3 – Developments in the use of green (biodegradable), recycled and biopolymer materials in technical nonwovens

The life cycle analysis of nonwovens has shown that nonwovens can bring significant benefits in a range of applications and can increase the sustainability of many products due to the lower impacts of production. This chapter reviews the various factors involved when establishing and improving the sustainability of nonwoven materials. The rise of developing economies and an ageing population will place extra strain on resources, and there is a need to develop materials that have a much lower environmental impact and are sustainable. The use of biodegradable polymers can reduce the long-term impacts of nonwovens further, which can be especially important for single-use disposables. The use of recycled products and biopolymers can also reduce the carbon and water footprint of producing nonwoven materials. Biopolymers are sourced from renewable plant and marine material, and recent developments and applications are listed within this chapter.