Breathability can be defined as the moisture vapour transmission price (MVTR) and it represents the amount of water vapour that passes via a film or a shape over a sure period of time. Coating of lotryl on stable substrates like fabric or non woven may be used to make robust flexible membranes and covers. Breathable films are fashioned with the aid of a aggregate of polymers and mineral fillers. The films have a micro porous structure that is crucial for vapor transmission. The polymers which are specifically utilized are polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, and others which contain polyether block amide, thermoplastic polyester elastomers, co-polyester, and co-polyamide. These films are used in a wide range of end-user industries including building & construction, pharmaceuticals, medical, industrial, food packaging & processing, and personal care & hygiene. In food packaging, the film enables superior circulation of vital gases from the atmosphere keeping the food content fresh and also avoiding accumulation of pungent odors. In case of industrial applications, breathable films are employed to manufacture protective clothing for hazardous environments.
The breathable films market is propelled by the personal care & hygiene industry, due to the growing awareness about hygiene and health in the general population. Their applications in this sector include the manufacturing of baby diapers, adult diapers, and sanitary napkins. Thus, rising birth rates and ageing population are key drivers of the breathable films market. The growing per capita GDP in developing countries and rising consumer spending on personal care products is also propelling the breathable films market. The burgeoning construction industry is also a propellant, with breathable films utilized as house wrap, roofing films, and wall coverings. Moreover, these films are also used to manufacture disposable clothing in the medical sector, and therefore the robust growth of health care facilities, especially in developed countries, motivates this market substantially.

The global breathable films market is expected to exceed more than US$3.50 bln by 2022; growing at a CAGR of more than 7.5%, as per Market Research Engine. The major driving factors of breathable films market are rising usage of breathable films in quality hygiene products, increasing awareness about hygiene and health. Development in the baby diapers market globally is the major restraining factors of breathable films market.

The global breathable film market will gain from rising demand in packaging, healthcare and hygiene industries till 2024, as per Grand View Research, Inc, to reach US$22.83 bln. The growing demand for breathable films in the packaging, healthcare, hygiene, and apparel industry is anticipated to drive market demand over the coming years.  The market is strongly influenced by new product developments and expansions into emerging markets. The increasing use of breathable films in hygiene and building & construction market is anticipated to boost the market growth in Asia Pacific. Stringent regulations concerning use of protective apparel in the healthcare and industrial sector are expected to augment future market growth. Rising demand for waterproof garments in sports apparels is projected to propel the demand for breathable films over the forecast period. Increasing investments in the healthcare sector is expected to drive the demand for masks, gloves, drapes, sheets, and other disposable garments over the coming years. Further key findings from the report suggest:
*The global breathable film market demand was 5.48 mln tons in 2015 and is expected to reach 8.92 mln tons by 2024, growing at a CAGR of 5.6% from 2016 to 2024
*Polyester dominated the breathable film market in 2015 accounting for around 33% of the global market demand in the raw material segment. It is also expected to witness the highest growth of 6% over the forecast period.
*Non-porous films were the leading product segment and accounted for over 70% of global demand in 2015. Increasing penetration for healthcare and food packaging application is expected to drive this segment over the forecast period.
*The packaging segment occupied the largest share in 2015, on account of growing demand for breathable films in the convenience food, confectionery & bakery products, meat, and processed food market.
*Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness a significant growth over the forecast period on account of the growing building & construction and manufacturing sector
*The increasing demand for protective apparel in the medical and industrial sector of North America and Europe is anticipated to boost future market growth in this region. Major companies identified in the market include Argotec LLC., Arkema, Clopay Plastics, Fatra, a.s., Kimberley-Clark, and Nitto Denko Corporation among others.

As per MarketsandMarkets, the global market size of breathable films, which was US$2.10 bln in 2015, is projected to reach US$3.21 bln by 2021, at a CAGR of 7.5% between 2016 and 2021. Increasing demand for premium hygiene products in developing countries along with rising per capita GDP, high birth rate, and rising awareness regarding health & hygiene are the factors driving the breathable films market during the forecast period. Hygiene accounted for the maximum share of the market, in terms of value as well as volume, in 2015. Breathable films are used in disposable baby diapers, disposable sanitary napkins, and disposable incontinency adult diapers. These films are used as backsheet materials which provide improved comfort, better skin breathability, and help reduce skin rashes and sores. High birth rate is the major factor driving the baby diapers market, whereas increasing ageing population is fueling the adult diapers market growth. The increasing demand for premium diapers will drive the breathable films market during the forecast period. Polyethylene breathable films account for the maximum share, in terms of value, of the overall market due to its excellent customizability and mechanical properties. There is rising demand for high performance and efficient breathable films, which is expected to drive the market for this segment.
Asia-Pacific is the prime market for breathable films, globally. The region accounted for the maximum share of the breathable films market in 2015. Asia-Pacific is also projected to register the highest CAGR between 2016 and 2021, backed by the increasing demand from the rapidly emerging economies of the region. North America is expected to maintain its position during the forecast period. The U.S. and Canada have higher percentage of old age population than Mexico, whereas Mexico has the highest birth rate in North America. So, the former two will be driving the breathable films market in adult diapers, while Mexico  will be driving the breathable films market in baby diapers. High investments from manufacturers and capacity expansion in new markets will be the growth strategies for market dominance.
The major players covered in the report are Clopay Plastic Products Company (U.S.), RKW Group (Germany), Mitsui Chemicals Incorporation (Japan), Toray Industries Inc. (Japan), Covestro (Germany), Nitto Denko Corporation (Japan), Fatra A.S. (Czech Republic), Arkema SA (France), Celanese Corporation (U.S.), and Trioplast Industrier AB (Sweden) among others.