North America Personal Protective Equipment Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Product (Hand Protection, Eye & Face Protection {Safety Spectacles, Safety Goggles, Welding Shields}, Hearing Protection {Ear Plugs, Cap Mounted Earmuffs}, Protective Clothing {Chemical Defending Garment, Flame Retardant Apparel}, Respiratory Protection {APR and Supplied Air Respirators}, Protective Footwear, Fall Protection {Soft Goods, Hard Goods, Full Body Harness}, Head Protection), By End-use Industry (Manufacturing, Construction, Automotive, Oil & Gas, Chemical), and Forecast, 2022-2029

The North America personal protective equipment market size was valued at USD 23.76 billion in 2021. The market is projected to grow from USD 26.99 billion in 2022 to USD 38.15 billion by 2029, exhibiting a CAGR of 5.1% during the forecast period. The global COVID-19 pandemic has been unprecedented and staggering, with personal protective equipment experiencing higher-than-anticipated demand across North America compared to pre-pandemic levels. Based on our analysis, the market exhibited a huge growth of 17.21% in 2020 as compared to 2019.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is majorly used to protect the users from safety hazards or workplace health. PPE is significant in the times of emergency and recuperation of workers’ safety. The protective equipment is made up of garments that are placed to protect healthcare workers or any other person to protect from infections. PPE products include safety gloves, helmets, eye protection, safety footwear, coverall, and others.

COVID-19 IMPACT

Increasing Demand from the Biomedical Industry to Boost Market Growth

The existing PPE industry condition and climate are changing on a daily basis. As the pandemic spreads across the globe, it is marked by exceptionally high global demand for gloves, masks, coveralls, and others. The industry is also characterized by numerous export bans from the government or legislation that establishes trade barriers, including raw materials required for protective gloves production.

There is a bottleneck of masks and gloves production lines while building additional production lines takes time. For example, it can take 4 to 6 months to add a new production line and high investment. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic exposes vulnerabilities in the supply chains within many industries. Healthcare systems in many countries have been encouraged or forced offshoring of PPE production to low-cost providers. In the U.S., 95% of surgical masks and 70% of respirators are produced overseas. Amid the COVID-19 outbreak in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) factory shutdown and ban on travel and PPE products exports have put a significant strain on PPE supply chains, while the evolving pandemic nature of COVID-19 is also leading to technical and political constraints in the supply chain market.

LATEST TRENDS

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COVID-19 Spurs Innovation in Antiviral Fabrics for Medical Protective Clothing

Protective clothing or protective textiles are important technical textiles that are used principally for their functional or functional properties. The importance of protective clothing in the workplace is growing every day. Protective clothing products are used to protect against various natural or man-made adverse environments or situations such as storms, cold, heat, ultraviolet (UV) rays, fires, radioactive radiation, snow, friction, microorganisms, dust, and chemicals.

Properties of protective textiles include lightweight, water and wind-resistant, high durability, resistance to microorganisms and bacteria, thermal insulation, resistance to chemicals, provide protection from radar spectrum, air permeability, UV resistant, and resistant to fire and flame.

The importance of medical protective clothing during COVID-19 pandemic is growing drastically. According to the Performance Apparel Markets report, the COVID-19 pandemic has stimulated innovation in fabrics with antiviral properties for medical protective clothing. Medical protective clothing plays a vital role in ensuring the safety of healthcare workers, the general public, and the patients they treat.

The rapid development of antiviral finishes and fabrics with antiviral properties is a priority by various performance textile industry key players. For instance, Ascend Performance Materials introduced Acteev technology which can destroy SARS CoV-2, and other pathogens such as coronavirus 229E, H1N1, and Gram-positive & Gram-negative bacteria such as E Coli and staphylococcus. Acteev technology combines virus-deactivating active zinc ions with the softness of polyamide fibers and fabrics to deliver unparalleled performance and antimicrobial efficacy.

In August 2020, Carrington Textiles developed an antiviral and antibacterial finish for fabrics that is certified by ISO. The new finish has been developed for employees in healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, construction, heavy industry, and armed forces to protect them from COVID-19 transmission. In addition, in June 2020, Rudolf Group launched a new product with antiviral features and antimicrobial products for textile applications to help combat COVID-19.

In April 2020, Polygiene launched a product called ViralOff, a fabric finish with the tested antiviral capability to help combat COVID-19.

DRIVING FACTORS 

Demand from the Food Industry to Drive the Personal Protective Equipment Market Growth

Workers in the food production sector are exposed to a startling amount of harsh and hazardous chemicals, putting them in danger of contaminating the food they make. Many hazardous substances may be found in food factories, ranging from anhydrous ammonia used in cooling systems to disinfectants needed to clean equipment. Industrial gases such as ammonia, carbon dioxide, chlorine, and ozone are used in food processing today for freezing, chilling, carbonating, and sterilizing. These gases, however, can endanger both employees and facilities. In food processing plants, reliable monitoring of poisonous, flammable, and explosive gases is required, as is breathing and personal protection equipment, as well as escape and rescue equipment in the event of an emergency. Workers who may come into contact with these substances should be informed, follow correct work procedures, and wear suitable personal protection equipment. PPE in the food industry must strike a delicate balance. Manufacturers must safeguard not just their employees, but also the food they produce. Protective gear and its application are important elements in avoiding worker injury and food contamination. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to protect their employees from workplace hazards that can cause injuries.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employees in the food production and handling business can sustain a variety of injuries, ranging from mild to serious. Cuts, burns, bruising, and fractures are all common injuries that may be avoided and prevented with proper PPE.

Food handling done correctly minimizes contamination and spoiling, extends the shelf life of food, and reduces waste and inefficiency. Food will be less likely to be contaminated with parasites, germs, dust, mold spores, and other material present on the human body and clothes if staff are equipped with comfortable and effective PPE.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

Rising Skin Allergies Due to the Usage of PPE Products for Longer Periods of Time to Hinder Market Growth

The COVID-19 outbreak led to an increased demand for personal protective equipment used by healthcare workers to treat patients. More than 40% of healthcare workers have suffered serious skin injuries related to the use of PPE products such as face shields, goggles, protective clothing, overalls, and masks. These skin injuries put staff at risk of infection due to inadequate preventive and therapeutic measures. The three main reasons for skin damage from using personal protective equipment are damp skin from perspiration, skin tears from a tight mask, and pressure damage. Many of these allergies are caused due to excessive sweating, prolonged wear, and the use of Class 3 PPE products. The bridge of the nose, ears, cheeks, and forehead are the most vulnerable areas for skin injuries in healthcare workers. Prolonged wearing of PPE products, N95 respirators, surgical masks, and goggles puts pressure on the bridge of the nose and cheeks of healthcare workers, and increases the incidence of skin damage and allergies.

In addition, improper disposal of masks also poses a major threat to the environment. More and more gloves and masks are being found in the ocean, posing a deadly risk to the fish and turtles that feed on them. It also poses a threat to the environment, along with thousands of other masks that have been abandoned. While the use of PPE products is critical to the current pandemic scenario, so is the proper disposal of masks.

SEGMENTATION

By Product Analysis

Respiratory Protection Segment to Gain Momentum due to Growing Demand for N-95 Respirators  

By product, the market is segmented into hearing protection, head protection, protective clothing, eye face protection, protective footwear, hand protection, respiratory protection, fall protection, and others.

Respiratory protection is the fastest-growing segment during the forecast period. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, it is prescribed to cover the nose & mouth. N-95 respirators are referred to as healthcare respirators, surgical N95s, or medical respirators.

N95 respirators are described as the best for controlling the spread of COVID-19. In addition to large droplets, sprays, and splashes, and also containing viruses & bacteria, this respirator can flush out 95%of very small particles.

Masks or filtering facepiece (FFP) respirators are recommended to avoid the transmission of airborne respiratory infections such as COVID-19. Masks may be clear cloth masks (which may be used by members of the public or outside of high-risk areas), surgical masks that are loose-fitting plastic devices to avoid large droplets that might include micro-organisms from accessing, and respirators with N95 FFP.

By End-use Industry Analysis

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Healthcare Industry Accounted for a Significant Market Share Due to Rising Demand for Gloves, Face Masks, Gowns, and Others

On the basis of end-use industry, the market is divided into manufacturing, construction, automotive, oil & gas, chemical, healthcare, food, chemical, transportation, and others.  

The healthcare segment held the prime share of the market in 2021. The demand for personal protective equipment is expected to grow as the global outbreak of coronavirus has increased the importance of staff safety in healthcare facilities. PPE has surged in hospital departments around the world due to the growing geriatric population as the number of coronavirus cases rises.

The global COVID-19 pandemic has created exceptional demand for PPE products in healthcare such as face masks, gowns, gloves, goggles, coveralls, and face shields. This protective equipment is worn due to decrease in the exposure to risks causing serious health problems. While manufacturers are focusing on increasing the production capacities of the PPE product in many regions, including North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East to support the product demand. Most of the western regions have production plants outsourced in Asian countries to an extent of 60% and 70%.

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

Increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. has led to a rise in demand for personal protective equipment products by healthcare and paramedical workers. Various government agencies such as the Defense Health Agency are helping to bring safety to military hospitals across the globe.

Increasing demand for coverall headgears from the healthcare industry is boosting the regional personal protective equipment market growth due to the growing number of coronavirus cases. The eye and face protection segment are expected to show significant growth amid the ongoing pandemic as a result of the safety measures taken at an individual level. The risk of exposure to the virus is augmenting the demand for face shields and masks in the North America region.

The U.S. accounts for the largest North America personal protective equipment market share attributed to a large number of PPE manufacturers. There has been an increase in demand for PPE from the U.S. amidst the outbreak of COVID-19 due to the increasing number of cases in New York, New Jersey, Washington D.C., and other cities.

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The unprecedented demand for PPE and other medical devices from Canada to combat COVID-19 has boosted the production of coveralls, gloves, and masks in the region. Companies in the region are making efforts to meet the demand and supply of PPE products in Canada. In addition, the Government of Canada is mobilizing the industry to provide medical supplies and providing information on PPE in relation to COVID-19.

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

Key Players are Adopting Strategies to Maintain their Position in the Market

The market share is fragmented with key players operating in the industry being 3M, AlphaProTech, DuPont, Bullard, and MSA Safety. Other key players include Honeywell International Inc., Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., Lakeland, Inc., Protective Industrial Products, Inc., and Radians, Inc. Manufacturers are also expanding their business to gain competency in the industry and alleviate new entrants’ threats.  

Market participants are fiercely competing with international and regional players with extensive distribution networks, regulatory know-how, and suppliers. In addition, companies sign contracts, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships with other market leaders to expand their existing markets.

LIST OF KEY COMPANIES PROFILED:

• 3M (U.S.)


• AlphaProTech (Canada)


• DuPont (U.S.)


• Bullard (U.S.)


• MSA Safety (U.S.)


• Honeywell International Inc. (U.S.)


• Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. (U.S.)


• Lakeland, Inc. (U.S.)


• Protective Industrial Products, Inc. (U.S.)


• Radians, Inc. (U.S.)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• April 2021- Honeywell acquired Norcross Safety Products L.L.C. for USD 1.2 billion. This acquisition will provide the company with a platform in North America that is expected to provide substantial growth opportunities.


• March 2021- 3M, MSA Safety and Dentec Safety Specialists redesigned reusable industrial face masks to better protect healthcare workers and help prevent mask shortages. These elastomeric respirators have recently gained NIOSH approval, as they are redesigned by either removing the exhalation valve or fitting it with a new filter and valve to trap the virus inside.


• January 2021- MSA Safety Incorporated acquired England-based Bristol Uniforms at USD 60 million. This acquisition will strengthen MSA Safety’s hold in fire service and PPE and expand the business in the U.K. and key European markets.


• December 2020- KARAM, a PPE manufacturing company in India, expanded in the consumer healthcare segment with the launch of its KARAM Plus range. The latest product range under KARAM Healthcare includes RF 101 - RFH 101 K-Air N 95 Disposable Face Masks to serve its customers in the healthcare sector.


• May 2020 – Honeywell signed an agreement with the U.K. government for 70 million face masks to support the U.K.’s response to the COVID-19 crisis. The new production line will be capable of producing up to 4.5 million FFP2 and FFP3 disposable face masks per month at its Newhouse site in Scotland, U.K.

REPORT COVERAGE

An Infographic Representation of North America Personal Protective Equipment Market

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The research report provides a detailed analysis of the market and focuses on crucial aspects such as leading companies, product, and end-use industries. Also, the report offers insights into market trends and highlights vital industry developments. In addition to the factors mentioned above, the report encompasses various factors contributing to the North America personal protective equipment market growth in recent years.

This report includes historical data & forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and analyzes the industry's latest market dynamics and opportunities.

Report Scope & Segmentation