Environmental Remediation in Microbeads or Micro Plastics Market - Forecast(2023 - 2028)

Report Code: CMR 1471 Report Format: PDF + Excel

Environmental Remediation in Microbeads or Micro Plastics Market Overview

The Environmental Remediation in Microbeads or Micro Plastics Market size is forecast to reach US$ 20.2 billion by 2027, after growing at a CAGR of 8.2% during the forecast period (2022-2027). Micro plastics refer to fragments of any type of plastic that are less than 5 mm in length. They can occur from multiple sources such as sewage treatment plants, automobile tires, cosmetics industry, clothing and other sources. These micro plastics can be categorized into multiple plastic types which include polyester, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polyethylene plastic and more. In 2020, the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic increased the demand for surgical masks as the primary medium of protection during the pandemic. A recent report from UNICEF stated that it had distributed around 301.3 million surgical masks and 22.2 million N95 respirators, which reached around 127 countries in 2020. Single-use face masks are primarily composed of polymers such as polypropylene, polyurethane, polyethylene, or polyester. Thus, an increase in consumption and littering of face masks resulted in an increase in micro plastics in the environment as such face masks could break down into smaller size particles upon degradation. This, in turn, increased the demand for remediation techniques to deal with the environmental problems associated with such micro plastics. Furthermore, an increase in the development of wastewater treatment facilities along with government regulations to counteract the effects of microbeads or micro plastics on the environment acts as major drivers for the market. On the other hand, the high cost of thermal waste treatment may confine the market growth.

Report Coverage

The “Environmental Remediation in Microbeads or Micro Plastics Market – Forecast (2022-2027)” by IndustryARC, covers an in-depth analysis of the following segments in the Environmental Remediation in Microbeads or Micro Plastics Industry.

By Plastic Type: Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polyvinyl Chloride, Polyethylene terephthalate, Polystyrene, Polyester, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Others.
By Category: Primary Micro plastics, Secondary Micro plastics, Nanoplastics.
By Source: Sewage Treatment Plants, Automotive Industry, Cosmetics Industry, Clothing, Manufacturing, Fishing Industry, Face Mask, Packaging and Shipping, Plastics (Bottled Water, Baby Bottles), Others.
By Remediating Techniques: Microbial Degradation, Thermal Treatment, Physical Techniques (Adsorption, Filtration), Others.
By Geography: North America (USA, Canada and Mexico), Europe (the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Russia, Belgium and the Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, Indonesia, Taiwan, Malaysia and the Rest of Asia-Pacific), South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile and the Rest of South America), the Rest of the World (the Middle East and Africa).

Key Takeaways

  • Clothing segment in Environmental Remediation in Microbeads or Micro Plastics industry held a significant share in 2021. According to a recent study on Polymer Degradation and Stability, various synthetic fibers which include polyester, nylon, acrylics and spandex, are usually shed from clothing which further breaks down into microbeads or micro plastics and persists in the environment.
  • According to the recent insights published by the European Investment Bank, approx. 80% of the total micro plastic pollution in the environment usually occurs from textiles, automobile tires and city dust.
  • North America dominated the Environmental Remediation in Microbeads or Micro Plastics market share in 2021, owing to the stringent government policies and regulations to mitigate the detrimental effects of micro plastics on the environment.

Figure: North America Environmental Remediation in Microbeads or Micro Plastics Market Revenue, 2021-2027 (US$ Billion)

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Environmental Remediation in Microbeads or Micro Plastics Market Segment Analysis – by Source

The clothing segment held a significant portion of the Environmental Remediation in Microbeads or Micro Plastics market share in 2021, owing to an increase in textile production across the world. For instance, TreeToTextile AB, invested EUR 35 million (US$ 41.4 million) for the development of a new sustainable textile fiber manufacturing plant in Sweden in February 2021. A recent article published on fibre2fashion states that Vietnam’s garment manufacturing business accounts for around 70% of the majority of businesses. It also states that the import of textiles and clothing by the United States increased by 26.79 % up to US$41.689 billion during the initial five months of 2021. Likewise, the value of U.S. man-made fiber, textile and clothing shipments reached about $64.4 billion in 2020. Furthermore, the federal government of African countries has launched multiple initiatives to build new textile factories across the region in order to increase textile productivity in the region. These initiatives aim at increasing the production of the textile and clothing sector in Africa by 2030.

According to a recent study on Polymer Degradation and Stability, each apparel or clothing in a laundry is capable of shedding more than 1,900 fibers of micro plastics. Moreover, the main fiber that is commonly used throughout the textile industry is polyester, owing to its lower costs and ease of manufacturing. However, these types of fibers are considered to be one of the major sources of micro plastics affecting the environment. Thus, an increase in clothing production is expected to increase the demand for environmental remediation techniques to counteract the effects of micro plastics released from such textile fibers. This, in turn, is expected to drive the growth of the market in the upcoming years.

Environmental Remediation in Microbeads or Micro Plastics Market Segment Analysis – by Remediating Techniques

The physical techniques held the largest share of around 33% in the Environmental Remediation in Microbeads or Micro Plastics market share in 2021, owing to its increasing demand due to the benefits it offers over other types of remediating techniques. Physical remediating techniques such as adsorption and filtration, offers high flexibility, high-end product quality and are relatively less expensive than other types of remediating techniques. Moreover, it is capable of removing 90% to 100% of pathogens from the waste sample. Furthermore, it is more energy-efficient and allows filtration of any volumes of non-turbid liquid including microbeads and micro plastics in comparison to other types of remediating techniques. Hence, all of these benefits of physical techniques are driving its demand over other types of remediating techniques, which in turn, is expected to boost the market growth during the forecast period.

Environmental Remediation in Microbeads or Micro Plastics Market Segment Analysis – by Geography

North America held the largest share in the Environmental Remediation in Microbeads or Micro Plastics market size in 2021 up to 35%. The consumption of remediation techniques for microbeads or micro plastics is particularly high in this region due to the stringent government policies and regulations to mitigate the detrimental effects of micro plastics on the environment. For instance, some states in the U.S have taken actions to ease the negative effects of micro plastics on the environment, among which, Illinois was the first state to ban the use of cosmetics containing micro plastics. Moreover, Microbead-Free Waters Act 2015, bans the use of cosmetic products in the U.S with an exfoliating function in order to prevent the release of microbeads into the water. In July 2018, the government of the U.S passed an amendment for the reduction of micro plastics. The act specifically aims at increasing testing, cleanup and education around micro plastic pollution in the aquatic environment. Hence, such government policies and regulations to deal with micro plastic pollution in the region are expected to increase the demand for remediation techniques for microbeads or micro plastics, thus, leading to the growth of the Environmental Remediation in Microbeads or Micro Plastics market size during the forecast period.

Environmental Remediation in Microbeads or Micro Plastics Market Drivers

An increase in the development of wastewater treatment plants is most likely to increase demand for the product

According to recent studies published in the Journal of Environmental Management, thermal treatment techniques are adopted in the primary treatment of wastewater treatment plants that are capable of removing 16.5% to 98.4% of micro plastics while the secondary treatment of wastewater treatment plants has an overall efficiency of 78.1% to 100% for removal of micro plastics. Moreover, the tertiary treatment is capable of removing overall 87.3% to 99.9% of micro plastics. For instance, in April 2021, Veolia Water Technologies began the development of a new wastewater treatment plant in Genoa, Italy. The operation of the new facility is scheduled to begin in 2023. In January 2022, Kuwait’s Ministry of Public Works (MPW) announced the development of its new wastewater treatment plant in the South of Al Mutlaa, Kuwait. The development of the facility is scheduled to begin in the second of quarter 2022 and is due delivery by the fourth quarter of 2025. Furthermore, in December 2021, operations on the development of a new wastewater treatment plant began in Morocco. The facility is scheduled to become operational in 2023. The facility will be able to treat 8 million cubic meters of wastewater per year. In this way, such new development of wastewater treatment plants is expected to increase the demand for micro plastics remediation techniques, thus, accelerating the growth of the market in the upcoming years.

Government regulations to counteract the effects of microbeads or micro plastics on the environment are most likely to increase demand for the product

In 2018, the government of Japan passed a bill with the aim of reducing micro plastic production and pollution in the country, particularly in aquatic environments. The legislation specifically aimed at reducing micro plastic and microbeads production in the personal care industry. In the United Kingdom, the environmental protection (microbeads) regulations 2017 bans the production of personal care products containing microbeads. In January 2019, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) passed a proposal to restrict the intentional addition of micro plastics. Thus, such government regulations to counteract the effects of microbeads or micro plastics on the environment are expected to increase the demand for microbeads or micro plastics remediation techniques. This is expected to drive the growth of the market in the upcoming years.

Environmental Remediation in Microbeads or Micro Plastics Market Challenges

High cost of thermal waste treatment may confine the market growth

The treatment capacity of an individual country is primarily dependent on its income. Well-developed countries that have high income generally have a treatment capacity of over 70% of the wastewater production whereas developing countries with low income have a treatment capacity of around 8% only. Since liquid waste containing microbeads or micro plastics can easily pollute the land and freshwater resources, it is more difficult to collect and process in comparison to solid waste and it should also be handled more carefully. Moreover, the adoption of thermal remediation techniques in wastewater treatment plants becomes less efficient over a certain period of time due to steady build-up within piping systems and requires frequent maintenance that can be quite costly. Hence, the high cost associated with the thermal waste treatment may confine the growth of the market.

Environmental Remediation in Microbeads or Micro Plastics Industry Landscape

Technology launches, acquisitions and R&D activities are key strategies adopted by players in the Environmental Remediation in Microbeads or Micro Plastics Market. The top 10 companies in the Environmental Remediation in Microbeads or Micro Plastics Market are:

  1. AECOM
  2. DEME NV
  3. Jacobs Engineering Group
  4. Tetra Tech, Inc.
  5. Fluor Corp.
  6. Golder Associates
  7. Brown and Caldwell
  8. Ocean Cleanup
  9. Ichthion
  10. The Great Bubble Barrier

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1. Environmental Remediation in Microbeads or Micro Plastics Market - Market Overview
    1.1 Definitions and Scope
2. Environmental Remediation in Microbeads or Micro Plastics Market - Executive Summary
    2.1 Key Trends by Plastic Type
    2.2 Key Trends by Category
    2.3 Key Trends by Source
    2.4 Key Trends by Remediating Techniques
    2.5 Key Trends by Geography
3. Environmental Remediation in Microbeads or Micro Plastics Market – Comparative analysis
    3.1 Market Share Analysis - Major Companies
    3.2 Product Benchmarking - Major Companies
    3.3 Top 5 Financials Analysis
    3.4 Patent Analysis - Major Companies
    3.5 Pricing Analysis (ASPs will be provided)
4. Environmental Remediation in Microbeads or Micro Plastics Market - Startup companies Scenario Premium Premium
    4.1 Major startup company analysis:
        4.1.1 Investment
        4.1.2 Revenue
        4.1.3 Product portfolio
        4.1.4 Venture Capital and Funding Scenario
5. Environmental Remediation in Microbeads or Micro Plastics Market – Industry Market Entry Scenario Premium Premium
    5.1 Regulatory Framework Overview
    5.2 New Business and Ease of Doing Business Index
    5.3 Successful Venture Profiles
    5.4 Customer Analysis – Major companies
6. Environmental Remediation in Microbeads or Micro Plastics Market - Market Forces
    6.1 Market Drivers
    6.2 Market Constraints
    6.3 Porter Five Force Model
        6.3.1 Bargaining Power of Suppliers
        6.3.2 Bargaining Powers of Buyers
        6.3.3 Threat of New Entrants
        6.3.4 Competitive Rivalry
        6.3.5 Threat of Substitutes
7. Environmental Remediation in Microbeads or Micro Plastics Market – Strategic Analysis
    7.1 Value/Supply Chain Analysis
    7.2 Opportunity Analysis
    7.3 Product/Market Life Cycle
    7.4 Distributor Analysis – Major Companies
8. Environmental Remediation in Microbeads or Micro Plastics Market – By Plastic Type (Market Size - US$ Million/Billion)
    8.1 Polyethylene
    8.2 Polypropylene
    8.3 Polyvinyl Chloride
    8.4 Polyethylene terephthalate
    8.5 Polystyrene
    8.6 Polyester
    8.7 Polymethyl Methacrylate
    8.8 Others
9. Environmental Remediation in Microbeads or Micro Plastics Market – By Category (Market Size - US$ Million/Billion)
    9.1 Primary Microplastics
    9.2 Secondary Microplastics
    9.3 Nanoplastics
10. Environmental Remediation in Microbeads or Micro Plastics Market – By Source (Market Size - US$ Million/Billion)
    10.1 Sewage Treatment Plants
    10.2 Automotive Industry
    10.3 Cosmetics Industry
    10.4 Clothing
    10.5 Manufacturing
    10.6 Fishing Industry
    10.7 Face Mask
    10.8 Packaging And Shipping
    10.9 Plastics
        10.9.1 Bottled Water
        10.9.2 Baby Bottles
    10.10 Others
11. Environmental Remediation in Microbeads or Micro Plastics Market – By Remediating Techniques (Market Size - US$ Million/Billion)
    11.1 Microbial Degradation
    11.2 Thermal Treatment
    11.3 Physical Techniques
        11.3.1 Adsorption
        11.3.2 Filtration
    11.4 Others
12. Environmental Remediation in Microbeads or Micro Plastics Market - By Geography (Market Size - US$ Million/Billion)
    12.1 North America
        12.1.1 USA
        12.1.2 Canada
        12.1.3 Mexico
    12.2 Europe
        12.2.1 UK
        12.2.2 Germany
        12.2.3 France
        12.2.4 Italy
        12.2.5 Netherlands
        12.2.6 Spain
        12.2.7 Russia
        12.2.8 Belgium
        12.2.9 Rest of Europe
    12.3 Asia-Pacific
        12.3.1 China
        12.3.2 Japan
        12.3.3 India
        12.3.4 South Korea
        12.3.5 Australia and New Zealand
        12.3.6 Indonesia
        12.3.7 Taiwan
        12.3.8 Malaysia
        12.3.9 Rest of APAC
    12.4 South America
        12.4.1 Brazil
        12.4.2 Argentina
        12.4.3 Colombia
        12.4.4 Chile
        12.4.5 Rest of South America
    12.5 Rest of the World
        12.5.1 Middle-East
            12.5.1.1 Saudi Arabia
            12.5.1.2 UAE
            12.5.1.3 Israel
            12.5.1.4 Rest of the Middle East
        12.5.2 Africa
            12.5.2.1 South Africa
            12.5.2.2 Nigeria
            12.5.2.3 Rest of Africa
13. Environmental Remediation in Microbeads or Micro Plastics Market – Entropy
    13.1 New Product Launches
    13.2 M&As, Collaborations, JVs and Partnerships
14. Environmental Remediation in Microbeads or Micro Plastics Market – Industry/Segment Competition Landscape Premium
    14.1 Company Benchmarking Matrix – Major Companies
    14.2 Market Share at Global Level - Major companies
    14.3 Market Share by Key Geography - Major companies
    14.4 Market Share at Country Level - Major companies
    14.5 Market Share by Key Product Type/Product category - Major companies
15. Environmental Remediation in Microbeads or Micro Plastics Market – Key Company List by Country Premium Premium
16. Environmental Remediation in Microbeads or Micro Plastics Market Company Analysis - Business Overview, Product Portfolio, Financials and Developments
    16.1 Company 1
    16.2 Company 2
    16.3 Company 3
    16.4 Company 4
    16.5 Company 5
    16.6 Company 6
    16.7 Company 7
    16.8 Company 8
    16.9 Company 9
    16.10 Company 10 and more
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