KELHEIM - Kelheim Fibres has been selected as a finalist in the Sustainability Heroes Award, a high profile German business award scheme for pioneers in the field of sustainability.

The nomination for Kelheim is in the Sustainable Innovation category, which is presented by the DQS (German Association for Sustainability) and the DGQ (German Association for Quality).

The speciality viscose fibre manufacturer has secured the selection with its innovative plant-based fibres that can substantially contribute to a plastic-free future in absorbent hygiene products such as femcare or incontinence products.

In contrast to other plant-based fibres, viscose fibres can be precisely modified and functionalized during the production process.

They can be adapted to meet the exact requirements of the single components of a hygiene product in terms of their liquid management properties (from water repellent to highly absorbent) and therefore match the performance of synthetic fibres that are still used in the majority of these single-use products.

Welcoming the nomination, the Bavarian fibre specialist said that whereas today, environmentally conscious consumers must often decide between feeling safe and a clear conscience, Kelheim was actively developing more and more products that do justice to both. "Kelheim combines sustainably manufactured and completely biodegradable fibres with the technical performance of synthetic fibres. The aim is to help to reduce the use of crude-oil-based plastics in single-use products and their negative impact on the environment," the company said.