These developments are no longer just about material substitution within the nonwovens industry, but lifecycle design, regulatory anticipation and cost-neutral decarbonisation.

Among key speakers, Dr Stan Haftka, Business Development Manager at Japan’s Kaneka, will provide details of his company’s Green Planet initiative and the development of PHBA-based biodegradable polymers that are created via a proprietary biofermentation process and then compounded. 

Kaneka began developing PHBH during the early 1990s and eventually became the first company to get to industrial scale. As the foundation of spunmelt nonwoven fabrics, PHBA is strongly resistant to heat and can also act as a barrier to water vapour, with potential applications in the food packaging and agriculture sectors, in addition to hygiene. 

Many of the single-use products used by Japan Airlines for example – both in its lounges and in-flight – are now based on Kaneka’s PHBA. At end-of-life, the materials are both fully compostable and biodegradable, even in seawater.

Performance properties

The degradability of absorbent hygiene products is necessary but not on its own sufficient, will be the central message of David Choi, Vice President of Seoul, South Korea-headquartered SK Leaveo.

The company has developed both biopolymers and nanocellulose materials to enable nonwovens manufacturers to create components characterised by softness, hydrophilicity and cooling effects, while enabling processing efficiency and meeting strict comfort and safety standards. Biodegradability is combined with proven skin compatibility and high performance for sustainable hygiene solutions to be created without compromise.

Finland’s Kemira has meanwhile developed biobased and biodegradable hydrophobic agents for cellulosic nonwovens and the company’s Business Creations Manager Likhi Li will explain how different levels of hydrophobicity can be engineered into materials for various applications, with higher resistance to washing and extra softness. 

In a second presentation from the company, Senior Research Scientist Sara Muona will further provide details of new bio-balanced additives developed to both add strength and improve the flushability of cellulosic nonwovens.

Short fibre benefits

A new adhesive to enable the use of short fibres in absorbent cores has been launched by H.B. Fuller because, as the company’s Global Hygiene R&D Director Karsten Voss will explain, there is growing market demand.

The hygiene industry has traditionally relied on long fibres for absorbent core applications due to their proven processability and performance, but short fibres derived from diverse and renewable sources offer compelling benefits, including lower water consumption, reduced fossil fuel usage and overall cost optimisation. At the same time, they pose significant challenges in processing. Their reduced length makes defibration more demanding, impacts uniform core formation and complicates SAP (superabsorbent polymer) distribution, ultimately negatively impacting both performance and product integrity.

H.B. Fuller’s purpose-designed core adhesive has been engineered to address these challenges. By optimising adhesive formulation and application, the solution enhances fibre bonding, improves core integrity and enables the more efficient processing of short fibres on existing hygiene production lines.

Stretch

Stretch is now a prerequisite for comfort and fit in absorbent hygiene products and the Lycra Company is currently initiating the world’s first large-scale commercial production of bio-derived Lycra fibre via a partnership with Qore, a joint venture between Cargill and Helm Chemical. 

Qira is the brand name for the next-generation 1,4-butanediol (BDO) being made by Qore through the fermentation of plant-based sugars from dent corn – an annually renewable resource that is primarily sourced from farms in Iowa in the USA.

Qira can save up to 93% of greenhouse gas emissions when replacing today’s widely used chemical intermediates made from traditional fossil sources.

Lycra’s Product Manager for Personal Care Jovan Phillips will outline how stretch and shape retention are being retained in this new bio-based product, and in a further presentation, will also introduce Lycra Adaptiv, engineered to elevate hygiene garments with hybrid elasticity for comfort and second skin fit.

PFAS elimination

Finally, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been widely used for decades in medical gowns, drapes and other protective nonwovens due to their durability and resistance to water, oil and stains. Increasingly, however, evidence of PFAS persistence in the environment and possible associated health risks has prompted global regulatory action and a growing demand for alternatives. Supply shortages and rising costs have been further drivers.

During INDEX™26, Carla Domingo, Product Line Manager at Magnera, will introduce her company’s timely response, with a new solution fully meeting the industry’s stringent standards for protection, comfort and compliance for healthcare providers and other industries navigating this shift.

To explore the full programme of all product presentations, visit the detailed programme on our website.