A study by the Freedonia Group, which covers the U.S. personal hygiene nonwovens industry, predicts that the demand for personal hygiene nonwovens will grow at an annual rate of 1.4% through 2024, At $880 million, growth was slowed by continued weakness in baby diapers, and personal hygiene nonwovens are now almost entirely driven by growth in sales of adult incontinence products, driven by the rapidly growing elderly population in the U.S. market. support.

That said, growth in nonwovens for personal hygiene through 2024 will be limited by declining birth rates. It is reported that in 2019, baby diapers and pull-up pants accounted for nearly three-quarters of the demand for personal hygiene non-woven fabrics, while the demand for baby diapers and pull-up pants will grow slowly by 2024, with a growth rate of less than 1%.

But this is an improvement from the 2014-2019 period, when the shrinking U.S. infant and toddler population brought the field to a near standstill, and 2024 as the overall population grows, The population of toddlers will also grow on average, which is conducive to the growth of pull-up pants sales, and pull-up pants are larger in size and will use more non-woven materials.

The study believes that opportunities in the personal hygiene market will come from continuous product development, mainly to increase the adoption rate and market value of these products. Areas for improvement include product performance, sustainability, and aesthetics.

In terms of performance, non-woven suppliers need to continuously develop new products to meet the unique functions and characteristics required by manufacturers and consumers of personal hygiene products, especially the improvement of absorbency, breathability, leakage resistance, and softness And the lighter weight allows the non-woven fabric to be in close contact with the skin for a longer time, which is also very important.

In terms of sustainability, products are increasingly using sustainable non-woven materials, such as providing recyclable materials or using plant-based and biodegradable fibers as materials.

In terms of appearance, a more independent adult incontinence product with a shape closer to the underwear is required, which will become a major focus of product development.