Report claims disposable protective workwear market could double

A new report on the global market for disposable protective workwear predicts that the market will nearly double by the year 2026.

The publisher of the report, ReportLinker, is a market research organisation that researches and presents the latest data on various industries. The report, called "Global Disposable Protective Clothing Industry", defines disposable protective workwear as clothing that is:

"Intended to safeguard workers from hazardous workplace conditions and extreme environmental factors."

Protective workwear, often referred to as PPE (personal protective equipment), protects workers from dust, pollution, infections, fumes, extreme temperatures and other hazards. Disposable workwear is made for single use and includes hard hats, respiratory masks, hand protection, helmets and suits. These are usually made from non-woven fabrics, including polyester and polypropylene, which have enhanced safety properties. Disposable workwear plays a key role in reducing injuries and risks in hazardous environments.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, there was rapid growth in the use of disposable workwear, particularly face masks. The estimated value of the market in 2020, at the height of the pandemic, was $4.2billion. Though the thread of Covid has diminished worldwide, the reports predict that the market for disposable protective workwear will continue to rise and be worth $8.2billion by 2026 - nearly double its value in 2020.

The largest segment growth in this sector is workwear made from polyester, which is estimated to reach a value of $1.2billion in 2026, from its current market size of $626.2million.