Biodegradable Superabsorbent Materials Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Polyvinyl Alcohol, Polyitaconic Acid, Polyacrylamide, Polysaccharides), By Application, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2022 - 2030

Report Overview

The global biodegradable superabsorbent materials market size was valued at USD 130.0 million in 2021 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.0% from 2022 to 2030. Rising demand for female hygiene, disposable diapers, adult incontinence products, and agriculture application segments is expected to leverage the industry expansion. Polyitaconic acid, polyvinyl alcohol, polysaccharide, and polyacrylamide are significant product segments, as they are characterized by excellent absorption rates and biocompatibility, and are easily decomposable.

Developed regions such as North America and Europe are characterized by moderate baby diaper demand growth over the forecast period owing to market saturation. Economies such as the U.S., Germany, and Japan are presumed to witness a slightly lower birth rate compared to developing and emerging economies. Countries such as China, India, and Brazil are presumed to lead their respective regional baby diaper markets. Other moderately emerging countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Egypt, and Turkey are expected to experience an uptrend in baby diapers demand as well.

Adult incontinence products and female hygiene are other significant driving factors that are expected to offer favorable growth prospects for bio-based superabsorbent materials over the years ahead. Rise in the geriatric population coupled with substantial risk of this aged populace towards conceiving urine incontinence disorders is a chief reason, which is anticipated to create significant demand for biodegradable high performance absorption polymers.

Over the past few years, companies including Nuoer Chemical Australia Pty Ltd., ADM, SNF, BASF SE, and JRM Chemical, Inc. have launched new bio-based super absorbing materials in the global market, in order to meet the growing demand especially in Brazil, China, and India. Polyitaconic acid, polyvinyl alcohol and polysaccharides are some of the key products used as biodegradable superabsorbent materials in the industry.

Product Insights

Polyvinyl alcohol was the largest segment, which accounted for more than 66.0% in 2021. There is a continuous effort by different companies to manufacture superabsorbent materials with the help of biodegradable synthetic polymers. Polyvinyl alcohol has enhanced water retention abilities and therefore has been used in various liquid absorption applications including baby diapers and adult incontinence products. The hygiene sector and personal care sector are expected to be extremely crucial for this superabsorbent material as there is a wide scope of application in this sector. Polyvinyl alcohol segment is projected to foresee significant volume growth at a CAGR of 7.8% from 2022 to 2030.

Polyacrylamide and polyitaconic acid are other major products segments of the bio-based high absorption materials market. Polyitaconic acid has a wide range of applications including superabsorbent and is water soluble. It can be used for amendment in soil retention and delivering essential nutrients to the soil. Agriculture will be a crucial application for this product and it is expected to increase its penetration in the agriculture sector as awareness regarding its benefits is expected to grow in the near future.

It can be an attractive replacement for polyacrylic acid in various applications. Companies such as Itaconix Corporation are engaged in development of polyitaconic acid-based polymers which are used as superabsorbent materials. The company caters primarily to the energy, personal care and hygiene and the cleaning industry. Polyacrylamide are expected to be the fastest growing segment on account of increasing market penetration of the material in different feminine hygiene and adult incontinence applications.

They have enhanced biodegradability and biocompatibility properties in the human body, which allows them to be a stable fit for certain applications as compared to other biodegradable polymers. Polysaccharides have superior physical properties including thickening, gelling and film forming which gives it an advantage during the blending process. This will have a positive impact on the expansion of the market for biodegradable superabsorbent materials over the forecast period.

Application Insights

The disposable diapers application segment dominated the market for biodegradable superabsorbent materials and accounted for the largest revenue share of more than 58.0% in 2021. Disposable diapers sector is expected to illustrate the largest growth by 2024 on account of increasing population in developing countries such as China, India, Indonesia, Brazil, Vietnam, and other ASEAN countries. This has led to a considerable rise in demand for different infant care products including diapers which have been a major growth driver in the recent past. Better liquid absorption ability, enhanced design and biocompatibility are some the key features that are offered by the biodegradable superabsorbent materials.

Companies are focusing on increasing efficiency, reducing cost, and creating thinner products which will adhere to the comfort level of consumers. Adult incontinence is increasingly important owing to the positive perception towards incontinence products where the concern has become improvement in the quality of life has led to the expansion to the market for biodegradable superabsorbent materials. Growing demand for adult pants, ultra-thin sanitary napkins and other incontinence products with superior retention and absorption abilities will result in propelling growth over the forecast period.

The feminine hygiene sector is undergoing various changes as manufacturers are incorporating sustainable materials with new adhesives in order to provide better comfort level by producing pads with thinner substrates and new patterns. This will result in market expansion and increasing the product width of the companies. The use of biodegradable materials is expected to result in helping the manufacturers to focus on get the right balance between comfort, performance and cost which will help in propelling the growth of the market for biodegradable superabsorbent materials over the forecast period.

There is a growing trend among manufacturers to focus on sustainability and environmental friendliness which has become a key selling point in the feminine hygiene market. Product innovation in terms of thinner core materials and less waste has become a key feature of the market for biodegradable superabsorbent materials. Joint collaborations between suppliers and manufacturers in order to provide a wide range of sustainable products and improve upon their efficiencies.

Regional Insights

Europe dominated the market for biodegradable superabsorbent materials and accounted for the largest revenue share of more than 31.0% in 2021. Europe was the largest market for biodegradable superabsorbent materials. High consumer demand has prompted manufacturers to develop more cost effective and differentiated their product offerings. The baby diaper segment, which has witnessed significant growth over the past few years, is undergoing through various structural changes in diaper structures.

In Asia Pacific, the market for biodegradable superabsorbent materials is anticipated to witness significant volume growth at a fastest CAGR of 9.8% from 2022 to 2030. The personal care and hygiene industry in China, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and India is likely to be a beneficial factor for the market. An increase in investments by leading personal care and hygiene companies including Kimberly-Clark and P&G is anticipated to promote demand over the forecast period.

In mature markets such as North America adult incontinence products are becoming are expected to extremely crucial for widening the customer base and improving the margins for companies. Greater fit, thinner cores, comfort levels and improved absorption are some of the critical factors responsible for driving demand over the past few years. Manufacturers that have been strong players in feminine hygiene segment are entering the adult incontinence segment in order to cater to the growing demand. This will lead to further expansion of the market for biodegradable superabsorbent materials over the forecast period.

The personal care and hygiene industry in Taiwan, China, South Korea, India and Japan is likely to be a favorable factor for the market for biodegradable superabsorbent materials. Increasing investments by leading personal care and hygiene companies including, Kimberly-Clark and P&G is anticipated to promote demand over the forecast period.

Central & South America is a crucial market for biodegradable superabsorbent materials as manufacturers are looking towards markets, which have high potential. Companies such as P&G, Kimberly-Clark are investing heavily in the region. Several players are opting for joint ventures and tie-ups with suppliers in the local market level in order to gain better market share.

Key Companies & Competitive Insights

Key industry participants include Itaconix Corporation, BASF SE, Amereq, Inc., SNF, JRM Chemical, Inc., and ADM are some of the key industry players. Product innovation regarding the development of eco-friendly and hygienic polymers is expected to remain an important supporting factor for the industry players. Some of the prominent players in the biodegradable superabsorbent materials market include:

• The Lubrizol Corporation

• BASF SE

• ADM

• Amereq, Inc.

• SNF

• Itaconix Corporation

• NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO., LTD.

• Nuoer Chemical Australia Pty Ltd

• JRM Chemical, Inc.

• CHINAFLOC

Biodegradable Superabsorbent Materials Market Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2019 to 2030. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global biodegradable superabsorbent materials market report on the basis of product, application, and region:

• Product Outlook (Volume, Tons; Revenue, USD Thousand, 2019 - 2030)

  • Polyvinyl Alcohol

  • Polyitaconic Acid

  • Polyacrylamide

  • Polysaccharides

• Application Outlook (Volume, Tons; Revenue, USD Thousand, 2019 - 2030)

  • Disposable diapers

  • Adult incontinence products

  • Female hygiene

  • Agriculture

  • Medical

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Volume, Tons; Revenue, USD Thousand, 2019 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • U.K.

    • France

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • India

    • Japan

  • Central & South America

    • Brazil

  • Middle East & Africa (MEA)