Sponge & Scouring Pads Market Analysis Report By Product, By Raw Material, By Application, By End Use, By Region And Segment Forecasts From 2019 To 2025

Industry Insights

The global sponge & scouring pads market size was valued at USD 4.8 billion in the year 2018. Rising demand for suitable cleaning pads to clean different types of cooking appliances such as heavy and lightly soiled objects is a key driver to boost the market growth. In addition, these pads are more convenient than metal sponges, steel wool, and scrapers owing to excellent performance in terms of cleaning the objects without scratches. These pads are mostly made of non-rusting metals that are very safe to use on my naked hands. Furthermore, these pads do not damage the cooking surface and are easy to rinse after usage.

Media and advertisements play an important role to create awareness of hygiene and cleanliness among the common mass. This factor is anticipated to shift focus towards keeping sparkling, shining, and clean the regular utensils and cookware. To strengthen the cleanliness along with a sponge and scouring pads, the manufacturers are launching bars and gels in the market. Additionally, manufacturers such as Henkle, Uniliver, and 3M are offering combo packs of souring pads and cleaning liquids in the same proposition. Thus, the above trends are anticipated to influence the penetration of these pads among consumers.

The increasing popularity of quick-service restaurants and dine-out across the globe due to the rising trend to go for an outing and during the weekend is projected to increase the demand for scouring pads to clean cookware in the kitchen. Further, the growth of the tourism industry in several countries such as India, Australia, Shri Lanka, and China is projected to increase the number of restaurants and hotels, which is projected to augment the demand for scouring pads.

Several promotional activities including advertisements and campaigns by industry players are projected to increase awareness about scouring pads among consumers. Moreover, increasing demand for advanced cookware like non-stick utensils across the globe has increased the importance of different types of scrubbing pads while buying for particular vessels.

Product Insights

By product, the sponge and scouring pads market is fragmented into light-duty, heavy-duty, extra-heavy-duty, and medium-duty. In 2018, the heavy-duty product held the largest market share of over 30.0%. This product is mostly used to remove encrusted soil and grime from the cooking and kitchen equipment. Many complicated recipes that take a long time to cook have gained popularity across the world. While cooking such recipes including Italian food, wild meat, lasagna, and biryani that need an average cooking time of around six hours and maximum time can be extended to 24 hours, resulting in greasy and oily cookware. Hence, this equipment requires heavy-duty scouring pads to clean dirt and tough stains. In addition, these heavy-duty pads play an important role in cleaning pipework, and maintenance of railing and equipment.

The extra heavy-duty scouring pads are projected to grow with the highest CAGR of more than 3.0% from 2019 to 2025. This product is highly beneficial to clean extreme dirt of hot plates, griddles, fryers & filter systems, and charbroilers, exhaust hood, and oven. These pads are majorly used in commercial places like eateries and restaurants, which are projected to drive segment growth in the next few years.

Application Insights

Application-wise, the market is fragmented into slabs & sinks, kitchen utensils, and others. Kitchen utensils held a market share of 55.0%, in 2018. These utensils are made of glass, iron, steel, bone china, stone, and other materials. Each material has a different tendency to react with cleaning soaps and dirt. Material like bone china removes the dirt easily without scrubbing. However, utensils made of iron and steel are needed to clean with extra heavy-duty pads to remove oil and grease.

Slabs & sinks are projected to register the highest CAGR of more than 2.7% from 2019 to 2025. These surfaces are made by using different raw materials including glass, stainless steel, glass, granite, and wood. In addition, sinks and slabs require different types of scouring pads depends on their resistance to grease, scratch, and stain. The sinks, as well as slabs, are very important objects in modular kitchens and their maintenance becomes an important factor in households, thereby expected to spur the product demand for this application.

End-Use Insights

The end-user segment is fragmented into household and commercial. In 2018, the commercial segment held the largest market share of more than 55.0%. Hospitals, restaurants, hotels, and other public services require more cleaning, which is projected to boost the segment growth. Moreover, the growing number of restaurants due to the rising importance of dine-out culture and social gathering among working professionals is projected to increase the demand for this product in the commercial sector.

The household segment is projected to grow with the highest CAGR of 2.7% from 2019 to 2025. The increasing influence of advertisement and media plays a vital role to make people aware of several cleaning processes. This factor is driving domestic users to switch towards sponge & scouring pads over conventional scrubbing materials.

Raw Material Insights

In the sponge & scouring pads market, the raw material segment is divided into steel and polymer. In 2018, the steel segment held the largest market share of over 60.0%. Steel-based scouring pads have come first in the market and created in-depth penetration. The flexible threads of steel pads enable clean rigid dirt, burnt stains, oily and baked surfaces. Steel scouring pads are majorly used in regular eateries and restaurants. The growing popularity of deep-fried food, barbeque, and roast increased the demand for intensive cleaning which is anticipated to further drive the growth of this segment. Steel pads help to get rid of tough dirt and leave the surface clean.

Polymers-infused scouring pads are projected to grow at the highest CAGR of 2.6% during the forecast period. This product is comparatively cheaper than other scouring pads. Moreover, these pads are manufactured according to cleaning surfaces like bone china, wood, steel, glass, and ceramic. In addition, these scouring pads are more popular among women, as they are more conscious to clean cookware dirt. Thus, the above factors are projected to drive the segment growth from 2019 to 2025.

Regional Insights

In 2018, North America held the largest market share of over 35.0%. The growing number of restaurants in Canada and the U.S. is raising the importance of hygiene and cleanliness. In addition, some recipes like lamb and beef take 24 hours to be cooked that leaves tough stains on cookware. Hence, in the case of such stains, the scouring pads are considered a necessary tool to clean cookware.

Asia Pacific is projected to grow with the highest CAGR of over 3.7% over the forecast period. The working-class population has been increasing in countries such as Bangladesh, China, Pakistan, and India, which is anticipated to play a key role to expand the demand for scouring pads for cleaning purposes.

Sponge & Scouring Pads Market Share Insights

The major companies operating in this market are O-Cedar; The Crown Choice; Sun 'n' Shine Industries; Amway; Weiman Products, LLC.; Kiwi-Scourers; H. M. INDUSTRIES; Scrub-It;  Unilever; and Bio90 Manufacturing Canada Inc. Selling a combo pack of scouring pads and cleaning liquids is a common trend adopted by manufacturers to cater to more customer base. In addition, several manufacturers are produce cleaning gel along with their own scouring pads. For example, 3M offers a wide range of cleaning gels for different surfaces along with a similar range of scrubbing pads to complement the objects.

Report Scope 

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels, and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2015 to 2025. For the purpose of this study, Million Insights has segmented the global sponge & scouring pads market report based on product, raw material, application, end-use, and region:

• Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2025)
    • Light Duty
    • Heavy Duty
    • Medium Duty
    • Extra Heavy Duty

• Raw Material Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2025)
    • Steel
    • Polymer

• Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2025)
    • Slabs & Sinks
    • Kitchen Utensils
    • Others

• End-Use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2025)
    • Household
    • Commercial

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2025)
    • North America
        • U.S.
    • Europe
        • Germany
        • U.K.
    • the Asia Pacific
        • China
        • India
    • Central & South America
        • Brazil
    • Middle East & Africa
        • South Africa