Adult Diapers Market

Adult Diaper Market Overview Analysis:

Adult Diapers Market size is expected to grow significantly, With a CAGR of 7.5% in the forecast period. The increasing occurrence of incontinence around the world is setting the momentum for adult diapers market growth.

Adult diapers are disposable diapers that consist of absorbents inserted between two nonwoven structures. This prevents leaks, maintains fluid levels and improves comfort. Adult diapers are different from baby diapers. Diapers can be used in adults with various conditions, such as severe diarrhea, dementia, incontinence or mobility disorders. Adult diapers are manufactured in a variety of ways, including traditional baby diapers, panties, and pads similar to sanitary napkins or known as incontinence pads.

Impact of Covid-19 on the Market:

Covid-19 has caused a shortage of supply in the adult diapers market. As the world was in a lockdown, businesses, supply chain, and even factories were on a standstill. Due to this obstacle, the market was affected because the supply was disrupted. For example in Pune, several patients were unable to buy adult diapers in the marketplace causing serious health issues. Since, adult diapers are part of a healthy and convenient lifestyle, it is expected that Covid-19 will not have a long term effect on the market growth.

Recent Developments: 

• May 2017: Kimberly Clark launched the U line of Kotex FITNESS products. Product lines include U by Kotex Fitness Tampons, U by Kotex Fitness Liners and U by Kotex Fitness Ultra-Thin Pads.
• July 2019: ElderSens, a new Silicon Valley company that seeks to improve care for the elderly with low-cost portable diaper sensors, launched DiaperSens smart diaper sensors at Amazon.
• In 2017, Friends Adult Diapers in India launched its first advertising campaign to publicize diapers for adults that could change lives.

Market Growth:

Some manufacturers improve the quality of the internal lining with vitamin E, aloe vera and other skin-friendly compounds, which will propel the global adult diaper market in the coming years.

Drivers:

The increase in the population of the elderly, the growth in the economy of diapers, the rise in urbanization and the increased awareness of better hygiene are among the central stimulants of the global adult diaper market. In addition, these products for the treatment of incontinence are increasingly used in medical centers, especially for patients with acute diseases, and these diapers prevent leaks, maintain fluid levels and provide comfort. In addition to medicinal use, the adoption of these diapers has increased significantly for other purposes, including divers during deep-sea diving, pilots during long-haul flights and workers at manufacturing sites. Therefore, the use of diapers for adult medical and non-medical adults mentioned above was born to strengthen worldwide sales. 

Technological advances have significantly increased the adoption of disposable adult diapers by the elderly population. This diaper uses a polymer bead core, such as a gel, to provide an innovative way to manage urinary incontinence problems effectively. Therefore, fluid retention and absorption capacity are expected to increase, rising demand for disposable diapers, which will promote market growth during the forecast period. Also, governments that work with leading adult diaper manufacturers are taking initiatives to eliminate this social stigma, which is estimated to provide significant growth opportunities for the global adult diapers market, even in underdeveloped areas.

Restraints:

Despite several favorable trends, factors such as lack of awareness and social stigma associated with incontinence, especially in underdeveloped countries, are expected to hamper this market growth. However, price volatility and social and economic restrictions related to the use of adult diapers are the main restrictions that can limit the market development.

Adult Diapers Market – Industry Dynamics:

Drivers:

• The primary stimulant of the global adult diapers market growth is the rising aged population. Incontinence is rising with the growing geriatric population fueling market growth. With advances in the medical field, life expectancy has increased across the globe. All these factors support the adult diapers market growth.
• The market is also being positively impacted by the growing awareness, increasing disposable income, better healthcare system, rising urbanization, and increasing affordability.
• Digital media and E-Commerce platforms have fueled the market growth by providing a platform for easy accessibility of the product. The growing awareness of adult diapers can also be attributed to online advertising and product campaigning.
• Non-medical adoption of the product by various professionals including astronauts, divers, pilots, and others is also promoting market growth.
• Adult diapers are substitute for unhygienic bathrooms during traveling.
• Technological up-gradation is a driver of the market. Competition by the key players has led to innovation in the adult diapers market. Better comfort, absorption, incorporation of sensors and other advancements have led to a higher adoption rate of adult diapers.

Restraints

• The growth of the adult diapers market is being restrained in underdeveloped countries due to a lack of awareness.
• Association of social stigmas with incontinence also restrict market growth.
• Countries with lower per capita income do not support the adult diapers market.
• Increasing unemployment across the world and increasing the cost of living to restrict the market growth.
• The synthetic material of the diapers damages the skin of the user. Excessive use of adult diapers comes with some side-effects as well. These damages negatively impact market growth.
• The usage of diapers among adults is considered demeaning. This hinders the growth of the global adult diaper market.

Adult Diapers Market – Segmentation and Growth:

By Type: the market can be segmented into tape-on diapers, pant/pull-up type diapers, and pad type diapers. Pant/pull type diapers segmented for a significant proportion of the market, almost over 30% in the year2018. It is expected to grow the highest in the forecast period. Due to their resemblance to underwear and comfort level, they are more liked by the users.

Pad type diapers are also anticipated to witness a CAGR of 13.6% over the forecast period owing to their additional benefits such as odor elimination, control of bacterial growth, and capacity of liquid retention.

By Gender: the market can be segmented into two categories, male and female.

Regional Analysis:

The Asia-Pacific region accounted for more than 30.0% of total sales in 2018 and is supposed to record the highest CAGR during the projection period. Developing countries have the highest growth rates due to changes in lifestyle and habits, as well as the incidence/incidence rate of urinary incontinence in the elderly population. The increase in literacy rates and the increase in women's disposable income is expected to place India and China at the forefront of the region. 

Europe is also foreseen to witness an essential annual growth during the forecast period. It is estimated that greater awareness of the economic impact, the improvement of the health care sectors and the improvement of hygiene complement the growth of this sector. Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa have limited access to these related medical products and facilities. They are assumed to offer significant potential for the growth of this market due to the large scale of patients with incontinence.

In the last few years, the growing geriatric population in the Asia Pacific region has led to the higher adoption rate of adult diapers in the region. Vendors are also investing in the Research & Development of adult diapers to grab opportunities and expand business in emerging economies of the Asia Pacific region. Japan has a fair share of the aged population making it a potential target for adult diapers market.

Comparatively developed regions such as North America and Europe are expected to share the major proportions of the adult diapers market revenue due to rising aged population and economic affluence. In Europe, it is expected that the adult diapers market will overtake baby diapers market due to growing aged population.

The Middle East and Africa are witnessing a slow acceptance. This is expected to help the overall market revenue-wise. Players entering the adult diapers market are looking to expand in the Asia Pacific and South America region in the outlook period.

Adult Diapers Market – Competition in the marketplace:

The global adult diapers market is fiercely competitive with the presence of global as well as regional players. The market is highly fragmented. The vendors benefit from the vast distribution channels to expand their product range and customer base across the globe. The most crucial part to survive the competition lies in Research & Development. Players need to constantly innovate in order to fulfill the needs of their customers. Their main focus is to differentiate products through innovation.

The major restraint for the players in the adult diapers market is with the side effects of the product with constant use. Therefore, maintaining their position in segments with slow growth and focusing on future prospects in fast-growing segments will lead to sustainability in the market.

Leading Company:

Daio paper invests in research and development activities focused on product innovation to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage in the international market.

Key Players:

1. Daio paper
2. First quality enterprises inc
3. Covidien
4. Kao Corp
5. Hengan Group
6. Kimberly Clark
7. Medline Industries
8. Nippon Paper Industries
9. Unicharm
10. Ontex International
11. DSG International