Focus on Filtration

Demand for cleaner air and water across the globe has led not only to increased demand for nonwovens-based filters but also for media that are able to separate finer particulates for the air we breathe and the water we drink. These dual factors have made filtration one of the fastest growing markets for nonwovens. According to market tracker Smithers, filtration is the second largest end use market for durable nonwovens and the third largest for nonwovens overall. Last year, filtration media accounted for 9.9% of nonwovens sales globally and the market continues to grow in the mid- to high-single digits, depending on the world region.

“We continue to see the filtration market growing,” says Scott Tennison, director of innovation at Kimberly-Clark Filtration. “A lot of this has to do with the education to the consumer about how important the air quality is in your home. As consumers become more health conscious and understand how viruses and bacteria spread, they realize they want the air to be as clean as possible.”

For manufacturers of filter media, the c