Polyglycolic Acid Market Analysis & Overview

The Polyglycolic Acid Market size was USD 5.72 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 12.01 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 9.72% over the forecast period of 2025-2032.

Polyglycolic acid market analysis highlights that increasing utilization in medical applications is a key driver of market growth. The growing use in medical applications is one of the most significant drivers of the upsurge in the polyglycolic acid industry. The increase in demand is attributed to the fact that PGA is biodegradable, has mechanical strength, and biocompatibility, which makes it suitable for several medical applications. This property makes it a common choice for absorbable surgical sutures, tissue engineering scaffolds, and drug delivery systems, in which the material degrades inside the body without any detrimental effects. The increasing number of surgical procedures, aging population, and the increasing polyglycolic acid market trends toward minimally invasive procedures will be the continuing drivers of bioresorbable polymers, predominantly composed of polyglycolic acid (PGA).

The number of tonnes of PGA in medical applications is projected to be 38,334.1 tonnes demanded by 2031, highlighting its increasing significance within healthcare. The increase in surgical procedures, along with the rising demand for bioresorbable materials in the medical sector, underlines this trend.

PGA has been known to be capable of medical device use in the U.S. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has registered absorbable sutures for general soft tissue approximation and ligation. All these factors together facilitate the accelerated expansion of the polyglycolic acid market, especially in terms of its medical applications.

Polyglycolic Acid Market Dynamics:

Drivers:

• Growing Packaging Industry Drives the Market Growth

The rising packaging industry is one of the major factors driving the growth of the polyglycolic acid (PGA) market, as there is an increased need for biodegradable and high-performance packaging solutions. With great gas barrier, biodegradability, and strength, it is a promising substitute for petroleum-based plastics, especially in packaging areas, including food, pharmaceutical products, and industrial packaging. Driven by mounting pressure from regulators and consumers to reduce plastic waste and improve ecological responsibility, industries are increasingly moving toward bio-based materials, including PGA, to reach their sustainability targets. Additionally, it retains the freshness of the products, which includes multiple benefits, such as helps to increase the shelf life of the food products, which is propelling its polyglycolic acid market growth.

In 2024, Jindal Poly Films announced a fresh USD 84.34 million investment to expand its Nashik facility. New BOPP, PET, and CPP film lines are included in the expansion, which will be used to strengthen its flexible packaging business.

Restraints:

•   Limited Commercial Availability May Hamper Market Growth

The fact that polyglycolic acid (PGA) is not available commercially to a limited extent may be a major drawback for its market growth in these end-use industries, especially when the demand for PGA suture is increasing for medical applications, packaging, and the oil & gas industry. At present, the production of PGA happens to be bottlenecked amongst a couple of key manufacturers that possess proprietary technologies and very high capital requirements. The limited availability prohibits entry for smaller players and emerging markets, reducing the speed of adoption. On top of that, a lack of local manufacturing capacity leads to some regions being reliant on imports, resulting in higher costs and longer lead times due to global distribution variability.

Opportunities:

• Innovation in Bio-based PGA Production Creates Opportunities in the Market

The production process of bio-based PGA opens major opportunities for the polyglycolic acid (PGA) market by overcoming some important barriers, including high production cost and environmental sustainability. Such high dependency on high-energy-consuming fossil fuel feedstocks and processes in traditional PGA synthesis greatly hinders its industrial scalability and environmental friendliness. But breakthroughs in green chemistry and biotechnology are accelerating low-cost, bio-based production from renewable raw materials, including sugar-based feedstocks and bacterial fermentation. This not only minimizes the carbon footprint attributed to the manufacturing of PGAs, but is also in line with the global sustainability targets and the growing consumer preference for biodegradable and non-toxic materials.

In January 2025, the U.S. Department of Commerce awarded USD 1.4 billion in final awards under the CHIPS National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program (NAPMP). The goal is to strengthen U.S. leadership in advanced packaging and to enable the shift of technologies from the lab to domestic end manufacturing. Such investments are evidence of the commitment of the government to advancing packaging technologies and strengthening the international competitiveness of the industry.

Polyglycolic Acid Market Segmentation Analysis:

By Derivatives

Fibers held the largest Polyglycolic Acid market share, around 48%, in 2024 owing to its large application in the medical and textile industries, wherein the unique physical properties of PGA give excellent comparative advantages. They are best known for their high strength, biodegradability, and biocompatibility, which makes PGA fibers attractive for surgical sutures, tissue engineering scaffold applications, and other biomedical devices, where safe absorption into the body is desired. Further, the inclination of the population toward green and sustainable fibers in wrapping textiles and nonwoven products is anticipated to drive the industry demand during the forecast period, supported by growing environmental awareness and regulatory backing for biodegradable substitutes.

Films held a significant polyglycolic acid market share, as they are increasingly becoming the preferred choice for biodegradable packaging and medical applications. On the other hand, the use of PGA films provides good impermeability for gases and moisture, making them highly suitable for food packaging, which needs to have a long shelf life and reduced environmental impact. Growing global focus on sustainable packaging solutions and government regulations to ban traditional plastics have been the driving force for the biodegradable films market, such as PGA.

By End-use Industry

Medical held the largest market share, around 32%, in 2024. The growth is owing to the excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability of this polymer and making it suitable to be used in several medical applications. Due to its biocompatibility, PGA is extensively used in surgical sutures, tissue engineering scaffolds, and implantable devices that degrade without causing adverse reactions in the body and do not require surgical removal. Chronic conditions are more common, more operations are being done globally, and a higher requirement for anti-invasive surgery, all of which have noticeably increased the usage of other PGA-based medicals. In addition, technological advancements in medical equipment and treatment, and continuous healthcare system consolidations in developing countries, will also fuel further growth.

Packaging holds a significant market share in the polyglycolic acid market due to environmental concerns and regulations tightening globally. Industries are increasingly on the lookout for alternatives to conventional plastics that contribute to pollution and end up in landfills. Due to the excellent biodegradability of poly (glycolic acid) (PGA) and its high mechanical and barrier properties, it is considered a promising material used for packaging applications, especially for cases where the safety and shelf life of the product have to be considered, such as food and pharmaceuticals. Moreover, growing consumer inclination toward biodegradable and compostable packaging has led manufacturers to reduce reliance on conventional materials and utilize PGA films and containers.

Polyglycolic Acid Market Regional Outlook:

North America held the largest market share, around 42.35%, in 2024. The region has an established healthcare infrastructure along with leading medical device manufacturers that widely use PGA for surgical sutures, implants, and tissue engineering applications. In addition, increasing consumer awareness toward biodegradable materials and stringent government regulations implemented to reduce plastic pollution have increased the usage of biodegradable materials, such as PGA, in packaging and other related industries. North America is characterized by a high level of research and development investments, along with favorable policies to stimulate the use of sustainable raw materials, which in turn have boosted innovation and market penetration.

The U.S Polyglycolic Acid market size was USD 1.79 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 3.67 billion by 2032 and grow at a CAGR of 9.39% over the forecast period of 2025-2032. The growth is driven by its high level of healthcare infrastructure, an increased prevalence of novel medical technologies, and top priority for sustainability in major industries. The large number of surgeries and the upward trend of minimally invasive procedures, a huge demand for PGA material finds its way among surgeons, which in turn promotes the development of a well-developed medical device industry in the country, and polyglycolic acid companies extensively use PGA for surgical sutures, implants, and tissue engineering.

In 2023, Teleflex Incorporated and Gore & Associates partnered with Teleflex to add Gore's GORE SEAMGUARD Bioabsorbable Staple Line Reinforcement material to Teleflex's Titan SGS Powered Stapling Device. The focus of this collaboration is to further improve surgical outcomes by enabling better protection of tissue during stapling.

Asia Pacific Polyglycolic Acid market held a significant market share and is the fastest-growing segment in the forecast period owing to fast industrialization in the region, expanding healthcare infrastructure, and rising awareness regarding environmental benefits. Growing end-user industries, such as China, Japan, and India are witnessing a boost in demand for biodegradable polymers owing to the rapid growth of medical operations, especially surgical procedures taking place across these countries, where PGA is extensively used for sutures and implants. Additionally, the region has witnessed a significant rise in the packaging industry, which is increasingly using sustainable materials to conform to strict government regulations for limiting plastic waste and pollution.

In 2023, Kureha Corporation plans to expand the production of its PGA in Japan, to satisfy increasing interest in biodegradable material for applications related to both medical as well as packaging products.

Europe held a significant market share in the forecast period. It is owing to the high focus on sustainability in Europe, coupled with the presence of sophisticated healthcare infrastructure and stringent environmental regulations. Top pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers are located in the region, which readily uses biodegradable polymers such as PGA in their products, especially in surgical sutures and tissue engineering. In addition, ICON has brought a variety of plastic-reducing biobased materials to the market, and the goal of lowering plastic waste and advancing circular economy-based solutions has been prevalent in Europe, where a relatively large number of companies are taking up the plastic-reducing packaged model.

Key Players:

The key players in the market are Kureha Corporation, Evonik Industries AG, Corbion N.V., BMG Incorporated, Shenzhen Polymtek Biomaterial Co. Ltd., Foryou Medical, Meta Biomed, Huizhou Foryou Medical Devices Co. Ltd., Teleflex Incorporated, and Meril Life Sciences.

Recent Developments:

• In 2023, PureTech Scientific LLC acquired the glycolic acid business from The Chemours Company. The acquisition is aligned with PureTech's strategy to broaden its product offering and enhance its position in the specialty chemicals industry.

• In 2023, Ethicon Inc. just got clearance from NICE Medical Technologies Guidelines for its antibacterial-safe sutures, the first-ever of their kind in the UK to be cleared for use by the UK National Health Service.