Disposable Razor Blades Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Blade Count (1 & 2 Blades, 3 & 4 Blades, and 5 & More Blades), End-User (Men and Women), Distribution Channel (Hypermarkets, Online, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027

The global disposable razor blades market size was USD 3.39 billion in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 4.31 billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 3.2% during the forecast period.   

The trend towards corporate dressing and personal grooming and mandatory office rules involving professional and well-groomed appearance can spur the demand for razors, thus aiding the market. The introduction of fragranced lubrication strips on razor cartridges such as aloe vera and strips made with other value-added ingredients such as vitamin E and Tea Tree Oil for smooth shaving are gaining consumer attention. Additionally, companies are trying hard to meet varied consumer demands such as blades for sensitive skin or hard skin. For instance, Persona’s Patented Bump Guard technology-based disposable razor is specifically developed to cater to the requirement of African descent men. Therefore, changing men’s grooming needs is a key reason for a substantial increase in the demand for disposable razor blades.

Work From Home Conditions to Diminish Grooming Needs amid COVID-19

Shelter-in-place, working from home culture, and limitations on travels have resulted in the beard trend, in turn, dwindling the demand for razors. For instance, Procter & Gamble reported decreased net sales by 2% to US$ 6.1 billion in the fiscal year 2020 in the grooming segment. This decrease was majorly attributed to volume decrease in shave care products in mature markets such as North America and Europe in the pandemic period due to lowered shaving needs.

On the other hand, in the view of limiting the virus transmission, disposable razor types are preferred at hospitality and healthcare facilities. Therefore, this factor is expected to surge product demand once the majority of the barbershops as well as hotels and salons are reopened after the lockdown period.

LATEST TRENDS

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Eco-friendly Razor Blades are Trending in the Market

The majority of the disposable razor blades are made with plastic, which has become a threatening factor due to growing environmental concerns related to plastic disposal. This factor has led to the development of new, more sustainable razor models. For instance, Wilkinson Sword Xtreme 3 Eco Green disposable razor has a handle made from 95% recycled plastic, whereas Persona offers BioShave, a triple blade razor that is biodegradable with its handle made from 80% plant-based sustainable sources. Therefore, bladesmanufacturers and consumers are largely shifting their preference towards greener disposable razor blades to help save the environment.

DRIVING FACTORS

Convenience of Blades During Travel to Increase Product Adoption

The non-refillable types of razors are suitable for travel, which is a major factor driving the market. For instance, as per the report Award Catalogue 2020 of BEYOND PLASTIC, about 5,000 billion disposable razors are used per year globally. 

People prefer non-refillable razors as they don’t need to carry heavy and inconvenient razors and their refill blades during long journeys. The same one-piece razor blade can be used multiple times, and then the whole unit can be disposed of after use, unlike other types of shavers. For instance, the Wilkinson Sword’s products under fixed cartridge razor blades range are allowed to be carried in a handbag while traveling to the foreign countries, making it the preferred choice among travelers. Therefore, the high convenience of these products has resulted in significant demand among consumers.

Booming Beauty or Salon Industry to Boost Market

An increasing number of commercial grooming places such as spas, salons, health clubs, hotels and other healthcare facilities is likely to support market growth. One single blade cannot be used for different clients at such places to avoid any kind of infection, which increases the consumption of one-time use razors.

For instance, in January 2019, the Big Box of Razors brand launched its new black disposable razors. The brand is specialized in offering disposable razors in bulk such as 100, 500, or 1,000 units to various businesses. The major customers of the company include hotels, fitness clubs, medspas, golf clubs as well as tattoo shops. Therefore, the high consumption of these razors in the beauty and wellness industry is expected to increase the market size.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

Waste Generation Concerns due to Disposable Nature to Limit Market Expansion

As the name suggests, disposable razor blades are thrown away after its intended use, resulting in a huge amount of plastic waste generation over the years. This factor is therefore expected to restrain market growth as the people are becoming more concerned about the environment. Additionally, other types such as refillable razors, double-edge/safety razors, straight razors as well as electric shavers are widely available in the marketplace, in turn, affecting the demand for disposables.

SEGMENTATION

By Blade Count Analysis

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3 & 4 Blades Segment to Dominate Owing to Cost-Effectiveness

Based on product type, the market is segmented as 1 & 2 blades, 3 & 4 blades, and 5 & more blades. The 3 & 4 blades razor fulfills the usual shaving needs at an affordable price, which is a preferred choice among the mass population and holds a major share in the global market.

However, the growing belief that the greater number of blades provides a greater shaving efficiency has led to shifting consumer preference towards higher number blades, whereas increased efficiency comes with the increased cost. For instance, Barbasol’s Ultra 6 Plus disposable razor has six basic blades and a top ultra-trimmer as a 7th blade for extra refining purposes, wherein the razor is offered under the premium label. Therefore 5 & more blades segment is expected to witness a growth, rapidly.

By End-User Analysis

Men Segment to Hold Major Share due to Greater Usage Frequency

Based on end-users, the market is segmented as men and women. The men segment holds the lion’s share due to greater shaving needs and greater frequency of facial hair removal as compared to women. For instance, as per the State of Men’s Facial Hair & Shaving – Current Styles, Habits, & Concerns (2019 Survey), the disposable razor blades are used by about 23% of the surveyed men participants in the U.S.

However, the growing trend of removal of body hairs among women population is expected to have a positive impact on the market. Additionally, companies are introducing scented razors to attract female customers, which thereby is expected to show the positive growth of the market. For instance, Schick Skintimate range offers its women disposable razors with a variety of fragrances including Vanilla-sugar, Raspberry Rain, Violet Blooms, etc.

By Distribution Channel Analysis

Online Segment to Proliderate Owing to Purchasing Convenience

Based on the distribution channel, the market is segmented as hypermarkets/supermarkets, pharmacies, online, and others. The hypermarkets/supermarkets segment is projected to dominant the market as people can buy multiple grocery items at these stores under one roof. Additionally, such stores offer bulk razor packets at discounted prices, resulting in greater preference for big marts.

However, the COVID-19 lockdown has contributed to changing consumer purchasing behavior towards e-commerce due to the closures of retail stores. Online purchasing has become more convenient for customers in terms of payment and easy home delivery options. Therefore, the online channel is expected to grow at a significant rate in the market forecast period.

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

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Europe to Remain Dominant due to Greater Adoption of Hair Removal Products

Europe held a major disposable razor blades market share and it was USD 1.14 billion in 2019. This is attributed to the higher disposable income of the populace that has resulted in the purchasing of premium and branded non-refillable razors in the region. For instance, France-based BIC group which is ranked number two in the global one-piece razors market, produces around 2.6 billion shavers along with 4.9 billion blades every year owing to growing consumer demand. Additionally, disposable razors offer one of the best and convenient hair removal solutions during travel, and the growing number of travelers in the region is further supporting market growth. For instance, as per the Tourism Statistics released in January 2020 by Eurostat, in 2018 at least one personal tourism trip was taken by about 64% of the residents of the EU.

Besides, Asia Pacific is likely to grow significantly due to the affordable prices of private label products from countries such as China, Japan, and India. Refillable cartridge-based razors are usually offered at higher prices therefore, low-cost disposable razor blades have provided a better alternative to the users. This factor has led to changing preferences from traditional cut-throat or a straight razor blade to the disposable blades in the region. Moreover, a growing number of barbershops, spas, and salons are likely to promote market growth in Asia Pacific. For instance, China and Japan were ranked 2^nd and 4^th, respectively in the top 20 spa markets worldwide in 2017 as listed by Global Wellness Institute.

The South American market is majorly driven by changing grooming needs in countries such as Brazil and Argentina. Therefore, improving the standard of living of the population is likely to aid market expansion in the region.

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

Top 3 Players to Cover More than 50% Share

Procter & Gamble Co. (brand Gillette), Edgewell Personal Care (brands Schick, Persona, and Wilkinson Sword), and BIC Group combinedly hold more than 50% of the share in the global market. However, a growing number of private labels and emerging startup companies are expected to make the market highly competitive. Small players are making strong efforts to increase their market share by adopting various strategies such as partnerships, acquisitions, and new product development. For instance, in October 2018, Dorco, a major key player in South Korea acquired about a 10% stake in the startup LetsShave Private Ltd. in India to strengthen its footprint in the Asian market.

LIST OF KEY COMPANIES PROFILED:

• Procter & Gamble Co. (Ohio, United States)


• BIC Group (Paris, France)


• Super-Max Group (Dubai, UAE)


• Edgewell Personal Care (Shelton, U.S.)


• Kai Group (Tokyo, Japan)


• LORD International Co. (Alexandria, Egypt)


• DORCO CO, LTD. (Seoul, South Korea)


• Kaili Group (Ningbo, China)


• Laroch co. (Shuaiba, Kuwait)


• Perio Inc. (Dublin, U.S.)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• January 2019 – BIC opened its new facility in Kenya, Africa, which will be used for various operations of the company, including assembly of BIC Shavers. This is expected to strengthen the company’s presence in Africa.


• September 2019 - Gillette has announced the first Gillette razor product launch in India. The product is Gillette SkinGuard and has two lubra strips that leaves a soft and smooth feeling on the skin.


• March 2018 – Gillette launched new Sensor3 Cool disposable razor, which is designed with Gillette’s proprietary cooling technology.

REPORT COVERAGE

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The market research report provides a detailed analysis of the market and focuses on key aspects such as competitive landscape, distribution channels, and leading product types. Besides this, the report offers insights into the disposable razor blades market trends and highlights key industry developments.

In addition to the aforementioned factors, the report encompasses several factors that have contributed to the growth of the market in recent years.

Report Scope & Segmentation