Solar power for oshibori

The new ‘oshibori’ restaurant wipes ranges of California-based Diamond Wipes International (DWI) are made of biodegradable, compostable, FSC-approved nonwovens.

Packaging is made from recyclable OPP (oriented polypropylene) monolayer film and formulas contain 99.9% natural ingredients.

“My company began as an oshibori manufacturer catering to the restaurant industry,” says DWI president and founder Eve Yen, “and over time we have grown to the extent that we now produce about a million oshibori wipes per day. In any given year, we could be responsible for thousands of tons of material for oshibori restaurant wipes alone.”

That realisation prompted Yen to develop the new premium ‘Naturally Yours’ and economy ‘Warm Welcome’ ranges.

DWI has also just completed construction of its 3,360-panel clean energy solar installation, which is expected to generate 548,544 kilowatt hours of electricity per year at its Southern California manufacturing facility.

“As business continues to grow, I've become increasingly attuned to the near and long term impact DWI may have on the environment,” says Yen “As a good corporate citizen, I want to do everything I can to support eco-conscious behavior and practices.”

DWI has already begun utilizing its new clean energy system, offsetting up to 86% of its primary factory’s energy utilisation away from traditional electricity.

Established in 1994, DWI supplies wet wipes to major restaurant chains including Tony Romas, Applebees, TGI Fridays and other leading food service distributors. It also produces wipes for private label and contract packaging customers in the cosmetic, personal care, healthcare, automotive and household industries.