EVA Foam Market

EVA Foam Market Outlook (2023 to 2033)

EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate foam) is a versatile and lightweight material used in various applications, from footwear to sports equipment. It is a lightweight and durable material that offers good cushioning and shock absorption properties, making it a popular choice for many different purposes.

EVA foam is made by combining ethylene and vinyl acetate under heat and pressure, resulting in a material that has a fine, uniform cell structure. The foam is typically available in a range of densities and thicknesses and can be easily cut, shaped, and formed using various tools and techniques.

What are key properties that can propel the demand for the market?

It is renowned for its cushioning qualities, which make it perfect for use in the manufacturing of sporting and leisure goods including foam rollers, yoga mats, and workout mats. Due to its smooth and comfy texture, it is also employed in the creation of sandals, flip-flops, and other sorts of footwear. The global value of packaging foam last year was USD 17.21 Billion. This material involved Polyurethane, polyolefin, and Polystyrene.

EVA is a popular material for use in arts and crafts projects, cosplay, and prop-making since it comes in a variety of thicknesses, densities, and colors. It is easily cuttable, moldable, and glueable, opening up a world of artistic possibilities.

Moisture resistance application in the marine sector

Due to its closed-cell foam structure, it becomes water and moisture-resistant. Also, EVA foams have effective buoyancy due to their closed-shell structure. Their excellent buoyancy and water and moisture resistance make them very useful in the shipping and marine industries.

Moreover, with the addition of rubber and other polymeric materials the resilience and durability of these foams can be increased which could lead to their better quality and performance than rubber.

EVA foams also have strong resilience and insulating qualities in addition to the aforementioned characteristics. Due to the unique qualities of foams, they are used in a variety of sectors including the construction, building, and automotive seats.

Emerging versatile material for the construction sector

The increasing urbanization has propelled the demand for these foams in the construction sector. These foams are often used in flooring mats that reduce fatigue and help prevent injuries. It’s also a great material to be used in insulation material in a building that shields against heat and cold. These are used in ceilings to avoid any leaks.

The medical advantage to diversify applications further

Due to ongoing research and development, EVA foams are being used extensively in orthopedic products including ortho-prostheses and orthopedic footwear. The market is expanding as a result of the expanding medical industry. EVA foams are employed in sports equipment in addition to the medical area because of their cushioning qualities, which are used in a variety of sports as supporters or padding agents.

The footwear industry is concentrating on producing shoes with EVA soles due to the orthopedic benefits and their waterproof nature. Therefore, increasing shoe sales will increase demand.

What are the challenges faced by manufacturers?

This foam is made from ethylene and vinyl acetate which are obtained from petrochemicals. The availability and price of these raw materials can be affected by a variety of factors, such as global supply and demand, political instability, and environmental regulations. This foam production involves the quality control process where any deviation in temperature, pressure, or rations of chemicals can result in defects and affect the durability of these foams.

Moreover, this foam is not biodegradable and can take a long time to break down in landfills. Manufacturers must consider the environmental impact of their products and find ways to reduce waste and improve recycling efforts.

Even though this foam is lighter in weight its bulky nature of this foam makes transportation further challenging. Companies looking for minimising the shipping cost to ensure the safe delivery of products.

Key Players

Key participants identified in the global market include,

• Foamtech Ltd.
• Toray Plastics
• Zotefoams
• Trocellen
• Primacel
• Foam Creations
• Carefoam
• Armacell
• Pop foam

Recent Developments

• August 2019- Installed building products have announced the acquisition of Therm-con and Foamtech Inc. This acquisition is expected to add approximately USD 4.7 million of annual revenue.
• November 2022- Zotefoams acquires assets and IP rights of Refour ApS to widen its product portfolio of mono-material trays, and barriers in packaging technology for a circular economy. Mono packaging materials are composite alternatives to conventional options owing to prevalent stringent mandates for recycling.

Regional Outlook

Western Europe is a prospective market area because it dominates the automotive sector. These foams have significant markets in areas like Asia Pacific, Japan, and MEA due to expanding construction and infrastructure development.

The government has been investing heavily in residential projects in North America as a result of the building industry's recent comeback; as a result, this region might be regarded as a developing market.

Segmentation

• On the basis of the production process :

  • Injection Foaming Molding
  • Extrusion molding
  • Compression molding

• On the basis of the end-user industry :

  • Automotive
  • Medical
  • Building and Construction
  • Textile & Sportswear
  • Consumer goods
  • Others

• On the basis of the application :

  • Padding agent
  • Foam packaging
  • EVA foam tapes
  • Parts & Components
  • Gaskets
  • Others

• On the basis of Regions :

  • North America (U.S., Canada)
  • Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru)
  • Western Europe (Germany, Italy, France, U.K., Spain, BENELUX, Nordic, Eastern Europe)
  • CIS and Russia
  • Asia-Pacific (China, India, ASEAN, South Korea)
  • Japan
  • Middle East and Africa (GCC Countries, South Africa, Turkey, Iran, Israel)