Disposable Innerwear Market Assessment, By Type [Womenswear, Menswear], By Material [Cotton, Paper, Polyester, Others], By End-user [Commercial, Individual Users], By Distribution Channel [Online, Offline], By Region, Opportunities and Forecast, 2017-2031

Disposable Innerwear Market Assessment, By Type [Womenswear, Menswear], By Material [Cotton, Paper, Polyester, Others], By End-user [Commercial, Individual Users], By Distribution Channel [Online, Offline], By Region, Opportunities and Forecast, 2017-2031F

Global disposable innerwear market is projected to witness a CAGR of 5.55% during the forecast period 2024-2031, growing from USD 5.06 billion in 2023 to USD 7.8 billion in 2031. Factors such as the need for clean and hygienic innerwear in different sectors such as hospitality, healthcare, spas and salons, rising cases of urinary incontinence patients, convenience during traveling, and postpartum recovery are expected to drive market growth.

Disposable innerwear ensures convenience to consumers when laundry services are either impractical or unavailable, such as during outdoor travels and services such as spas. This convenience factor extends to various industries, including hospitality where the hotels can enrich their guests' experience by providing disposable innerwear as a part of their amenities. In the healthcare industry, they are required for surgeries and medical testing as the risk of spreading the infection among patients is high. Furthermore, in spas and salons, the treatment could lead to the staining of consumers’ clothes.

Moreover, ultra-absorbent, rapid dry, and leakproof disposable underwear are gaining popularity in the market to cater to the problem of urinary incontinence. For instance, in September 2022, Attindas Hygiene Partners introduced its latest adult disposable incontinence underwear product in North America. The product provides 100 percent leak-free protection to consumers. The product has a thin, contoured center that contains channels that dry quickly.

Key players are innovating products and catering to both men and women to expand their consumer base. For instance, in May 2023, Friends Adult Diapers launched extra thin absorbent disposable underpants, UltraThinz for both men and women. UltraThinz is mainly designed to keep in mind the consumers who face the issue of incontinence due to prostate issues, obesity, and postpartum.

Womenswear Dominating the Market

Womenswear dominates the disposable innerwear industry due to its frequent usage. For example, during postpartum recovery and menstruation, women are required to change their pads frequently. Moreover, the pads result in leakages, which leads to the need for disposable underwear. Thus, the market for women's hygiene products is larger than that of men because of their specific needs for menstruation and personal hygiene.

Additionally, women require disposable innerwear while undergoing medical tests such as chest x-rays, pelvic exams, gynecological procedures, fertility testing such as transvaginal ultrasound and cervical mucus analysis, breast cancer treatments, tests at dermatologists or OBGYNs and radiation clinics, and some other medical tests.

In April 2023, Ohhs won a patent for its disposable underwear for women, which had been developed from Bamboo and other sustainable fabrics. The product, which has a tissue-like material for menstruation, camping, and spas, has been designed especially for women and is known for its eco-friendly and hygienic benefits.

In September 2022, Heart Snug announced the launch of the world’s first disposable and adjustable medical bra. The main aim behind the development of the product was to help women in X-ray testing, thus, the product is x-ray safe and CA Prop 65 complaint.

Disposable Underwear for Postpartum Recovery Acting as a Catalyst

Disposable underwear is required during postpartum recovery to absorb excessive blood flow. Thus, it helps reduce the risk of leaks and stains on clothes and helps manage bleeding effectively. Moreover, during postpartum, women are at high risk of infection; thus, disposable underwear ensures the maintenance of hygiene without the need to wash and reuse it.

In November 2023, Momcozy announced the launch of Momcozy Postpartum Recovery Kit, to help women provide products for an effortless postpartum recovery. The kit consists of 12 disposables having a built-in-super absorbent pad and leaf-proof edges, to provide a stress-free experience to the consumers.

Additionally, certain postpartum disposable inner wears provide extra support to the abdominal area, ensuring the surgery is covered and providing comfort to the consumers. They are also designed with soft and breathable material and are allergen-free, keeping the women at ease during the recovery.

In April 2022, Frida announced the launch of Frida Mom C-Section Recovery, its latest line-up, for women for their post-op recovery. The lineup included C-section disposable underwear which covers the incision with stretchy and mesh-free wear.

Growth in the Trend of Spas and Salons

Disposable innerwear is gaining popularity in spa and salon services because it allows consumers to receive hygienic and comfortable service. Using fresh disposable innerwear minimizes the risk of spreading bacteria from one consumer to another.

Moreover, the disposable innerwear is designed with soft and lightweight materials, ensuring the consumers' comfort during the salon and spa treatments. Disposable innerwear also eliminates the requirement of washing clients' used innerwear after the completion of the service, simplifying the process for both the salon staff and the consumers. Additionally, using disposable innerwear does not lead to the staining of the consumer’s clothing during the process and ensures a clean and comfortable experience.

As per the study conducted by the International Spa Association (ISPA) of the United States in 2023, it was found that the spa industry revenue had seen a hike, amounting to USD 20.1 billion which was an 11 percent increase since 2021. Moreover, 67 percent of the United States spas had vacancies for employees since they witnessed a surge in the demand for spa services by consumers.

Rise in Working Population Driving the Market

Disposable innerwear is a practical solution for the working population across various industries for several reasons. The working population is required to travel very frequently, and disposable innerwear acts as a convenient and time-efficient solution since it eliminates the need for laundering, ensuring stress-free travel even to locations where there is a lack of access to clean water or laundry services that are costly or limited.

Additionally, the working population significantly impacts the demand for spa and salon services, because of their rising needs for relaxation, self-care, and rejuvenation from their busy professional lives. The long working hours, stress, and pressure associated with professional life and limited physical activity can lead to fatigue, muscle stiffness, and posture-related issues. This drives the demand for spa treatments to relieve stress, improve blood circulation, and promote relaxation. Disposable innerwear is necessary for spa and salon treatments as it ensures the personal hygiene of the consumers, preventing the spread of bacteria or spoilage of clothes. Thus, the rising demand for disposable innerwear can be witnessed through the rising demand for spa and salon treatments in the working class.

As per the report of the World Bank, the total global working population stood at 3.55 billion in 2022.

Future Market Scenario (2024–2031F)

The rising trend of hypoallergenic, sustainable, natural, and clean products is witnessing strong growth among environmentally conscious consumers. The rising preference for eco-friendly disposable innerwear is expected to drive market growth.

Moreover, in recent trends, female consumers are promoting the green period, which extends the usage of sustainable and biodegradable disposable period panties. As per the data given by World Bank, in May 2022, in one day, over 300 million women menstruate globally. Additionally, around 500 million women lack access to menstrual products worldwide. Thus, with the rising need of females for proper menstrual hygiene management, biodegradable disposable panties will also witness an increase in demand, expanding the opportunities for the key players to innovate and launch more technologically advanced disposable innerwear, fostering the growth of the market in the forecast period.

Key Players Landscape and Outlook

Key players in the market are helping in the growth by focusing on continuous product innovation, unique packaging, and strategic marketing. The manufacturers are actively expanding their product portfolio, expanding the consumer base, and catering to their evolving needs.

A recent trend has been witnessed in the key players in manufacturing disposable innerwear using recycled materials which are light on the environment and are biodegradable. Additionally, it has been observed that the key players are providing products for the disabled population as well as innovating their products and packaging to cater to them.

For instance, in April 2023, Always Discreet announced its partnership with NaviLens to cater the partially sighted consumers. The Procter & Gamble Company’s brand launched its disposable underwear in brand new packaging consisting of codes to expand the accessibility of the product for partially sighted and blind consumers. These codes include all the necessary packaging information along with the usage and disposal instructions.