Nonwoven fabrics are flexible, flat, and have porous sheet structures produced by networks of fibers or interlocking layers or filaments.
Tailwinds such as flame retardancy, resilience, liquid repellency, softness, washability, bacterial barrier, strength, and sterility have augured well for forward-looking companies eyeing to expand their business portfolios. Global Market Insights, Inc., has projected nonwoven floor covers market size to witness substantial gains by 2026.
Industry dynamics and trends which are touted to boost the market outlook are delineated below:
Impact of COVID-19
With the COVID-19 pandemic having a toll on the construction industry, there are reduced opportunities for the purchase of existing housing. Demand for floor covers for kitchen, dining rooms, and commercial spaces may take a hit.
The silver lining is that people are spending more time in enclosures—homes, and offices. Textiles have become a tremendous tool to boost the personification of the living and working environment.
The post-COVID situation is likely to instill confidence among stakeholders as flooring is gradually being replaced in old buildings to create a novel appearance. Penetration of polypropylene material will potentially surge in the next five years.
Traction towards polypropylene to drive growth
Traction for non-woven polypropylene products in a slew of household applications has become more pronounced than ever before for cleaning and aesthetic applications. High-quality polypropylenes have set the trend in living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms as demand for safe, comfortable, hygienic solutions continue to surge.
More importantly, tremendous chemical resistance, low price, low heat resistance, and low physical properties of polypropylene have furthered triggered growth in the market share.
Polypropylene floor covering will witness pressing demand in light of antibacterial potential, tremendous chemical resistance to acids, high abrasion resistance, and insulation abilities. It is worth noting that hydrophobic and low thermal conductivity features make PP a highly sought-after material.
Trends in commercial settings become noticeable
The palpable trend for nonwoven floor covers in both residential and commercial settings has mustered up the confidence of stakeholders. Stakeholders are buoyed by the fact that nonwoven floor covers have good density and high tear strength, making them highly sought-after in commercial spaces.
Traction for nonwoven textiles for commercial coverings in offices will accentuate the growth of floor covers as the textiles help reduce the costs for sound and thermal insulating materials. Not to mention floor coverings are abrasion resistance, stain resistance, and have tear strength.
Impressive demand for nonwovens in commercial spaces will largely depend upon the sustainability factor of the covering. For instance, nonwoven floor covers are fueling the trend in public buildings such as hospitals, offices, and hotels. As they do not reflect light, they are being used for glare reduction in the indoor ambiance in the commercial landscape.
Growth opportunities in North America and Asia Pacific
North America is likely to come up as a happy hunting ground in light of the growing footprint of polypropylene and polyamide floor covers in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Bullish demand for nonwoven floor covers has encouraged manufacturers to expand their penetration. Application of nonwoven floor covers made of polyamide and polypropylene may gain considerable grounds in the U.S. landscape.
With a steady rise in construction activities, demand for nonwoven floor coverings in residential and commercial spaces in India and China will fuel APAC nonwoven floor covers market outlook. Recent years have witnessed increased traction towards polypropylene floor coverings, with end-users focusing on noise level reduction.
Fluctuating prices to derail growth
Some of the factors such as fluctuating prices and sense of odors may dent the market size expansion.
Nonwovens will be highly sought-after in home furnishing, bedrooms, dining halls and living rooms, while commercial spaces will also be a major recipient of the floor coverings. With resistance to bacteria, comfortable and lightweight attributes associated with polypropylene, strong demand for PP will spur the market value.
Source: Global Trade Magazine