Suominen adds sustainable wipes to its portfolio

Suominen is introducing a variety of new wiping substrates and investing €6 million in its Nakkila, Finland, facility, where it has also established a proprietary compost test center.

As a biodegradable alternative to viscose and cotton nonwovens, the company’s Biolace Bamboo gives outstanding dry-softness, minimal linting, and cleanability as a sustainable solution ideal for dry and wet wipes. Its dry texture is considered to be similar to a blend of cashmere and silk, and it is appropriate for both delicate skin and cleaning hard surfaces such as glass. Bamboo is a perennial grass that is one of the world’s fastest-growing plants.

Meanwhile, Biolace Silva has a 50% smaller carbon footprint than a traditional 100% viscose product since it uses the natural power of pulp to give its cleaning effectiveness and cloth-like appearance and feel.

Furthermore, for severe cleaning duties, the premium wet-laid nonwoven offers extraordinary strength and thickness, as well as 150 percent more fiber surface than normal viscose. Because of its stability and low 2:1 MD:CD ratio, it allows for simple conversion as well as one-at-a-time dispensing.

Hydraspun Reserve is the latest addition to the company’s moist toilet tissue nonwoven line, providing complete dispersibility at a reduced basis weight and meeting International Water Services Flushability Group (IWSFG) and INDA/EDANA requirements (GD4).

The Nakkila expansion will be finished in the second half of 2023.

Petri Helsky, president and CEO, said that market demand in Europe has shifted dramatically toward more sustainable products. They’re reacting to rising demand for environmentally friendly goods with this investment, which will also improve their operational performance in terms of safety, quality, and productivity.

Suominen’s compost test center in Nakkila was created to examine the biodegradability of nonwovens derived from renewable raw materials by first analyzing disintegration in compost conditions to aid in product development. Suominen’s 100% viscose product, for example, disintegrates completely under household and commercial compost settings in less than three weeks, according to in-house compostability testing.

Niina Salonoja, the company’s R&D manager, said that the test center backs up their claims about their biodegradable goods and allows them to learn more about both raw materials and develop products further.