Ethylene Absorber Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global Ethylene Absorber Market is projected to expand from a valuation of USD 9.76 Billion in 2025 to USD 15.19 Billion by 2031, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 7.65%. These absorbers consist of specialized chemical formulations or devices engineered to remove ethylene gas from storage settings, thereby slowing the ripening process and curbing fresh produce spoilage. Key factors propelling this growth include a heightened global emphasis on reducing post-harvest food waste and the broadening of international supply chains, which require extended shelf life for perishables during lengthy logistical operations. These drivers are further bolstered by rising consumer insistence on the year-round availability of premium, preservative-free agricultural products.

A major obstacle hindering market progression is the substantial cost associated with implementing active packaging technologies, which poses difficulties for small-scale cultivators in cost-sensitive developing areas. Despite these financial hurdles, the sheer volume of international produce trade necessitates reliable preservation techniques to maintain commercial feasibility. Data from the Spanish Federation of Associations of Producers and Exporters of Fruits and Vegetables indicates that global fresh fruit and vegetable exports hit 148 million tonnes in 2024. This statistic highlights the vast magnitude of logistical activities that depend on ethylene management systems to preserve product quality from the harvest point to the retail destination.

Market Drivers

The swift expansion of distribution networks and cold chain logistics serves as a major driver for the ethylene absorber market. As supply chains lengthen to satisfy global consumption, maintaining the integrity of temperature-controlled environments is essential to reduce transit-related spoilage. Consequently, ethylene management is increasingly being incorporated into cold storage infrastructures to avert the buildup of ripening gases inside sealed refrigerated units, which can hasten decay even under low temperatures. According to an April 2025 report by the Global Cold Chain Alliance, the total temperature-controlled capacity managed by its members globally grew to 8.16 billion cubic feet, representing an increase of more than 10% over the prior year. This growth in infrastructure correlates directly with the increased utilization of absorption sachets and filtration units to protect high-value perishables during storage.

Concurrently, the rise in cross-border trade of fresh vegetables and fruits demands strong preservation measures to manage extended transit durations. Exporters are driven to adopt sophisticated ethylene absorption solutions to uphold product quality from origin to retail, especially for climacteric crops that emit substantial amounts of ethylene. As reported by AgroNews in November 2025, China experienced a 20% surge in fresh produce exports, reaching 13.4 million tons in 2024, emphasizing the immense logistical burden to inhibit ripening during international shipment. Additionally, the economic implications underscore the importance of these technologies; MP Logistics noted in February 2025 that Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable export turnover achieved a record USD 7.12 billion in 2024, illustrating the powerful financial motivation for traders to lower rejection rates via efficient ethylene control.

Market Challenges

The elevated cost of deploying active packaging technologies represents a substantial hurdle to the growth of the global ethylene absorber market, especially for small-scale farmers in developing nations. These producers generally work with narrow profit margins and lack the capital required to invest in high-end preservation systems. While managing ethylene is essential for prolonging shelf life, the initial cost of specialized scavenging films or sachets is frequently regarded as a prohibitive luxury rather than a standard operational necessity. As a result, this financial limitation restricts market adoption in agricultural centers where post-harvest losses are most acute but economic purchasing power is limited.

This financial strain is exacerbated by escalating general agricultural operational costs, which redirect resources away from investments in preservation. The Global Coalition of Fresh Produce reported that in 2024, the global fresh produce sector encountered a 30% rise in the costs of essential input materials and machinery relative to the previous year. Such rising expenses compel price-sensitive growers to favor fundamental logistical needs over product integrity solutions. This pattern directly impedes the uptake of ethylene absorbers, preventing the market from realizing its full growth potential in emerging economies.

Market Trends

The incorporation of ethylene scavengers into active packaging films marks a significant structural evolution in the market, transitioning from separate sachets to scavenging agents integrated directly into the polymer matrix of wrapping materials. This active packaging method mitigates safety risks linked to loose sachets, such as accidental ingestion, while optimizing packing workflows for high-volume produce exporters.

By embedding minerals like halloysite nanotubes or zeolites into the film layer, manufacturers facilitate consistent ethylene removal throughout the package headspace, greatly improving preservation efficacy for climacteric crops. The growing magnitude of this application is highlighted by the strength of its primary medium; FlexPack Voice reported in February 2025 that the U.S. flexible packaging industry generated an estimated $42.9 billion in annual sales in 2023, offering a substantial and expanding infrastructure for these integrated technologies.

At the same time, the market is undergoing a transition toward biodegradable and compostable scavenger materials, propelled by increasing regulatory mandates and consumer insistence on zero-waste packaging options. This trend necessitates a move away from traditional fossil-fuel-based plastics and synthetic scavengers toward organic formulations made from starch, cellulose, or natural clays that degrade without leaving harmful residues. This shift represents a major manufacturing priority rather than a niche preference, fundamentally reshaping the supply chain. According to The Packer in December 2025, 56% of packaging converters identified compostable materials as a leading sustainable packaging choice, emphasizing the industry's commitment to substituting non-recyclable preservation components with environmentally friendly alternatives.

Key Players Profiled in the Ethylene Absorber Market

• AgroFresh Inc.
• Bee Chems
• Bioconservacion, S.A.
• BioXTEND Inc.
• DeltaTrak
• Dongguan Dingxing Industry Co., Ltd.
• Ethylene Control Inc.
• GreenKeeper Iberia
• Hazel Technologies, Inc.
• Isolcell S.p.A.

Report Scope

In this report, the Global Ethylene Absorber Market has been segmented into the following categories:

Ethylene Absorber Market, by Product:

• Anti-Ethylene Bag
• Ethylene Filter
• Ethylene Sachet
• Ethylene Absorbent Sheet
• Ethylene Absorbent Pad
• Ethylene Environmental Control Systems
• Other

Ethylene Absorber Market, by Chemical:

• Potassium Permanganate
• Sodium Permanganate
• Titanium Oxide
• 1-Methylcyclopropene
• Zeolite
• Other

Ethylene Absorber Market, by Application:

• Controlled Environmental Systems
• Ripening Rooms
• Shipping/Transportation
• Residential

Ethylene Absorber Market, by End-Use Industry:

• Fruits and Vegetables
• Flowers
• Crops
• Seeds

Ethylene Absorber Market, by Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• South America
• Middle East & Africa

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global Ethylene Absorber Market.

Available Customization

The analyst offers customization according to your specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

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