STOCKHOLM - Ahlstrom-Munksjö's has launched a new product portfolio, which consists of a full suite of fabrics for medical and civil use face masks, including biodegradable and compostable materials such PLA and cellulosics.
The TenderGuard product portfolio consists of exceptionally soft, comfortable, and protective fabrics including TenderGuard BioBased and BioFilter fabrics, which are designed for civil use and source control for infectious disease.
The fabrics are biodegradable and compostable under controlled conditions according to European Norm EN13432.
TenderGuard BioBased can be used as an inner or outer coverstock layer of a civil facemask. It is highly breathable, biocompatible, and non-irritating, so it's gentle on the skin and comfortable to wear for long durations. Mainly comprised of polylactic acid, which is a biopolymer made from sustainable and renewable sources, TenderGuard BioBased is an alternative to synthetic spunbond material.  
TenderGuard BioFilter is a sustainable filter media that can be used as a single layer or combined as a double layer for higher filtration performance in a barrier face covering. This unique fabric is made up of a special blend of cellulosic and cellulose-based manmade fibers making the filter media 100% bio-based.
"Using technology from our business and the expertise of the medical product development team, we were able to advance product functionality in our smart fiber-based solutions," commented Stuart Nixon, VP, Beverage and Casing, Ahlstrom-Munksjö "Having products that are sustainable, renewable, and biocompatible allows for the opportunity to provide environmentally friendly options."   
Also available are TenderGuard Natural and Smooth protective fabrics which, designed for medical uses such as facemasks, are hypoallergenic, and environmentally friendly.
TenderGuard Natural is a wetlaid fabric that can be used as the inner or outer layer of a facemask. It is environmentally friendly, and the hypoallergic inner layer makes it super soft for the wearer. With both layers together, TenderGuard Natural achieves nearly 50% Bacterial Filtration Efficiency, which is remarkable without a filtration layer included.
TenderGuard Smooth consists of bicomponent spunbond fabrics that are made with a proprietary technology that minimises raised fibres. This creates a smooth surface to help eliminate any skin irritation, which is essential when it comes to a face mask. TenderGuard Smooth is hypoallergenic, so it is gentler on the skin, making it ideal to wear for long durations.  
"Ahlstrom-Munksjö is one of the world's leading players in sustainable solutions. With the addition of TenderGuard face mask fabrics, it further underscores our mission to expand the role for a sustainable everyday life while providing a protective and comfortable product," added Lionel Bonte, VP, Medical, Ahlstrom-Munksjö.
 
