SUSTAFIT - Sustainable fit-for-purpose nonwovens

SUSTAFIT – Sustainable fit-for-purpose nonwovens is a research project established to a need of Finnish industry to boost their competitiveness and broaden the opportunities in the versatile and growing sustainable nonwoven markets.

Echoing the words of the industry representatives, stronger networking of players comprising industry, research, analytical & demonstrations providers, as well as customers is needed. Outlining the sustainability strategies is seen as the first step to objective understanding of what sustainability increasing pathways are the most impactful.

To answer this need, SUSTAFIT project will describe application segment specific sustainability strategies. Further, the project will build understanding on the jointly identified knowledge gaps around how to expand the use of sustainable and recycled fibres from alternative renewable and sustainable feedstocks in nonwovens and how to relate the properties of the raw materials and their processing to the properties of the nonwoven products.

As one specific target SUSTAFIT will boost sustainable fibres attractiveness for nonwoven applications by developing their hydrophobicity and antimicrobial performance, the two major restricting factors for increased sustainable fiber introduction. SUSTAFIT will tackle these jointly identified research gaps through practical demonstrators and involving stakeholders to jointly assess new value chain opportunities.