Plastic Labware Market - Global Outlook & Forecast 2023-2028

MARKET OVERVIEW

The global plastic labware market was valued at USD 9.94 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach USD 19.83 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 12.20% during the forecast period. The diagnostics and hospitals, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical sectors, among others, are the most important end-users. Pipettes, burettes, funnels, test tubes, and beakers are examples of plastic labware used in scientific studies.

Plastic labware is the equipment used in scientific activities, such as discovering new pharmaceuticals and performing numerous experiments in research laboratories. The growing use of plastic labware in academic and diagnostic institutes, hospitals, and forensic laboratories has increased demand in recent years. Furthermore, the growing number of R&D laboratories and the increasing demand for plasticware products drive demand in the global market. Researchers use plasticware goods because they are lightweight, recyclable, cost-effective, and non-breakable. Government funding for pharmaceutical and drug development will drive global labware market growth during the projected period.

MARKET TRENDS & OPPORTUNITIES

Increased Investments in R&D
Increased research and development (R&D) operations for plastic labware have increased demand globally for these items. Researchers and scientists have been drawn to creating novel and modern plastic labware with better features and usefulness, resulting in increased demand for these goods.

Plastic labware producers are investing in R&D to develop products that can endure severe temperatures, resist chemical corrosion, and have increased precision and repeatability as technology advances and new materials emerge. Advancements in the plastic labware market have broadened its usage outside typical laboratory settings, such as in the medical and biotechnology sectors. Increased R&D activity for plastic labware has also created eco-friendly and biodegradable goods, addressing the environmental problems connected with traditional plastic labware. This breakthrough has piqued the interest of governments and institutions seeking to lower their carbon impact.

Rising Preference For Plasticware
Manufacturers improve the quality of test findings while enhancing the value of their products by altering the surface qualities of polymer labware. One of the things boosting the value of plastic labware is plasma treatment. Millions of multi-well plates, pipettes, flasks, bottles, vials, culture plates, Eppendorf tubes, and other polymer labware products are produced each year for use in research, drug development, and diagnostic testing. Although many are simple, low-cost consumables, a growing percentage are now surface treated with gas plasma or have functional coatings that are precisely constructed to improve research quality and diagnostic sophistication. Traditional glassware is composed of borosilicate glass, which is non-recyclable because of its heat-resistant qualities.

Plasticware, on the other hand, is long-lasting and easy to clean and reuse. Researchers are also gravitating towards plasticware products because they are lightweight, durable, and non-breakable; these products are robust and able to absorb more shock when bumped or dropped, providing superior protection for researchers, a lower risk of losing valuable samples, and lower costs for container replacement or lost time due to personnel injury.

INDUSTRY RESTRAINTS

Stringent Regulations
Plastic labware legislation differs by country; however, there is a global movement towards decreasing the use of single-use plastics and encouraging sustainability. Manufacturers must adapt to these restrictions to remain competitive in the plastic labware market and invest in sustainable alternatives.

Plastic-related rules and legislation have recently been established in several nations, regions, and towns. These are designed primarily to reduce consumption and improve waste management through use and disposal. Over 60 countries have banned or taxed plastic packaging and plastic single-use/disposable garbage. These restrictions and standards make it more difficult for plastic labware producers to function in the market. They must adhere to laws, which can raise production costs and impact product prices. Furthermore, the regulations and guidelines make marketing plastic labware products to increasingly environmentally conscious customers who prefer eco-friendly or biodegradable alternatives more difficult.

SEGMENTATION INSIGHTS

INSIGHTS BY PRODUCT TYPE
The global plastic labware market by product type is divided into consumables, reusables, and others. These classifications are based on the intended usage of plastic labware goods. Consumables are plastic labware products for single-use applications sold in APAC and Europe. They are disposable and are thrown away after usage. Plastic pipettes, Petri dishes, sample cups, test tubes, and other similar items are examples of consumables. They're common in clinical and diagnostic labs, university research labs, and the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors. Due to an increase in patient population, an increase in chronic diseases, an increase in government initiatives in the health care sector, an increase in the number of diagnostic laboratories, and an increase in research and development activities in core industries, as well as usage on academia, emerging economies offer greater opportunities to the laboratory consumable products market.

INSIGHTS BY MATERIAL
The global plastic labware market may be divided into segments depending on the materials used to make the items. Polystyrene is extensively utilized in cell culture and microbiology, although polypropylene is favored in chemical and biochemical applications. Polyethylene is used in clinical and diagnostic laboratories because of its low cost and durability. Polycarbonate, PVC, and other materials used in plastic labware are used for various purposes.

INSIGHTS BY END-USERS
The academia and research held the largest global plastic labware market share in the end-users segment, accounting for over 30% in 2022. A primary reason driving the growth of general laboratory equipment is the rising demand from quality testing and research laboratories in manufacturing industries such as the pharmaceutical sector. At the onset of the pandemic, substantial study is being conducted. Ongoing progress in new medication discovery and vaccine development boosts demand for laboratory equipment from these end-use sectors.

INSIGHTS BY DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL
The producer directly sells plastic labware to end-users such as laboratories, research institutions, and hospitals through direct distribution channels in the global plastic labware market. The producer controls the product's pricing, advertising, and distribution. Direct distribution channels enable manufacturers to have stronger contact with their customers, collect product feedback, and better understand their requirements and preferences. In B2B sales, direct distribution methods are more frequent.

Indirect distribution methods, on the other hand, require the employment of middlemen to supply plastic labware to end users. Wholesalers, distributors, and retailers are examples of intermediaries in the global plastic labware market. These middlemen buy plastic labware in bulk from the manufacturer and resell it to end users at a higher price. In B2C sales, indirect distribution methods are increasingly frequent.

GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS

North America is expected to dominate the global plastic labware market, accounting for over 33% share in 2022. Factors such as the rising number of diagnostic tests, increased usage of laboratory consumables, and the introduction of specially designed plasticware are driving the growth of the plastic labware market in the region. The U.S. and Canada are the major countries in this region. North America has been one of the leaders in innovation and research. To retain its top position, the U.S. is continuing to invest in R&D, which is expected to boost the plastic labware market in the region during the forecast period.

The APAC plastic labware market is the fastest-growing market globally. The region’s biotechnology industry is on a continuous surge that is increasing the adoption rate of laboratory instruments, thereby driving the labware market in the region. Developing countries such as China, India, and South Korea are implementing effective R&D in biotechnology; even though their economic development is not precisely in sync, each of these countries has been innovating developing countries in biotech research in recent years. Further, Latin America and the Middle East are also projected to have profitable development in the plastic labware market in the future years.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

The global plastic labware market is extremely competitive, with many manufacturers and suppliers participating. In addition to the market's major companies like Thermo Fisher Scientific, Eppendorf, and others, there are many smaller producers and suppliers. These businesses may specialize in certain types of plasticware or operate in specific geographic areas.

Focusing on innovation and product development distinguishes the competitive global plastic labware market. To address the changing demands of the laboratory industry, manufacturers are always producing new goods and upgrading old ones. In addition, manufacturers focus on manufacturing more sustainable plasticware goods in response to increased environmental concerns. Further, the global plastic labware market's competitive characteristics are the elements that define the market competitiveness of manufacturers and suppliers. Some of the market's important competitive parameters are product quality, innovation, price, and more. Companies that excel in these parameters are more likely to succeed in the industry and gain a larger share of customers.