Medical Foam Market: Current Analysis and Forecast (2021-2027)

Medical foams are formulated for a wide range of applications in the healthcare sector, meeting various challenges present in medical environments. These challenges include the barrier against bacteria to reduce the risk of germs and diseases spread. They offer excellent antibacterial properties which make them highly suitable for use in environments that must be aseptic. Moreover, these foams are also used in wound care, medical packaging, medical devices, and prosthetics for their excellent impact absorption and lightweight properties. The product is also used in place of conventional materials in the healthcare sector for manufacturing instruments, such as prosthetics and orthopaedic models, as they have excellent compressive and tensile strengths. In addition, the application of medical foams for the packaging of various pharmaceutical products and medical devices is projected to be another major factor contributing to the growth of the market in the near future. The Global Medical Foam Market is likely to showcase a growth of around 6% during the forecast period.
Based on foam type, the market is categorized into flexible, rigid, and spray. Among these, flexible has a prominent share in the medical foam market. The reason for the growth of the flexible foam is its consumption in bedding & cushioning, foam dressing in wound care applications, packaging of medical devices, and others. Additionally, the demand for flexible foam is large in applications such as fabrication, lamination, and others due to its properties such as softness, moisture resistance, and mechanical properties.
Based on material, the market is categorized into polymers, metals, and others. Among these, polymers accounted for a substantial share of the medical foam market. As polymers provide excellent cushioning and integrity of contents for the packaging. The main types of polymer foams used for medical purposes are polyethylene foam, polyurethane foam, polyolefin foam, polystyrene foam, and others. Polymer foams have wide application areas due to resistance to impact, damping properties, high thermal insulation, and lightweight.
Based on application, the market is categorized into bedding & cushioning, packaging, devices & components, prosthetics & wound care, and others. Among these, bedding and cushioning have a considerable share in the medical foam market. As there is a rising incidence of non-communicable diseases due to inactive lifestyles and the increasing population is expected to boost demand for bedding & cushioning, which in turn, is likely to increase the usage of medical foam. Additionally, increasing government spending on healthcare facilities to enhance patient comfort and safety is raising the need to produce high-quality bedding and cushioning. Further, rising demand for bedding and cushioning in hospitals globally due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis is also supporting market growth.
For a better understanding of the market adoption of medical foam, the market is analyzed based on its worldwide presence in the countries such as North America (United States, Canada, Rest of North America), Europe (Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, and Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, Australia, and Rest of APAC), and Rest of World. Asia-Pacific accounted for a significant share of the market and is expected to showcase substantial growth during the forecast period. This is due to increasing investment in the healthcare sector and the rising demand for pharmaceutical products and medical instruments in the region. For instance, in December 2021, during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), China unveiled a development plan for the medical equipment sector as part of efforts to bolster public health. This will increase the demand for medical foam in this region for various purposes in the healthcare sector.
Some of the major players operating in the market are Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd., Huntsman Corporation, BASF SE, INOAC Corporation, UFP Technologies, Inc., Armacell International S.A., General Plastics Manufacturing Company, Freudenberg Performance Materials Holding SE & Co. KG, Foamtec International Co. Ltd., Apollo Foam Limited. These companies are taking several strategic decisions to meet the growing demand and increase their market share.