A growing abrasives market at multiple speeds
Sustainability as a hidden driver
In 2024, the global abrasives market was valued at USD 46.55 billion and is expected to reach USD 50.72 billion by the end of 2025, a rise of over 9% per year. Forecasts for 2029 project a market worth USD 70.15 billion, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.4% for 2025–2029 (The Abrasives Market Report 2024 – The Business Research Company).*
Some regions of the world are accelerating rapidly, driven by automotive, aerospace, electronics, infrastructure and urban development, while others are evolving more gradually under the pressure of global competition and changing economic conditions.
Across all markets, one force is reshaping the abrasives industry: the growing weight of environmental and social standards. Buyers are embedding sustainability criteria into tenders, customers expect safer, more ergonomic and more eco-friendly products, and governments are reinforcing requirements for responsible production.
The SEAM label turn these pressures into growth opportunities. By structuring a company’s CSR approach, identifying concrete action levers for action, and building strategies that unite performance, responsibility and long-term resilience, SEAM supports its members in thriving in a rapidly changing market.
Abrasives 2.0:
Green innovation as a growth catalyst
The shift towards more sustainable abrasives products begins at the production stage. In the context of resource constraints and evolving regulation, technological developments now allow manufacturers to combine high performance with lower environmental impact.
Recent advances in grain technology – particularly ceramics – are being applied in manufacturing. New generation grains are engineered to be more efficient and durable, extending product lifespan, reducing material waste, and lowering replacement needs. SEAM member Imerys is investing in production processes aiming to improve energy efficiency and waste reduction in abrasive mineral manufacturing, with the objective of delivering high-performance grains with a reduced environmental footprint.
Production formulation is also evolving. Some manufacturers are replacing higher carbon components with binders from renewable or natural raw materials. For example, Saint-Gobain Abrasives removed naphthalene from its products in 2020, introducing alternative binders with lower-carbon-intensity while maintaining product performance.
Circular economy approaches are moving from concept to industrial application. Waste from the abrasives industry or other industries is increasingly used as a raw material. Certain Norton-brand cutting and grinding discs from Saint-Gobain Abrasives now include a minimum of 14% recycled content, incorporating recycled grains without altering technical performance.
These developments illustrate a wider movement in the abrasives sector: sustainability-driven innovation is becoming a competitive factor. The SEAM label supports this transition by promoting best practices and encouraging the spread of responsible innovation across the supply chain.
Committing to CSR Now
A strategic move for the Future
Sustainability has moved from being a trend – it is now a strategic requirement. Across industries, companies with robust CSR programs are not only meeting today’s expectations, but also preparing for future demands and, in some cases, influencing them.
In the abrasives sector, as in many others, change is accelerating. European regulations are setting clear priorities. Global economic factors are reinforcing the shift. Buyers increasingly require transparency, investors look for measurable environmental and social performance, and employees seek purpose-driven organizations.
In this context, sustainability is a strategic choice. It can strengthen resilience, meet customer expectations, and create opportunities in emerging markets. It also provides clarity in an increasingly complex operating environment.
For abrasives manufacturers, this means acting without delay: assessing impacts, setting priorities, implementing solutions, and monitoring results. The SEAM label supports this process by helping companies structure concrete actions, share best practices, and drive a collective vision, we turn the transition into a growth driver—not a constraint.
*SOURCES:
www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/market-insights/abrasives-market-report-2024-overview-2025