Fitesa, Braskem and NatureWorks have developed a new performance nonwoven for the hygiene and personal care markets composed of two bio-based polymers in a sheath-core, bicomponent configuration. The sheath is made of Braskem’s I’m Green 100% biobased polyethylene while the core is made of NatureWorks’ 100% biobased Ingeo polylactide. The result is said to be a nonwoven that is soft thanks to its bioPE outer sheath yet strong and robust thanks to the Ingeo core.
Fitesa is offering the fabric in a comprehensive range of basis weights with physical properties designed to allow drop-in replacement in existing bicomponent spunbond applications.
“The fabric softness is exceptional,” said Ray Dunleavy, Fitesa marketing, strategy and business development director, “and counters the misperception some have in the market that there must be some compromise in performance to achieve a 100% renewably sourced product.”
Braskem has been making the I’m Green polyethylene since 2010 at its $290m Triunfo Petrochemical Complex in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, south Brazil, and produces 200kton/year. The company found in a cradle to gate eco efficiency analysis that each ton produced sequestrates more than 2.0 tons of CO2, compared to traditional plastic whose production releases CO2.
Each ton of Ingeo produced, meanwhile, is said to provide 60% reduction in CO2 emitted compared to traditional polyester, and a 30-40% reduction in CO2 emitted compared to traditional polyolefins. NatureWorks has been producing Ingeo at its flagship Nebraska US facility since 2002, and recently expanded capacity there to 150 kton/year. The company has just announced that front end engineering design has started for a second Ingeo facility in Southeast Asia.
Last year, NatureWorks achieved third party certification from both the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) Association and the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP), a US based Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), ensuring responsible materials sourcing and sustainable agricultural practices.