The Case for Cotton Wipes and Nonwovens

The significant growth in the volume and number of wipe-based products for a wide variety of applications is consuming ever increasing amounts of fiber as raw material in wipes and other nonwoven products. The United States Department of Agriculture and Cotton Incorporated recognize both the economic impact and the significant benefit to consumers that has resulted. However, cotton consumption in this industry sector remains relatively low. Current industry drivers such as sustainability, product performance, fiber price and technical innovation now point to opportunities to incorporate more cotton fiber into wipes and nonwoven products. The USDA Agricultural Research Service and Cotton Incorporated jointly support research and development activities to expand the wipes and nonwovens business through an increased use of cotton fiber. Strategies, investments and research areas will be discussed.