The global breathable films market experienced a significant growth rate of 21.8% in 2022 compared to the previous year, culminating in a market valuation of USD 3,842.1 million. These films are engineered by integrating mineral fillers such as calcium carbonate with polymers, which results in a micro-porous structure capable of allowing water vapor to pass while blocking liquid water. The strategic use of filler materials is cost-effective as it reduces the amount of resin needed by substituting it with carbonates.
The primary polymers used in the production of breathable films include polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyurethane. The breathability of these polymer films is determined by their moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) or water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), which measures the film’s ability to transmit moisture. Manufacturing processes for breathable films involve both cast and blown film extrusion techniques. Micro-porous breathable films are predominantly used in disposable medical products, such as surgical drapes, sanitary napkins, adult diapers, and under-pads.
In terms of volume, the global market for breathable films has shown a consistent growth pattern. The total volume reached 719.1 thousand tons in 2020 and expanded to 851.3 thousand tons by 2023, marking a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8% from 2020 to 2023. This growth is attributed to the rising demand for breathable films in various sectors, spurred by heightened hygiene awareness, expanding healthcare applications, and technological advancements.
The market for breathable films is set for substantial growth, propelled by the burgeoning medical, pharmaceutical, personal care, and hygiene industries. Approximately 48% of breathable films are consumed by the Barrier Fabric industry, mainly for sanitary napkins, diapers, and adult incontinence products. The medical sector is expected to witness the most substantial growth, especially during the pandemic period, due to the surge in the use of hospital disposables worldwide. In contrast, sectors such as construction, apparel and clothing, and food and beverages saw declines during this time. Downstream applications observed growth in 2021 and 2022 but faced negative revenue growth in 2023 due to depressed prices.
The microporous segment dominates the breathable films market, constituting over 60% of the overall market share. It is projected to expand at a rate surpassing the general market growth, driven by its escalating applications in medical and healthcare segments.
The global breathable films market is relatively fragmented, with leading players comprising less than 20% of the total market share. Nevertheless, the market is expected to grow, with merger and acquisition activities among manufacturers reshaping the competitive landscape and prompting market consolidation. Key players in the breathable films market encompass RKW Group, Omya AG, Trioworld Industrier AB, Berry Global Group, Inc., and several others.
The growth drivers for the breathable films market include demographic shifts and consumer trends influencing the market for hygiene products, diverse applications and innovations in breathable film technology, the effects of urbanization and pandemic-driven demand, and the crucial role of breathable films in the evolving landscape of pharmaceutical packaging.
Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS 1
FIGURES AND TABLES 6
Part 1. Key Findings 10
Part 2. Scope and Methodology 11
Report Scope 12
Raw Materials 12
Product Type 12
Application 12
Region 12
Research Methodology 13
Part 3. Breathable Films Market Overview 15
Summary 15
Introduction 19
Part 4. Market Dynamics 21
Growth Drivers 21
Restraints and Challenges 25
Part 5. Global Breathable Films Market by Raw Materials 27
Part 6. Global Breathable Films Market by Product Type 32
Part 7. Global Breathable Films Market by Application 36
Part 8. Global Breathable Films Market by Region 43
Part 9. North America Breathable Films Market 48
Market by Raw Materials 49
Market by Product Type 51
Market by Application 52
Market Share by Country 54
Part 10. Europe Breathable Films Market 57
Market by Raw Materials 58
Market by Product Type 60
Market by Application 61
Market Share by Country 63
Part 11. Asia Pacific Breathable Films Market 68
Market by Raw Materials 69
Market by Product Type 70
Market by Application 72
Market Share by Country 73
Part 12. Latin America Breathable Films Market 77
Market by Raw Materials 78
Market by Product Type 79
Market by Application 81
Market Share by Country 82
Part 13. Middle East and Africa (MEA) Breathable Films Market 84
Market by Raw Materials 85
Market by Product Type 86
Market by Application 88
Market Share by Country 90
Part 14. Competitive Analysis 92
Competition Overview 92
Recent Developments 93
RKW Group 95
Business Overview 95
Aptra® Breathable Film Product 95
Contact Information 95
Omya AG 97
Business Overview 97
Breathable Film 97
Contact Information 98
Trioworld Industrier AB 99
Business Overview 99
Products and Raw Materialss 99
Contact Information 99
Berry Global Group, Inc. 100
Business Overview 100
Sof-Flex™ Breathable Film 100
Breathable Backsheet Film – Viridee® 101
Contact Information 104
Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. 105
Business Overview 105
Breathable Film Business 105
Contact Information 107
Kimberly-Clark Corporation 108
Business Overview 108
Kimberly-Clark’s Breathable Film Laminates (aSFL) 108
Contact Information 110
DuPont de Nemours, Inc. 111
Business Overview 111
Tyvek® 111
Contact Information 114
Daika Kogyo Co., Ltd. 115
Business Overview 115
Tapylene MPF Breathable Film 115
Contact Information 115
Toray Industries, Inc. 116
Business Overview 116
Contact Information 118
LyondellBasell Industries N.V. 119
Business Overview 119
Breathable Film 119
Contact Information 122
Covestro AG 123
Business Overview 123
Medical Films: Breathable, Microbe-Resistant Thermoplastics 123
Contact Information 126
Nitto Denko Corporation 127
Business Overview 127
Breathable Films 127
Contact Information 130
Fatra, a.s. 131
Business Overview 131
Breathable Films and Laminates SONTEK® 131
SONTEK® Applications 131
SONTEK® Specifications 132
SONTEK® Types 132
Contact Information 132
Arkema S.A. 133
Business Overview 133
Pebax® Breathable Films 133
Contact Information 136
Imerys S.A. 137
Business Overview 137
FilmLink® 137
Contact Information 140
TotalEnergies SE 141
Business Overview 141
Breathable Film 141
Contact Information 143
Part 15. Market Trends and Opportunities 144
Market Trends 144
Opportunities 147
Disclaimer 150
FIGURES AND TABLES
Global Breathable Films Market, Net Growth, 2020-2028 (USD Million)
Global Breathable Films Market, Net Growth, 2020-2028 (Thousand Tons)
Global Breathable Films Market by Raw Materials, 2020-2028 (USD Million)
Global Breathable Films Market by Raw Materials, CAGR Historic and Forecast, 2020-2028
Global Breathable Films Market by Product Type, 2020-2028 (USD Million)
Global Breathable Films Market by Product Type, CAGR Historic and Forecast, 2020-2028
Global Breathable Films Market by Application, 2020-2028 (USD Million)
Global Breathable Films Market by Application, CAGR Historic and Forecast, 2020-2028
Global Breathable Films Market Share by Region, 2022
Global Breathable Films Market by Region, 2020-2028 (USD Million)
Global Breathable Films Market by Region, 2020-2028 (Thousand Tons)
Global Breathable Films Market (Value) by Region, CAGR Historic and Forecast, 2020-2028
Global Breathable Films Market (Volume) by Region, CAGR Historic and Forecast, 2020-2028
North America Breathable Films Market, Net Growth, 2020-2028 (USD Million)
North America Breathable Films Market by Materials, 2020-2028 (USD Million)
North America Breathable Films Market by Materials, CAGR Historic and Forecast, 2020-2028
North America Breathable Films Market by Product Type, 2020-2028 (USD Million)
North America Breathable Films Market by Product Type, CAGR Historic and Forecast, 2020-2028
North America Breathable Films Market by Application, 2020-2028 (USD Million)
North America Breathable Films Market by Application, CAGR Historic and Forecast, 2020-2028
North America Breathable Films Market Share by Country, 2022
Europe Breathable Films Market, Net Growth, 2020-2028 (USD Million)
Europe Breathable Films Market by Materials, 2020-2028 (USD Million)
Europe Breathable Films Market by Materials, CAGR Historic and Forecast, 2020-2028
Europe Breathable Films Market by Product Type, 2020-2028 (USD Million)
Europe Breathable Films Market by Product Type, CAGR Historic and Forecast, 2020-2028
Europe Breathable Films Market by Application, 2020-2028 (USD Million)
Europe Breathable Films Market by Application, CAGR Historic and Forecast, 2020-2028
Europe Breathable Films Market Share by Country, 2022
Asia Pacific Breathable Films Market, Net Growth, 2020-2028 (USD Million)
Asia-Pacific Breathable Films Market by Materials, 2020-2028 (USD Million)
Asia-Pacific Breathable Films Market by Materials, CAGR Historic and Forecast, 2020-2028
Asia-Pacific Breathable Films Market by Product Type, 2020-2028 (USD Million)
Asia-Pacific Breathable Films Market by Product Type, CAGR Historic and Forecast, 2020-2028
Asia-Pacific Breathable Films Market by Application, 2020-2028 (USD Million)
Asia-Pacific Breathable Films Market by Application, CAGR Historic and Forecast, 2020-2028
Asia-Pacific Breathable Films Market Share by Country, 2022
Latin America Breathable Films Market, Net Growth, 2020-2028 (USD Million)
Latin America Breathable Films Market by Materials, 2020-2028 (USD Million)
Latin America Breathable Films Market by Materials, CAGR Historic and Forecast, 2020-2028
Latin America Breathable Films Market by Product Type, 2020-2028 (USD Million)
Latin America Breathable Films Market by Product Type, CAGR Historic and Forecast, 2020-2028
Latin America Breathable Films Market by Application, 2020-2028 (USD Million)
Latin America Breathable Films Market by Application, CAGR Historic and Forecast, 2020-2028
Latin America Breathable Films Market Share by Country, 2022
Middle East and Africa (MEA) Breathable Films Market, Net Growth, 2020-2028 (USD Million)
Middle East and Africa Breathable Films Market by Materials, 2020-2028 (USD Million)
Middle East and Africa Breathable Films Market by Materials, CAGR Historic and Forecast, 2020-2028
Middle East and Africa Breathable Films Market by Product Type, 2020-2028 (USD Million)
Middle East and Africa Breathable Films Market by Product Type, CAGR Historic and Forecast, 2020-2028
Middle East and Africa Breathable Films Market by Application, 2020-2028 (USD Million)
Middle East and Africa Breathable Films Market by Application, CAGR Historic and Forecast, 2020-2028
Middle East and Africa Breathable Films Market Share by Country, 2022
Berry Global Group, Inc. Financial Overview (USD Million)
Berry Global Group, Inc. Revenue, by Segment, 2023
Berry Global Group, Inc. Revenue, by Region, 2023
Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. Financial Overview (JPY Billion)
Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. Revenue, by Segment, 2023
Kimberly-Clark Corporation Financial Overview (USD Million)
Kimberly-Clark Corporation Revenue, by Segment, 2022
Kimberly-Clark Corporation Revenue, by Region, 2022
DuPont de Nemours, Inc. Financial Overview (USD Million)
DuPont de Nemours, Inc. Revenue, by Segment, 2022
DuPont de Nemours, Inc. Revenue, by Region, 2022
Toray Industries, Inc. Financial Overview (JPY Billion)
Toray Industries, Inc. Revenue, by Segment, 2023
LyondellBasell Industries N.V. Financial Overview (USD Million)
LyondellBasell Industries N.V. Revenue, by Segment, 2022
LyondellBasell Industries N.V. Revenue, by Product, 2022
LyondellBasell Industries N.V. Revenue, by Region, 2022
Covestro AG Financial Overview (EUR Million)
Covestro AG Revenue, by Segment, 2022
Covestro AG Revenue, by Region, 2022
Covestro AG Revenue, by Country, 2022
Nitto Denko Corporation Financial Overview (USD Million)
Nitto Denko Corporation Revenue, by Segment, 2023
Nitto Denko Corporation Revenue, by Region, 2023
Arkema S.A. Breathable Membranes Uses by Market
Arkema S.A. Financial Overview (EUR Million)
Arkema S.A. Revenue, by Segment, 2022
Arkema S.A. Revenue, by Region, 2022
Imerys S.A. Financial Overview (EUR Million)
Imerys S.A. Revenue, by Segment, 2022
TotalEnergies SE Financial Overview (EUR Million)
TotalEnergies SE Revenue, by Segment, 2022
TotalEnergies SE Revenue, by Region, 2022
Companies Mentioned
A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes:
Arkema S.A.
Berry Global Group, Inc.
Covestro AG
Daika Kogyo Co., Ltd.
DuPont de Nemours, Inc.
Fatra, a.s.
Imerys S.A.
Kimberly-Clark Corporation
LyondellBasell Industries N.V.
Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.
Nitto Denko Corporation
Omya AG
RKW Group
Toray Industries, Inc.
TotalEnergies SE
Trioworld Industrier AB