A shared commitment to bringing circular materials and sustainable practices to the nonwovens industry has brought together the textile technology group Infinited Fiber Company and Suominen, to create a nonwoven sheet made 100 per cent from regenerated textile waste. The Finland-based firm makes nonwovens as roll goods for wipes and other applications.

The sheet is made with Infinited Fiber Company’s regenerated fibre Infinna, which is biodegradable, plastic-free fibre and made from discarded cotton-rich textiles, making it a resource-efficient alternative to the conventional materials used in single-use nonwovens, such as polyester and viscose. The nonwoven was developed through collaborative R&D efforts by Suominen and Infinited Fiber Company, whose shared values include sustainability and circularity, Suominen said in a press release.

The nonwoven sheet co-created by the two Finnish companies speaks to the goals of biodegradability and plastic-free. These are now key focus points for the nonwovens industry, driven by the European Commission’s single-use plastics directive and increasing pressure from retailers and consumers looking for more sustainable, circular options in single-use items. 

“Suominen aims to differentiate with innovation and sustainability. We see high potential in using recycled materials and are very excited to be able to support and participate in the development of Infinna for nonwoven applications,” Suominen’s president and CEO, Petri Helsky said in a statement.

“Introducing materials that are made from resources that already exist – like discarded textiles, is a way of bringing circularity to the single-use nonwovens market. The material we have created with Suominen demonstrates a more sustainable future for nonwovens, and we look forward to continuing our close collaboration and co-development work in the years ahead,” Infinited Fiber Company co-founder and CEO Petri Alava said.