Disposable goods accounted for 71% of nonwovens sales in 2016, according to Nonwovens Market in the U.S., 7th edition, a new study from The Freedonia Group. Disposables markets include consumer, filtration, and medical. According to the study, gains in these markets will be driven by nonwovens’ potential for a wide range of formulations and performance characteristics suitable to disposables, continued penetration into many disposables, including filters and adult diapers and ongoing development of more advanced and value-added nonwovens to enhance the performance of disposables.
 
Consumer markets, including wipes and personal hygiene products, accounted for more than one-third of nonwovens sales in disposables markets in 2016.  However, filtration markets will post faster gains, in part because these markets are less mature for nonwovens and continue to see increasing incorporation of nonwovens into air and fluid filter designs.
 
Spunbonded nonwovens accounted for 45% of nonwovens sales in disposables markets in 2016.  In general, spunbonded products are favored as versatile and compatible with some of the most widely used fibers and filaments.  In many major disposables, such as medical products and consumer personal hygiene, spunbonded is preferred for its softness and absorbency.

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