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Global nonwoven sponges market share is set to witness commendable growth over 2022-2028, on account of the increasing demand for effective wound care solutions from medical and healthcare facilities. Nonwoven sponges refer to specialized pads or sponges designed for various medical applications like surgery, where they are used to keep surgical sites clear by absorbing fluids. Additionally, these sponges are also used for prepping needles, applying ointments and other applications, and demonstrate several benefits such as high absorbency, cost-effectiveness, and lint-free properties.
A major trend augmenting nonwoven sponges market outlook over 2022-2028 is the development of more sustainable nonwoven products amid rising environmental concerns related to disposable medical products. To address this issue, various efforts are being made by companies, such as Sabic, which collaborated with Fibertex to develop a high-purity nonwovens range for hygiene applications, made using post-consumer plastic waste-derived circular PP polymer with ISCC PLUS certification. Also, researchers from the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the CAS, Technical University of Liberec, the Institute of Microbiology of the CAS Department of Burns Medicine of the Third Faculty of Medicine at Charles University and P. J. Šafárik University in Košice announced a partnership in 2021.
As part of this collaboration, the researchers developed an innovative antibacterial material, dubbed NANO-LPPO, by combining nonwoven nano textiles and other unique compounds with antibacterial attributes, to serve as a dressing for wounds like burn injuries and other applications. Factors such as these are expected to assert a significant impact on nonwoven sponges industry dynamics over the years ahead.
Clinics are set to emerge as a prominent application segment for the nonwoven sponges market by 2028, given the rapid rise in wound care services offered by these facilities. For instance, in February 2021, WCA (Wound Care Advantage) partnered with Southwestern Medical Center (SWMC)’s Center for Wound Healing to boost financial and operations efficiencies and improvement in wound care service offerings for patients with chronic wounds. Developments such as these could amplify the demand for nonwoven sponge products in clinical settings like nonwoven gauze sponges, which are useful in wounds that need to be cleaned, packed, or debrided.
From a regional perspective, Europe is expected to become a major revenue pocket for the nonwoven sponges industry by 2028, given the introduction of new hospital facilities across the region. For instance, in October 2020, UK’s Prime Minister announced funding of £3.7 billion ($5.01 billion) for the construction of over 40 hospitals in England by 2030, as part of the government’s health infrastructure plan. This, coupled with the increasing rate of hospitalizations in major European nations may contribute to nonwoven sponges industry expansion in the region over the forecast spell.
Major contenders operating in the nonwoven sponges market include Cardinal Health, Hartmann, Winner Medical, Hakuzo Medical Asia Co., Ltd, Allmed Medical, Ahlstrom-Munksjö Oyj, Lohmann & Rauscher, Textil Planas Oliveras Sa, B. Braun, Zhende Medical, McKesson Corporation, DeRoyal Industries, Jianerkang, Crosstex International, Inc (Cantel Medical Corporation), Mölnlycke, Owens & Minor and Kettenbach. These entities are involved in various strategic activities such as partnerships and new product launches, to sustain a strong position in the global market space.
Impact of COVID-19 on Global Nonwoven Sponges Market Trends
Since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, nonwovens have gained increasing popularity in medical applications, with medical nonwovens including PPE, facemasks, etc. serving as critical components for pandemic control. This extends to the nonwoven sponges industry as well, especially given the emergence of novel wound care trends like “shared care” in recent months. Despite facing considerable setbacks during the peak of the coronavirus pandemic, wound care services have started to improve gradually with the introduction of new care solutions. According to a 2021 Mölnlycke patient survey, over 60% of the participants and their families became more involved in wound care activities, ensuring more efficient care of chronic wounds without increasing risk of COVID-19 infection from in-person visits. This shift in trends could contribute to a rise in demand for robust nonwoven sponge products, which play a key role in wound care management.