What are Plastic Fillers?
A filler is a relatively inert material added to a plastic to modify its strength, permanence, working properties, or other qualities, to lower costs. These fillers change the properties of the original plastic, minimize cost, ensure stability to compounds, and make the final product easy to mold. Calcium carbonate, magnesium silicates, sodium sulfate, barium sulfates, silica, clay, kaolin, and carbon are some common fillers added to polymers. The fillers replace the expensive resins to improve flexibility as well as tensile strength and are hence used in many end-use industries including, automotive, building and construction, electrical, packaging, and others.
Here are some of the driving factors that are increasing opportunities for the Plastic Fillers market growth:
Growing demand for plastic in the end-use industry:
According to the Statista Research Department, global plastics production was estimated at 390.7 million metric tons in 2021, an annual increase of four percent. This shows the growing demand for plastics by end-use industries. The use of plastics is maximum for the packaging industry. Increasing demand for fast-moving consumer goods is likely to boost the plastics market. FMCG, construction, textile, automobile, packaging, electronics, and industrial equipment use plastics in large amounts. Hence increasing the use of plastics by end-use industries will drive Plastic Fillers for raising the shelf-life and minimizing the cost of the product.
Increasing demand for lightweight products:
Plastics are stiff, hard, and difficult to process for which fillers in the polymer are added to make them lightweight. The demand for Plastic Filler Market is increasing as lightweight materials are easy to handle. The changing lifestyle, hectic work, and urbanization is changing the eating habits of the consumer. Hence the need for packaged food is increasing which drives the Plastic Fillers market.
Here are some of the restraining factors that are increasing opportunities for Plastic Fillers market growth:
Harmful effect of plastics on the environment:
Plastics are non-biodegradable in nature which decreases soil fertility. The consumption of improperly disposed plastic bags causes ill effects and even death of animals as well as marine species. The waste from the plastic manufacturing industry is thrown into the water resources which causes water pollution. The toxins like phthalates and bisphenols released after plastic burning increase heart diseases, and disrupt neurodevelopment and reproductive function. To reduce plastic pollution, The Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022, came into effect on July 1, 2022. The rule banned the nationwide manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, and sale of plastic and banned the use of specific single-use plastic items with low utility and high littering potential. Hence declining use of plastics hindered the Plastic Fillers Market.
Conclusion:
A filler is an inert material added to a plastic to modify its strength, permanence, and working properties, minimize cost, ensure stability to compounds, and make the final product easy to mold. Increasing demand for lightweight products and growing demand for plastic in the end-use industry drive the Plastic Fillers Market. The harmful effect of plastics on the environment hinders market growth.
Author's Detail:
Sonali Shinde /
LinkedIn
Working as a research analyst in the Chemical & Materials domain. I gained experience in formulating strategic insights, trend analysis, market estimations, competitive landscapes, M&A analysis, DRO, report writing, secondary research, and quantitative research. I also have experience in using a range of statistical and analytical tools to analyze data.
