Mortuary Bags Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global Mortuary Bags Market is projected to expand from USD 2.94 Billion in 2025 to USD 4.16 Billion by 2031, achieving a CAGR of 5.96%. These non-porous pouches are engineered for the dignified containment and secure transport of human remains, utilizing durable materials like PVC, polyethylene, or nylon to ensure hygiene by preventing leakage and contamination.

The market is primarily driven by rising mortality rates linked to aging populations and the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases. Additionally, the growing frequency of natural disasters necessitates efficient body management solutions, while evolving funeral practices further influence demand. For instance, the National Funeral Directors Association projected that the U.S. cremation rate would reach 61.9% in 2024, reflecting a significant shift in industry requirements.

Despite this positive growth trajectory, the market faces a major challenge regarding environmental concerns and the disposal of synthetic materials. The majority of mortuary bags are made from non-biodegradable plastics, contributing to pollution and conflicting with the increasing regulatory emphasis on sustainability. Manufacturers encounter financial and technical obstacles in developing biodegradable alternatives that maintain the rigorous fluid containment and durability standards required for safety. Consequently, the struggle to produce effective, eco-friendly solutions impedes their rapid adoption and presents a hurdle to market progression.

Market Drivers

The rapidly aging global population and the associated rise in mortality rates serve as the primary catalyst for the mortuary bags market, creating a sustained demand for dignified containment solutions. As geriatric demographics expand worldwide, the natural increase in death rates directly drives the need for cadaver pouches across hospitals, nursing homes, and funeral service providers. This trend is particularly evident in major economies with shifting age structures, where higher mortality figures necessitate robust procurement of standard and heavy-duty bags. For example, the National Bureau of Statistics of China recorded 10.93 million deaths in 2024, while the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported provisional data of 3,072,039 deaths for the same year, validating the steady baseline demand driven by demographic shifts.

Strategic stockpiling for pandemic preparedness and infectious disease control has also emerged as a critical driver, compelling governments and health organizations to maintain surplus inventories of biohazard-grade mortuary bags. The threat of transmissible pathogens requires specialized containment solutions that effectively prevent leakage and cross-contamination, prompting authorities to secure supplies ahead of potential outbreaks. This necessity was highlighted by the World Health Organization's 'Dengue - Global Situation' report in August 2025, which noted a historic high of over 12,000 dengue-related deaths and 14.6 million cases globally in 2024, reinforcing the urgent need for infection-control compliant body bags during sanitary crises.

Market Challenges

Environmental sustainability concerns regarding the disposal of synthetic materials constitute a significant barrier to the growth of the mortuary bag market. The sector relies heavily on non-biodegradable polymers, such as PVC, to ensure the necessary durability and fluid retention during transport; however, strict environmental regulations are increasingly penalizing the use of single-use plastics. This creates a conflict between regulatory compliance and functional safety, as manufacturers face substantial technical and financial hurdles in engineering biodegradable alternatives that can withstand rigorous usage without compromising hygiene standards. These difficulties delay product innovation and limit the diversification of inventory.

This friction is exacerbated by the funeral industry's broader shift toward eco-conscious practices, which reduces the long-term viability of traditional containment solutions. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, 60% of consumers expressed interest in green funeral options in 2024, indicating a strong market pivot against non-degradable materials. This demand forces suppliers to allocate resources toward costly research rather than volume expansion. Consequently, the inability to swiftly replace synthetic inventory with cost-effective, eco-friendly equivalents impedes market momentum and complicates supply chain dynamics.

Market Trends

The development of heavy-duty reinforced bags for bariatric care has become a primary market focus, driven by the changing physiological profile of the global population. Manufacturers are engineering specialized containment solutions featuring high-tensile fabrics, reinforced handles, and wider dimensions to safely manage cadavers exceeding standard weight limits. This product evolution is a direct response to the escalating prevalence of obesity, which necessitates robust logistical support to prevent structural failure during transport. Highlighting this urgency, the World Obesity Federation's 'World Obesity Atlas 2024' projects that the number of adults living with obesity globally will rise to 1.53 billion by 2035, necessitating bariatric-grade inventory in hospital and mortuary procurement strategies.

Simultaneously, there is a marked shift towards the use of chlorine-free and PVC-free polymers, such as polyethylene and PEVA, to ensure safety and operational efficiency during cremation processes. Unlike traditional vinyl pouches, these chlorine-free materials prevent the release of corrosive gases that damage filtration systems and emit toxic dioxins when combusted. This technical requirement is increasingly prioritized in regions with high cremation densities, where emission compliance and equipment longevity are strictly regulated. For instance, the Cremation Society of Great Britain reported a cremation rate of 80.64% in the United Kingdom for 2023, illustrating a market environment where compatible, non-chlorinated consumables are essential for maintaining the operational integrity of funeral service infrastructure.

Key Players Profiled in the Mortuary Bags Market

• Roftek Ltd.
• Neogen Corporation
• Medilivescare Manufacturing Pvt. Ltd.
• Mopec Group
• Peerless Plastics, Inc.
• Classic Plastics Corporation
• Auden Funeral Supplies Limited
• Vezzani S.p.A.
• Polcreative Group
• Extra Packaging LLC

Report Scope

In this report, the Global Mortuary Bags Market has been segmented into the following categories:

Mortuary Bags Market, by Raw Material:

• PVC
• Polyethylene
• Nylon
• Polyester
• Others

Mortuary Bags Market, by Size:

• Adult Bags
• Child/Infant Bags
• Heavy Duty & Bariatric Bags

Mortuary Bags Market, by End Use:

• Hospital
• Morgue

Mortuary Bags 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 Mortuary Bags 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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