Average growth of specialty biocides used in disinfectants and sanitisers in industrial, institutional and household cleaners was 2.9% in 2008, which exceeded growth of the overall biocide industry in the US (downplayed due to recession to 1%), according to the latest research Specialty Biocides 2008: A Global Series of Regional Market Analyses, from worldwide consulting and research firm Kline & Company.

In 2008, the US specialty biocide market was just under $2.0 billion; with market volumes approaching 600 million lbs. Water treatment is the leading application group in the US, with halogenated biocides the leading category due to significant consumption within water treatment. The industrial, institutional and household cleaning products industry consumed around $130 million of specialty biocides in 2008.

The green trend is affecting customers of specialty biocides within the sector too. The importance of this trend has been acknowledged not only by such specialty companies as Method Home Products and Seventh Generation, Inc., but by major mainstream companies in the industry, signified, for example, by Clorox's launch of its new product line Green Works in January 2008, which are cleaners based on naturally derived ingredients.

Following the green cleaning trend, environmentally friendly biocides used in disinfectants and sanitisers are being preferred to other biocide formulations. Biocides which are highlighted as being environmentally friendly are those which break down quickly to non-polluting constituents with no potential to bioaccumulate.

"Although green cleaning products only comprise a small percentage of the total industrial, institutional and household cleaning products market, sustainability and environmental responsibility is where the industry is focused," says Anna Ibbotson, Industry Manager at Kline's Chemicals and Materials practice. "As there is currently no uniform industry definition for green, it creates a huge challenge for chemical suppliers to develop and then position their products to address this market movement."

Kline's Specialty Biocides 2008: A Global Series of Regional Market Analyses presents an overview of market developments and regulatory issues in each regional market and provides estimated consumption of biocides by volume and value according to end-use application, as well as a five-year outlook.

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