The clear air of opportunity for AIR PURIFIER manufacturers, with increasing air pollution in India: Bonafide Research

North India’s smog season is back and the hunt for measures like masks, air purifiers, and plants that can fight air pollution has already begun. While masks and plants are of no use at places like Delhi where the Air Quality Index is over ‘Severe’ level, air purifiers have become a necessary product. Air purifiers will soon be an unavoidable product in metros and urban cities, with increasing awareness regarding air pollution in India.
Air purifiers in India are available at a price range of Rs. 9,000 to Rs. 36,000 depending on the features, power, and different brands. As air pollution rise in the Indian cities, opportunities along with the scope for innovations are growing fast for manufacturers. From smart purifiers that can be controlled from the mobile device to those that repel bugs, companies are moving on from offering the standard air purifiers to a device packed with features. These advanced products are in high demand as the current pollution has been acting as a trigger for consumers to buy efficient and effective air purifiers. Manufacturers are witnessing a spike in sales in the Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas as consumers resort to panic buying with air pollution in the Capital breaching the critical limits.
According to a recently published report of Bonafide Research ‘India Air Purifier Market Outlook, 2021’, the air purifier market size in India has crossed Rs. 300 crore and is expected to grow more robustly in the coming years. Before two to three years, the market was driven just for the reason that air purifiers purify the air in the house. However, now it is not only because of its benefits but also due to rising awareness about air pollution in the country. There is a lot of hype created by media, celebrities, NGOs, politicians, and other influential people about Delhi air pollution and its adverse effects. Urge from these influential people to keep the environment safe and adopt a healthy lifestyle has forced people to think about this issue. As a result of which, the sales of preventive products like air purifiers and masks are in great demand. Volume sales of air purifiers have spurred in tier-1 cities across India, wherein Delhi contributes a sizeable proportion of the total market.
ALARMING AIR POLLUTION IN INDIA
With more and more people moving towards cities and metros for better living, an elevated standard of living, higher education, and more job opportunities, there is clearly a trend of urbanization in India. However, the rate at which urban air pollution is growing is also alarming. A vast majority of cities are caught in the toxic web as air quality fails to meet health-based standards. Medium & small-sized towns and cities are also witnessing a phenomenal spurt in pollution. In 2016, the World Health Organisation put 10 Indian cities on the list of the world’s most polluted. However, the national capital of Delhi is currently the most talked about as it reels under heightened air pollution levels post Diwali celebrations. The high level of air pollution in Delhi has raised alarm bells all over, with health experts calling it an emergency situation.
While all eyes are on the national capital, there are many other cities in the country that are not much better off. Agra, Bhiwadi, Lucknow, Moradabad, Rohtak, Varanasi, Patna, Jodhpur are some of the cities which are most affected. Pollution is basically measured through Air Quality Index (AQI), which has six categories namely Good (0-50), Satisfactory (51-100), moderately polluted (101-200), Poor (201-300), Very Poor (301-400), and Severe (401-500). Air Quality Index in many cities of India is above the level of ‘Poor’ or ‘Very poor’ whereas in Delhi and other northern regions it is above ‘Severe’. India has even topped the list of countries with pollution-related deaths as almost 2.51 million deaths occurred in 2015 due to diseases linked to air, water, and other forms of pollution.
INSTITUTIONAL SALES ALREADY PICKING UP
Many companies in Delhi and associated regions are going the extra mile to minimize the impact of smog on their employees and make them feel healthier. India Inc.’s offices across Delhi have been installing air purifiers, distributing masks, and allowing them to work from home. Samsung Electronics has installed more than 100 air purifiers in its Gurgaon office. GSK Consumer Healthcare is installing an advanced electronic filter system on a trial basis and if the results are better, these systems will be installed on a permanent basis. Dr. Oetker India has also installed an air purifier system at its head office and will be distributing N95 masks to the sales team. Similarly, Bharti Airtel recently installed filter units in its building.
Apart from installing air purifiers, other measures are also taken by companies to combat this problem. Travel companies like MakeMyTrip and Yatra are encouraging work from home facility. Online marketplace ShopClues is issuing health advisories and conducting regular health camps in their premises whereas Sanofi, along with this, is giving ‘N100’ masks to each employee. PNB Metlife is encouraging employees to car-pool whereas US pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly is helping employees to maintain and service their vehicles regularly.
MAJOR COMPANIES
Major companies operating in the air purifier market of India are Eureka Forbes Limited, Daikin Air-conditioning India Private Limited, Panasonic India Private Limited, Blueair India Private Limited, Philips India Limited, Atlanta Healthcare, Kent RO Systems Limited, Sharp India Limited, Crusaders India Private Limited, and LG Electronics India Private Limited.