Global Away-From-Home Tissues Market Research Report, 2030

The Global Away-From-Home (AFH) Tissues Market is the backbone of sanitation and comfort in public and commercial spaces, providing essential paper products that uphold hygiene standards across industries. Serving restaurants, healthcare facilities, offices, hotels, and educational institutions, AFH tissues including facial tissues, paper towels, napkins, and toilet paper are engineered for durability, absorbency, and controlled dispensing to meet high-traffic demands. The market is driven by rising health awareness post-pandemic, stringent sanitation regulations, and the hospitality sector's rebound, with innovations like antibacterial-infused tissues, recycled fiber products, and touchless dispensers gaining traction. Sustainability is reshaping the industry, as corporations and governments prioritize FSC-certified materials, biodegradable options, and reduced plastic packaging to align with circular economy goals. Geographically, North America and Europe lead with strict hygiene protocols, while Asia-Pacific surges due to urbanization and expanding foodservice sectors. From Basic Necessity to Governed Essential The AFH tissue market traces its roots to early 20th-century commercialization of disposable paper products, but it was the 1970s sanitation movement that institutionalized their use in public spaces. Regulatory frameworks have since tightened, with the FDA’s Food Code mandating single-use towels in foodservice, while EU’s EN 16442 standards govern hygiene performance in healthcare settings. The COVID-19 pandemic became a watershed moment, with WHO and CDC guidelines elevating tissue dispensers to infection-control essentials. Today, sustainability mandates dominate: the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive targets tissue packaging, and EPA’s Procurement Guidelines prioritize post-consumer recycled content. In emerging markets, India’s Swachh Bharat Mission and China’s Green Public Procurement Policy are accelerating adoption, transforming AFH tissues from afterthoughts into regulated pillars of public health and environmental stewardship. According to the research report “Global Away-From-Home Tissues Market Overview, 2030," published by Actual Market Research, the Global Away-From-Home Tissues Market is anticipated to grow at more than 4.5% CAGR from 2025 to 2030. The Global Away-From-Home (AFH) Tissues Market is undergoing a dynamic transformation, driven by evolving hygiene standards, sustainability imperatives, and technological advancements. A key market trend is the accelerated demand for touchless and automated dispensing systems, spurred by post-pandemic hygiene consciousness, with sensor-based tissue and towel dispensers becoming ubiquitous in high-traffic venues like airports, hospitals, and restaurants. Sustainability is another dominant force, as the industry shifts toward 100% recycled fiber content, FSC-certified materials, and plastic-free packaging to comply with stringent regulations like the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive and corporate net-zero commitments. The hospitality sector’s revival is fueling premium innovations, such as branded, lotion-infused tissues for luxury hotels and compostable napkins for eco-conscious eateries, while the healthcare sector prioritizes antibacterial and low-lint tissues to meet infection control protocols. Geographically, emerging markets in Asia-Pacific and Latin America are witnessing rapid growth, driven by urbanization, rising tourism, and stricter public hygiene laws, whereas mature markets in North America and Europe focus on product innovation and supply chain localization to mitigate disruptions. Market drivers include the global emphasis on public health, with organizations like WHO and CDC mandating disposable tissue use in shared spaces, and the foodservice industry’s expansion, where napkins and paper towels remain indispensable. The rise of quick-service restaurants (QSRs), workplace reopenings, and increased air travel further propel demand, while institutional procurement policies such as Green Seal certification in the U.S. and the EU Ecolabel compel businesses to adopt sustainable AFH solutions.

What's Inside a Actual Market Research`s industry report?

Asia-Pacific dominates the market and is the largest and fastest-growing market in the animal growth promoters industry globally

Download Sample

Marklet Dynamics Market Drivers Increased Demand in Commercial and Institutional SectorsThe growing number of commercial establishments, such as hotels, restaurants, and offices, drives the demand for away-from-home tissue products. These sectors require a consistent supply of high-quality tissue products to meet hygiene standards and customer expectations. Rising Hygiene Awareness Post-PandemicThe COVID-19 pandemic has heightened global awareness regarding hygiene and cleanliness, leading to sustained demand for tissue products in public and commercial spaces. Consumers and businesses are prioritizing hygiene, contributing to the growth of the away-from-home tissue market.

Make this report your own

We're excited to discuss your needs and our solutions. Let's schedule a call.

Ask an Expert

Nikita Jabrela

Business Development Manager

Market Challenges Environmental Concerns and Sustainability RegulationsIncreasing environmental concerns and stringent regulations regarding waste management and sustainability are challenges for the tissue industry. Manufacturers are under pressure to adopt eco-friendly materials and processes to reduce environmental impact. Fluctuating Raw Material PricesThe prices of raw materials used in tissue production, such as wood pulp, can be volatile. Fluctuations in raw material costs can affect production expenses and pricing strategies, impacting profitability in the away-from-home tissue market. Market Trends

Don’t pay for what you don’t need. Save 30%

Customise your report by selecting specific countries or regions

Specify Scope Now

Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Product OfferingsThere is a growing trend towards the development and adoption of sustainable and eco-friendly tissue products. Manufacturers are focusing on using recycled materials, reducing packaging waste, and ensuring their products are biodegradable to meet consumer demand for environmentally responsible products. Advancements in Product Innovation and QualityInnovation in product design and quality is a key trend in the away-from-home tissue market. Companies are introducing products with enhanced softness, strength, and absorbency, catering to the evolving preferences of consumers and businesses seeking premium hygiene solutions. Segment Analysis The Global Away-From-Home Tissues Market is segmented by product type into paper napkins, paper towels, wipes, toilet papers, and other specialty tissues, each catering to distinct hygiene and operational needs across commercial and institutional settings. Paper napkins dominate the foodservice sector, with demand driven by restaurants, cafés, and QSRs seeking cost-effective, absorbent, and customizable options ranging from single-fold to premium 2-ply designs, often branded for customer engagement. Paper towels are indispensable in healthcare, office buildings, and industrial facilities, where high-absorbency, durability, and touchless dispensing systems are prioritized to maintain hygiene and reduce cross-contamination. Innovations like recycled-content towels and rapid-dissolving variants for plumbing safety are gaining traction. Wipes represent the fastest-growing segment, fueled by the post-pandemic demand for disinfectant and antibacterial wipes in hospitals, airports, and schools. These are increasingly formulated with EPA-approved sanitizing agents and biodegradable materials to meet stringent health and sustainability standards. Toilet papers remain a staple in hotels, corporate facilities, and public restrooms, with a shift toward softer, septic-safe, and bulk-packaged rolls to balance user comfort and operational efficiency. The rise of luxury hospitality has also spurred demand for embossed and scented varieties to enhance guest experience. The "Other" category includes specialty tissues such as facial tissues for hotel rooms, industrial-grade shop towels, and healthcare-specific products like low-lint surgical wipes. Emerging niches include compostable air-dryer towels for eco-conscious venues and antibacterial seat covers for public transportation. The Global Away-From-Home Tissues Market is segmented by application into commercial, food & beverages, hospitals & healthcare, and other institutional sectors, each with distinct tissue requirements driven by hygiene standards and operational demands. The commercial sector, encompassing office buildings, educational institutions, and public venues, represents a major consumer of AFH tissues, particularly paper towels and toilet paper for restroom facilities. This segment prioritizes cost-effective, high-capacity dispensing systems and recycled-content products to meet sustainability goals while maintaining user volume demands. Recent trends include touchless sensor-operated dispensers and antibacterial paper products in high-traffic areas like airports and convention centers. In the food & beverages industry, which includes restaurants, cafés, and catering services, paper napkins and industrial-grade paper towels dominate demand. The segment is shifting toward branded, premium-quality napkins for customer-facing environments and grease-resistant, high-absorbency towels for kitchen use. Sustainability pressures are driving adoption of unbleached, compostable napkins and reduced-packaging bulk solutions, particularly in QSR chains and eco-conscious dining establishments. The hospitals & healthcare sector requires specialized tissue products that meet stringent infection control standards, including low-lint wipes, antimicrobial paper towels, and flushable toilet papers for patient care areas. The pandemic accelerated demand for disinfecting wipes with hospital-grade efficacy, while soft, hypoallergenic facial tissues remain essential for patient comfort. This segment is increasingly adopting dispenser systems with anti-microbial coatings to prevent cross-contamination. The "Other" category includes diverse applications such as hospitality (hotels, resorts), transportation (airlines, trains), and industrial facilities. The hospitality industry favors luxury-tier tissues, including scented toilet papers and embossed napkins, to enhance guest experience, while airlines prioritize compact, space-saving tissue packaging. Industrial settings utilize heavy-duty shop towels for machinery maintenance and oil-absorbent wipes for spill control. Regional Analysis The regional analysis of the Global Away-From-Home (AFH) Tissues Market reveals varied growth drivers shaped by economic development, hygiene awareness, and infrastructure advancements. North America is a mature market characterized by high hygiene standards across commercial, healthcare, and educational sectors, driving consistent demand for AFH tissue products. Europe similarly maintains steady growth, fueled by stringent hygiene regulations and sustainability initiatives, particularly in countries like Germany, France, and the UK, where eco-friendly and recycled tissue products are increasingly preferred. The Asia-Pacific region is experiencing rapid expansion, driven by rising urbanization, increasing disposable incomes, and growing awareness of hygiene in public spaces such as offices, hotels, and hospitals. Markets like China, India, Japan, and Southeast Asia are investing heavily in improving sanitary conditions, which propels the need for quality away-from-home tissue solutions. Latin America shows moderate growth influenced by gradual modernization of commercial and institutional facilities, though economic volatility may limit rapid expansion. Meanwhile, the Middle East and Africa are emerging regions with growing hospitality and healthcare sectors, where increasing tourism and infrastructure development are boosting demand for AFH tissue products. Across all regions, factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic have heightened the focus on hygiene, accelerating market adoption. Regional differences in consumer preferences, regulatory environments, and environmental concerns also influence product innovation and adoption. Overall, the AFH tissue market’s regional landscape is marked by mature, regulation-driven growth in developed markets and dynamic expansion in emerging economies, emphasizing the need for companies to tailor their strategies to local market conditions and evolving hygiene standards Considered in this report • Historic Year: 2019 • Base year: 2024 • Estimated year: 2025 • Forecast year: 2030 Aspects covered in this report • Away-From-Home (AFH) Tissues Market with its value and forecast along with its segments • Various drivers and challenges • On-going trends and developments • Top profiled companies Segmentation by Type • Paper Napkins • Paper Towels • Wipes • Toilet Papers • Other Segmentation by Application • Commercial • Food & Beverages • Hospitals & Health Care • Other The approach of the report: This report consists of a combined approach of primary as well as secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and listing out the companies that are present in the market. The secondary research consists of third-party sources such as press releases, annual report of companies, analyzing the government generated reports and databases. After gathering the data from secondary sources primary research was conducted by making telephonic interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducted trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this we have started doing primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting consumers in regional aspects, tier aspects, age group, and gender. Once we have primary data with us we have started verifying the details obtained from secondary sources. Intended audience This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to this industry, government bodies and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.