KAUSALA - Finnish nonwovens manufacturer SharpCell has launched a plastic-free and fossil-free airlaid fabric for premium napkins.

Developed in collaboration with OrganoClick, the manufacturing process replaces the fossil fuel-based binder with a biobased binder from raw materials originating from waste streams in the food industry such as wheat, corn, lemons and shrimp shells.

“Our vision is to be at the leading edge of sustainability, and we are very happy with this collaboration together with OrganoClick,” said Pekka Pollari, CEO of SharpCell. “The best solutions are found in good co-operation with customers and partners. Through active product development we can come up with applications that fulfill even the most demanding requirements.”

According to SharpCell, the fabric has the potential to replace over 1,000 tons of fossil-based binder when fully implemented while keeping the soft hand-feel and textile-like look of an airlaid material. A 100 per cent fossil-free material is also in line with the Finnish government’s goal of becoming a fossil-free nation in 2035, the company said in a press release.

“We are very happy to accomplish this great milestone together with the SharpCell team. We look forward to continuing the journey replacing plastics and making products green inside,” said Mårten Hellberg, CEO OrganoClick.

SharpCell is a Finnish family-owned business producing airlaid nonwovens for tabletop, hygiene and wiping applications. Its modern airlaid nonwoven production facility is located in Kausala, South Finland with an annual production capacity of 12,000 tons per year. The products are mainly exported throughout Europe to brand owners and converters of premium napkins, wipes and personal hygiene products