Oxygen scavengers are chemical compounds that are added to products to eliminate molecular oxygen from packages before it can cause quality deterioration of the packaged products. They work by reacting with any available molecular oxygen and removing it from the package headspace and surrounding environment. This protects packaged foods, beverages and pharmaceuticals from oxidation which can reduce quality, change appearance and compromise safety and shelf life over time. With growing demand for extending shelf life of products and preventing spoilage, the use of oxygen scavengers has become widespread globally in recent decades.
CoherentMI provides an overview of the global oxygen scavenger market, the types of oxygen scavengers available, their applications across industries, and the market growth drivers in Global Oxygen Scavenger Market.
Types of Oxygen Scavengers
There are various types of oxygen scavengers available based on the active ingredients they contain and the mechanism through which they eliminate oxygen.
- Iron-based Oxygen Scavengers
Iron-based scavengers are one of the most common and cost-effective types available in the market. They usually contain ferrous carbonate or ferrous sulfate that reacts with oxygen to convert it into ferric oxide. This reaction terminates the radical chain propagation and prevents further oxidation. Iron-based scavengers are widely used for food, pharmaceutical and beverage packaging.
- Ascorbate-based Oxygen Scavengers
These scavengers work on the principle of oxidizing ascorbic acid which then reacts with oxygen present. Products containing ascorbic acid or its salts like ascorbate, erythorbate etc. act as oxygen scavengers. They are useful for light sensitive products and provide color retention along with oxygen removal.
- Enzyme-based Oxygen Scavengers
Specific oxidoreductase enzymes like glucose oxidase, lactate oxidase etc. are used in some oxygen scavengers. They catalyze the aerobic oxidation of a substrate like glucose thereby removing oxygen from the headspace. Due to their high activity, enzyme scavengers work very efficiently but require special packaging and higher costs.
Applications of Oxygen Scavengers
With their ability to increase shelf life by removing oxygen, scavengers have found applications across many industries.
- Food Packaging
Common food products packed with oxygen scavenger sachets or films include snacks, meat, cheese, snack foods etc. It helps delay rancidity and preserve quality for longer.
- Pharmaceutical Packaging
Moisture and oxygen sensitive drugs, vaccines and other products packaged with oxygen absorbers show reduced degradation. This ensures dose stability and product safety.
- Beverage Packaging
Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are protected from oxidation using scavenger technology in bottles or can packaging. It maintains taste, color and increases shelf life.
- Miscellaneous Applications
Other areas where oxygen scavenging plays a vital role include packaging of industrial and tobacco products, chemicals, nuts, seeds and more.
Market Outlook
The global oxygen scavenger market has shown lucrative growth over the past decade owing to increased consumption of packaged foods and pharmaceuticals worldwide. North America and Europe currently dominate the market but fastest growth is seen in developing regions of Asia Pacific and Latin America due to rising disposable incomes, growing middle class and increased focus on food safety and quality preservation.
Rising international trade of packaged goods, stringent regulations regarding product shelf life and demand for minimal food wastage are major drivers propelling market expansion. While iron-based scavengers account for a major share currently, new biodegradable varieties are also gaining ground owing to sustainability concerns. With continued population growth worldwide and evolving lifestyles, the oxygen scavenger industry is positioned for steady long term gains in the coming years.
