Nonwoven Industry Chain Promotes Sustainability Together

Aug.2021 | Company News

From the initial raw materials to the disposal of end products (many of which are disposable products) after use, all companies in the supply chain of the entire non wovens industry are paying attention to environmental issues.

Mette Due Søgaard, Director of Quality Assurance and Sustainability at Fibertex Personal Care, said: "We have observed the drive to pursue sustainability. In addition to end consumers’ demand for more sustainable products, we have also seen processors and raw material supplies. Businesses generally pursue sustainable development. Although the new crown epidemic has forced companies to pay attention to the immediate supply problems to a certain extent, the potential interest in sustainability has not diminished."

Nonwovens manufacturers are focusing on using fewer and more sustainable raw materials to improve the eco-friendliness of their final products.

Søgaard of Fibertex Personal Care said: "In addition to working hard to develop materials with lower grammage, we have been intensively researching other raw materials to create sustainable nonwovens for several years. Since sustainable nonwovens come in many forms, we Considering biodegradable polymers, biopolymers, etc., each of these options has its advantages and disadvantages."

Fibertex Personal Care is one of the world's largest manufacturers of spunbond nonwovens for sanitary materials. They cooperate with Sabic, a global leader in the chemical industry, to use Sabic's Trucircle high-purity recycled plastics to manufacture a series of nonwovens. This material is made of post-consumer mixed plastics. Waste plastic raw materials are decomposed into molecular structural units, and then re-polymerized into pure polymers. It can meet the purity and safety requirements of the health industry, and it has also become the world's first use of recycled materials. Non-woven fabric products produced by plastics. The plan is seen as an exciting step towards a more sustainable supply chain and higher nonwovens recyclability.

"After some time, we concluded that the new option of using insert polymers was the right choice for us, because we realized that many of our existing suppliers are actually launching the same product-ISCC Plus Certified polypropylene.” Søgaard said, “In addition, for some time, we have been looking for solutions that will allow us to add more recycled content to our products without compromising product performance or impairing purity and consumption. The requirements for safety of users, which are essential for the application in the sanitation industry. ISCC Plus certified raw materials may be a solution because it can be based on mixed plastic waste or biological raw materials."

The new non-woven fabric is made of Sabic's round polypropylene, raw material comes from the previously used plastic, and has passed the ISCC PLUS (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) system certification. The material is part of the polypropylene product portfolio for personal hygiene launched by Sabic Purecares earlier this year. The certified circular polypropylene material produced by Sabic is made from post-consumer mixed plastics that have been broken down into sub-building blocks and then re-polymerized to produce the original plastic. This new material can be used as a plug-in solution while meeting brand owners’ requirements for purity and consumer safety for applications in the hygiene industry.

Sabic applies the "mass balance" approach to polymers provided as part of its Truecircle product portfolio and services, covering recyclability design, mechanical recycling products, certified waste plastic raw material recycling products, and certified bio-based raw materials Renewable products.

The widely recognized ISCC PLUS certification verifies that material balance accounting follows predefined and transparent rules. In addition, it provides traceability of the entire supply chain from raw materials to final products. Fibertex Personal Care's recent ISCC PLUS certification is the result of extensive experience and concern for sustainability.

Fibertex Personal Care will provide its customers with certified recycled nonwovens through the Comfort, Elite, Dual and Loft product lines. These certified non-woven fabrics can be used in downstream production without affecting the processability, product characteristics or performance of the final product.

At the same time, Fitesa provides 100% BioBase PLA Soft non-woven fabrics made of 100% renewable and compostable polymers, which are soft to the touch and superior to standard PP spunbond nonwovens and other BioBase spunbond products. Fitesa uses the most advanced technology to process PLA into spunbonded nonwovens. Its monomer composition makes recycling easier (compared to a two-component structure) and is one of the best sustainable solutions on the market.

Avgol's natureFIT solution aims to reduce the impact of materials on product design and has a series of added values, including reducing the use of polymers and the sources and applications of polymer substitutes.

"As the Covid-19 pandemic dominates the headlines around the world, and Avgol's interest control and interest defense are designed to respond to the demand for antimicrobial drugs, global environmental protection efforts have been downgraded from the most important position on many people's agendas." Avgol Nick Carter, Director of Market Business Intelligence and Intellectual Property, said, "But as the entire world adapts to this new paradigm, we will continue to develop products to meet the growing, market-led demand for sustainable fabrics in sanitary applications, while at the same time through supply The chain drives greater value."

Carter said that a new product in the natureFIT series, natureFIT Gentle, has reduced the amount of resin used in production by as much as 40%.

"Our advanced technology allows product designers to significantly reduce polymer consumption through the use of natural minerals, while enhancing softness and fit," Carter said. "For brand customers, the most important thing is that although polymers The usage has been significantly reduced, but all the performance characteristics of traditional products are still maintained."

NatureFIT Gentle can achieve more effective value-driven product development throughout the health industry, while reducing the environmental impact of resources and waste in accordance with the company's sustainable product strategy.

“At Avgol, we are committed to developing innovative non-woven solutions that meet the changing needs of the market.” He said, “In the past few months, we have seen people’s attitudes change and their attention is focused On more pressing issues, environmental and sustainability issues have not disappeared."

"Now, as we begin to slowly move towards rebuilding normalcy, it is important that we do not go back to the old way and put environmental concerns aside for future resolution." Carter continued, "On the contrary, We need to take action now, which is why we are committed to reducing the amount of resin we use in our products, thereby reducing the amount of plastic that ends up in the waste stream."

In the next few weeks and months, brand sustainability certification will become more and more important, as consumers begin to focus on making choices that are influenced by their own values, rather than purely out of necessity.

"Globally, consumers will re-use environmentally friendly products and processes, and the sanitary market is no exception." He said, "Our new solution suite adds another line to brands and product developers, adding to the previous "icing on the cake." "Transform into an effective and marketable competitive advantage."

"Enhancing the environmental protection certification of contemporary non-woven product design should be the top priority of every brand in the market, and the natural FIT platform puts natural quality first and center. This is what consumers really value." He said.

When launching Project Boost, its comprehensive global expansion plan, Jacob Holm specifically pointed out that its commitment to sustainability was the driving force for this investment. In addition to increasing its global footprint by 500 million square meters, the investment will also target a significant increase in the ability to use renewable raw materials. In addition, the upgraded production method will further reduce waste and increase production efficiency, thereby reducing the carbon footprint of the entire Jacob Holm and Sontara product portfolio.

Martin Mikkelsen, CEO of Jacob Holm, said: "Project Boost is our response to the needs of our global partners to increase production capacity, provide more sustainable substrate options, and continue to maintain our position as a leader in nonwovens innovation."

The focus of Suominen's latest multi-year strategy is to be a leader in nonwovens innovation and sustainable development to create innovative and more sustainable nonwovens for its customers. Recent investments in South Carolina and Italy will help Suominen increase its use of sustainable raw materials.

"We aim to achieve two goals through this strategy: growth and improved profitability. We believe that by providing sustainable products with increasing end-user requirements, we can grow together with our customers in a constantly changing market," Suominen President and CEO Petri Helsky said. "By investing in upgrading our assets, new product development and our operational excellence plan, profitability will also be improved.

The progress in the development of new materials has provided Suominen's sustainable product portfolio with new environmental solutions, such as the recently launched Biolace Pure for wipes. The product is made of biodegradable, compostable and renewable plant fiber and wood pulp from certified forests, and does not contain any chemical binders or plastics. As the latest product in Suominen's sustainable Biolace product line, Biolace Pure aims to meet the growing demand for sustainable, plastic-free materials in the growing wet wipes market.

"Biolace Pure provides customers with a unique and sustainable choice that does not affect the important functions required for a perfect wipe. Its three-layer solution ensures optimal liquid management, and a soft outer layer ensures that the wipe Clean effectively and gently.” said Marika Mäkilä, Suominen European Marketing and Category Management Manager.

The development of this innovative material with excellent liquid management and cleaning performance is based on Suominen's long history and expertise in the production of pulp products. Compared with 100% viscose products used for wipes, Biolace Pure brings superior cleaning ability, lighter carbon footprint and lower environmental impact.

"Global environmental issues, such as climate change and marine plastic pollution, are creating new market expectations and demands for sustainable nonwoven products. These global challenges have also prompted us to continue to develop innovative solutions with less impact on the environment. Biolace Pure is one of the results of our efforts.” Mäkilä concluded.

Zhejiang Yanpeng Nonwoven Machinery Co.,Ltd.---A professional non woven production line Manufacturer

11. 2020

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