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10.6.4.4 Economic Information and Analysis

10.6.4.4 Economic Information and Analysis

Nanotechnology enabled products, still represent a very minor part of the total market of sports and outdoor textiles (around 1-2%). One reason that can explain the small contribution of nanotechnology in the final product, as mentioned before, is the increase of the final price. Some experts point out that the use of nanotechnology can increase the cost by 0.1 €/m2 of textile in the textile industry or by €2-3 euros per shoe.

Nano-enabled developments in textiles include developing new (nano) fibres and yarns or in the fabric or in the finishing. However, regarding the textile value chain, the advances in fabric finishes have contributed to the implementation of nanotechnology developments in textiles because the margin in the final steps of the textile value chain is higher than in the production of new nano-fibre where the prices are much more competitive. Some nanomanufacturers have identified the finishing and the textile product as a market opportunity and they are already selling their nanotechonology to such clients (Figure 4-4).

Figure 10.6.4.4 - Textile value chain for a shoe in the Sport/Outdoor sector

An example that clearly reflects the situation of nanotechnology in the sports and outdoor textile segment is the case of P2i and their Ion Mask. During 2009 the first products incorporating Ion Mask technology were released onto the market (around 0.5 million Hi-Tech shoes incorporating P2i’s plasma treatment are already on the market). However, in the past months the company has reached agreements with some of the world leading sports and outdoors brands (Adidas, Nike) to commercialise new products incorporating Ion Mask. These new agreements will result in a significant growth of the number of products on the market that incorporate P2i technology.

In figure 4-5 the different functionalities (resulting from the use of nanotechnology) available in the sports and outdoor segment are presented. The figure presents, qualitatively, the relative market penetration and the potential adoption of (market interest in) nanotechnology. The size of the bubble indicates, again qualitatively, the number of products in the market incorporating a specific feature. The figure reflects that there is a major consumer interest in products incorporating moisture management and hydrophobicity; however, the largest numbers of products possess these two functionalities so this may be expected.

Figure 10.6.4.5 - Market relevance of the nanotech functionalities in the sports and outdoor market

US companies were first to concentrate their efforts in the sports/outdoor sector but during the past 5 years the European sports and outdoors industry has rapidly evolved to allow it to compete with USA manufacturers. This has resulted in the creation of some new companies and the reorientation of already existing companies. In some cases these manufacturers are licensing their technologies to larger sports and outdoors companies, such as Nike, Adidas or VF.

In the case of Medical textiles the market penetration is significantly lower (less than 1% of the total market share). This market segment has a very high potential but nowadays the use of nanotechnology in this field is limited to nanosilver-enabled products (for example wound care products and other minor applications making use of antibacterial properties). The value chain for medical textiles is similar to that of sports/outdoors textiles; retailers deliver products for which the customer is willing to pay more than the sum of the cost activities in the value chain, that means that if the nanotechnology can be implemented in the later stage the cost of early stage activities will not be altered.

Figure 10.6.4.6 - Textile value chain in the medical sector