Smart Mask Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Product Type (Respirators, Surgical Masks, Anti-pollution Masks, Face Shields), By Distribution Channel (Hypermarkets & Supermarkets, Pharmacy Stores, Online Stores, Others), By End-User (Hospitals & Clinics, Households, Industries, Others) And Regional Forecast, 2024-2032

Masks are the most essential products that can block dust and other unwanted particles to enter into the respiratory system of a user by completely covering up the face. Increasing awareness regarding hygiene & personal care across the global population is largely driving the growth of the market. Smart masks vary based on their design and the capability of blocking unwanted particles. Companies are constantly focusing on developing such innovative smart masks to provide an effective viral & dust protection solution to the users. For instance, in July 2020, UAE based mask maker company, Viromasks developed a reusable face mask, embedded with intelligent textile technology to eliminate bacteria and viruses that come in contact with the skin surface.               

Nowadays, manufacturers are continuously producing the bulk number of masks in order to avoid the loss of orders from the various targeted regions. Hence, they are focusing on expanding their production facilities in order to meet such strong consumer demand. For instance, by the end of March 2020, Honeywell International Inc. has set up a new face mask manufacturing facility at the Smithfield, Rhode Island U.S. to cater to the strong demand of the N95 masks.

The uncertain occurrence of pandemic diseases such as COVID-19 is prominently driving the consumer demand for personal protection products and equipment which thereby fuel the market growth. Additionally, government campaigns & promotions regarding wearing the masks or protective covers for the COVID-19 infection control purposes has also skyrocketed the consumption of the smart masks. For instance, in July 2020, the government of New York launched an ad of a contest to share a video of wearing a mask. Higher efficiency in blocking virus & bacteria, longer durability & comfort are some of the benefits of smart masks that attract the users to purchase them over normal clothing masks. This has added impetus to the market growth.

Moreover, growing urbanization, as well as industrialization rate across the world, results in the consequences of the higher air pollution levels. This has resulted in the higher throat infection problems among children & the aged population which has generated the need of wearing the anti-pollution masks among them. Besides this, rising infrastructural facilities related to the hospitals & clinics across the globe are further driving the demand for the surgical & respirator masks. According to the report ‘Rural Health Statistics’, published by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare Statistics Division, Government of India, the number of health & wellness sub-centres in rural India has increased to 157,411 in 2019 up from 146,026 in 2005.

However, the easy availability of low-cost masks, as well as substitute products such as tissues, handkerchiefs, and others, are anticipated to restrain the market growth.

Key Players Covered:

The key players associated with the global smart mask market are, The 3M Company, Honeywell International Inc., Louis M. Gerson Company, Inc., Kimberly Clark Corporation, Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc., Essity AB, BYD.care, Shanghai Dasheng Health Products Manufacture Company Ltd., MSA, BD, and many others.

The global smart mask market is segmented based on product type, distribution channel, end-user, and geography. Based on the product type market is segmented into respirators, surgical masks, anti-pollution masks, and face shields. Respirators segment is projected to hold a major share of the market as they are the most efficient masks in infiltrating the airborne viruses & bacteria. Additionally, they are highly essential in creating a strong barrier against the virus to get inside the mask by completely sealing the nose and mouth.

Based on the distribution channel, the market is segmented into hypermarkets & supermarkets, pharmacy stores, online stores, and others. Pharmacy stores are expected to hold a major share of the market owing to the wide availability of such different types of smart masks in these stores. Additionally, the presence of the most trusted medicine and related product at such pharmacy stores over the other stores results in the consumer preference towards purchasing masks from these stores.

On the basis of the end-user, the global smart mask market is segmented into hospitals & clinics, households, industries, and others. Hospitals & Clinics segment is anticipated to exhibit a major share of the market owing to the large usage of the branded and high-quality smart masks by the doctors & other staff. According to the data published by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI), as of April 2020, the government of Japan has distributed 45 million surgical masks to the overall hospitals in Japan.

Additionally, COVID-19 infected patients are mostly located in the hospitals for their treatment purposes hence, it is highly essential for wearing the smart masks by the doctors & other staff for infection prevention purposes.

Regional Analysis:

By geography, the global smart masks market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, and Middle East & Africa.

North America region is expected to hold a major share of the market owing to a large number of COVID-19 infected patients in the countries such as the United States and Canada which results in the large consumption of the smart masks for infection control purposes in the region. According to the data published by the World Health Organisation (WHO), as of July 2020, there is nearly 4.72 million number of COVID-19 infected cases in the United States of America.

Additionally, large consumer healthcare spending including the buying of the various personal protection products such as hand sanitizers, face masks, gloves, etc. results in the larger revenues from these products from the region. According to the data published by the Centres for Medicare & Medicaid Services, U.S. healthcare spending grew by 4.6% in 2018 and estimated to USD 11,172 per person.

Asia Pacific region is projected to grow at a faster rate for the global smart masks market owing to the increasing awareness regarding wearing a mask and usage of hand sanitizers, gloves, and other products for infection prevention purposes. For instance, in June 2020, NITI Aayog in partnership with the Bills and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), launched a behavioral change campaign of ‘Navigating a New Normal’ to spread awareness and to promote the usage of the face masks among the population in India.

Additionally, the growing production rate of the smart face masks in countries such as China and India have largely supported the consumption of such products in the region. According to the article ‘China Advances Production Line to Meet Surging Face Masks Demand’, published by CGTN news on 5th March 2020, China has increased the production rate of the face masks 12 times in the month of February to meet 116 million units of masks production by the end of February 2020.

Segmentation

Key Industry Developments:

• In February 2020, Hawkeye Systems Inc., signed a letter of intent with the Arizona Asia Pacific Trade Consulting Inc., a major producer of the protective smart masks in Taiwan to enable the faster production rate of the custom smart masks in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.


• In August 2020, donut robotics, a Japanese robotics start-up developed a voice command activated smart mask in which voice-to-text translation is possible in the eight languages including Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Spanish, and French. The receiver can get the voice translated text message on his mobile connected to the mask through Bluetooth.