Optical Brighteners Market Trends

Growth Drivers

• Rising usage of product in the paper industry: Most of the manufacturers add optical brightening agents to make paper brighter. It works as an ultraviolet light absorbent to further reduce the yellowing process. During the process of paper recycling, optical brighteners are used to the pulp to make the final recycled paper bright. According to the American Forest and Paper Association in 2023, 46 million tons of paper were recycled in the U.S. There is rising emphasis on paper recycling to mitigate the environmental impact, subsequently leading to increased demand for optical brighteners.
• Increased use in paints: Optical fibers or fluorescent whitening agents are used in varnishes and paints to increase the degree of whiteness in combination with dyes. Optical brighteners are preferred due to their high solubility and good dispersibility. According to the American Coatings Association in 2023, Japan (USD 50 million) and South Korea (USD 48 million) were among the top 5 export markets for the U.S. coating and paint products. The entrepreneurs in these developed economies are consuming optical brighteners for making state-of-the-art paint products.
• Wide spreading cosmetics industry: Optical brighteners are used in make-up products to reduce the appearance of dark circles and frown lines on the skin. The penetration of the internet and mushrooming adoption of the smartphone is making people stare at mobile phones for a longer time. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, currently teenagers spend up to 9 hours on screens, causing dark circles. Thereupon, people are applying cosmetics amalgamated with optical brighteners to conceal dark patches on their skin.

Challenges

• Environmental concerns: Toxicity issues with optical brighteners are persistent and can negatively impact the environment. For instance, Disodium Distyrylbiphenyl Disufonate is considered to be severely toxic to aquatic life.
• Adverse health implications: These products are permeable through fabrics and make the user exposed to chemicals. Also, these products are non-biodegradable and it is quite likely that humans and animals may consume them through tap water.