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Installation of components and improvements in the non-woven fabric production line for the total replacement of polyester with biodegradable cellulosic materials

PRTR Call for Proposals Project

Alicante Nonwovens is a company that is dedicated to the production of technical non-woven fabrics for the hygienic-sanitary industry and footwear industry among others, especially highlighting the manufacture of wet wipes, sanitary towels and diapers. The project focuses on updating its production line at its facilities in Campo de Mirra, Alicante, through investment in different improvements to machinery and systems and the acquisition of new components to modify the production process by replacing polyester fibres (plastic polymers that give rise to the unintentional release of microplastics) with others based on cellulose (materials with low environmental impact with biodegradable properties, specifically VIS and cellulose pulp, from wood.

Line of action:

Private sector

Status:

En ejecución

Location:

Myrrh Field/Myrrh Camp (Alicante)

Geographic scope:

España

Line of research:

Increasing the level of environmental protection of beneficiaries

Execution date:

2024

End date:

2025

Duration:

01/07/2024 - 31/12/2025

Total budget:

13,288,000 euros

Amount of aid from the Biodiversity Foundation:

5,315,200 euros

The project aims to install components and upgrades on the existing production line to manufacture sustainable non-woven fabrics, mainly wet wipes, replacing the polyester fibres of the product with biodegradable material, and also reducing the waste generated during the production process. This seeks to reduce the environmental impact by completely replacing plastic-based raw materials with materials with low environmental impact, such as VIS and cellulose pulp, from wood; and reduce the percentage of waste generated in the production process. Thus, the products that will be manufactured in this new line will be sustainable, 100% biodegradable and free of plastic materials. With these improvements, the company will be able to completely replace the 8,800 tonnes of polyester per year with biodegradable fibres, reduce 400 tonnes of waste per year by reincorporating it into the process and increase circularity thanks to the reuse of water, reusing 97% of the water consumed in one of the phases of the process.

programa
linea de actuación

Installation of components and improvements in the non-woven fabric production line for the total replacement of polyester with biodegradable cellulosic materials