustainability is defined, in general, by The United Nations Commission on the Environment and Development, which says, 'Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.' For nonwovens, the international nonwovens association EDANA defines sustainable development, or sustainability, as the reconciliation of economic growth with environmental protection and social responsibility, globally.
The Future of Sustainable Nonwovens to 2015: Global Market Forecasts is available now. For further information please contact Bill Allen on +44 (0)1372 802086 or email Bill
Press contact: For editorial queries, details of the report or an expanded article please contact:
Rebecca Leigh +44(0)1372 802207 or email Rebecca
Smithers Apex Smithers Apex provides market research, strategic and technical consulting to niche, emerging and high growth industries.
Market coverage includes lighting and displays, clean energy, home and personal care, industrial biotechnology, performance materials and chemicals. Smithers Apex is a division of Smithers Pira.