Berry Global, a leading global nonwovens manufacturer, announced its second investment for 2021 in the wipes segment to support the long-term consumer behavior shift towards infection prevention, amplified by the Covid-19 pandemic. The investment, located in Europe, will increase Berry’s production footprint in support of its global customers, with total investments reaching over $110 million in nonwoven materials for products such as hard surface disinfectant wipes. Prior to the demand surge of 2020, the European impregnated wet wipes segment, for home cleaning and disinfecting, was growing at the rate of 5% in the 2014 to 2019 time frame. Covid-19 has increased heightened focus on sanitation and personal hygiene for infection prevention, suggesting permanent consumer trends away from the chore of cleaning to a health and safety priority.

“We strategically partner with many of the world’s leading brands with wipe materials, ensuring our investments align with demand for today and for the future. The reliability of our capacity and scale are paramount to our customer support and the trusted relationships we desire to maintain,” says Curt Begle, president of Berry’s Health, Hygiene, and Specialties Division.

This new asset will add to the company’s existing spunlace platform, further expanding its sustainable wipes portfolio. Recognizing its customers’ ongoing environmental sustainability goals, the new asset will incorporate the production of biodegradable or recycled nonwoven substrates, increasing Berry’s capacity in Europe by more than 300 million square meters. The new line is expected to be commercially available in the September quarter of 2022.

“This multimillion-dollar investment further completes our industry-leading portfolio. Through flexible assets such as this installation in Europe, we can better serve our customers with reliable, sustainable solutions for the wipes market,” says Achim Schalk, EVP and general manager, EMEIA for Berry’s Health, Hygiene, and Specialties Division.

Berry continues to leverage its ability for continued investments in the latest technology to better serve the market. A longtime leader in the nonwovens space, Berry does not sit idle, and instead continues to push forward with its global size and scale to meet the evolving needs of its customers.