Increasing Use in Paper and Packaging Applications
Western Europe’s sizing agents market, coupled with the thickening agents market, has experienced sustained momentum from the revitalized paper and packaging industry in Western Europe. The countries in Western Europe, including Germany, France, and the Netherlands, are witnessing growth in the sustainable paper and packaging industry, driven by the need for sustainability in the wake of EU regulations on recyclability and biodegradability of the products. Sizing agents, both synthetic and bio-based, are being specified in the region to improve the water-resistance and printability of papers, which are used in food packaging, boxes, and labels, among others. For instance, the French paper and packaging industry has been witnessing year-on-year growth in the demand for cationic starch sizing agents and modified cellulose thickeners to address the need for sustainability in the products while ensuring durability.
In Germany, where e-commerce packaging continues to drive a strong market for packaging materials, manufacturers are also working to improve the mechanical strength of paperboard using specially formulated sizing agents. The use of mono-material packaging has also seen a greater focus on thickeners with variable coating rheology, allowing for a smoother coating process without sacrificing recyclability. This has been particularly true in mid-sized converters in Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia, where there is a large concentration of paper production capacity.
In terms of other types of paper, eco-friendly pouches used by food and personal care brands throughout Western Europe have also seen a niche market emerge for thickeners used in surface treatments. Italian and Spanish converters have also adopted new thickener formulations to improve adhesive performance and reduce defect rates in packaging production. Overall, the combination of sustainability pressures and recycled fiber use has expanded the scope for sizing and thickening agents, ensuring a positive outlook for the Western Europe market through 2030.
Increasing Focus on Lightweight and Durable Textiles
The focus on light weight and high-performance materials in the Western European textile industry is another important factor for the sizing and thickening agents market. The textile industries in Portugal, Italy, and the UK are increasingly using advanced sizing agents to improve warp yarn strength and reduce yarn breaks during high-speed weaving of technical textiles, sportswear, and automotive materials. With consumers demanding comfort and durability, manufacturers are increasingly relying on innovative materials from the polymeric and bio-based thickeners portfolio, providing precise rheological control in slashing, sizing, and finishing processes.
In the country’s pioneering industry in technical textiles, the need for thickeners that can facilitate the uniform coating of micro-fibrous structures has been increasing, particularly in the manufacturing of protective gear and medical textile products. Meanwhile, in the Italian industry producing fashion textiles, sizing agents are becoming the focus of textile manufacturers, particularly in the development of products that can improve the drapability of the fabric while ensuring the uniformity of color acceptance during the dyeing process. The simultaneous need for these two types of textile chemicals has led to the increasing use of natural polymers, which are aligned with the region’s sustainability drive.
In the UK, the country’s apparel finishing industry has been witnessing the increasing use of thickeners in the digital printing process, particularly in the formulation of screen printing inks, which are designed to ensure the durability and color intensity of the printed designs on the fabric, particularly in the textile products of the country’s fashion industry. In Western Europe, the textile industry has been witnessing the increasing need for sizing agents, particularly in the region’s textile products, which are designed to ensure the sustainability of the environment, creating a market that is ready for diversification in textile end use.
