Kenactiv Innovations, Inc., Eastman, GA, a leading innovator and manufacturer of sustainable biobased performance fibers and products, has launched its Activat Fiber Technologies platform to meet rapidly increasing demand for sustainable fiber products by the textile, automotive, healthcare, plastics, packaging and consumer products industries.

Activat Fiber Technologies (AFT) applies Kenactiv’s innovative and customizable processing and treatments to kenaf, jute and flax fibers to create sustainable solutions for manufacturers seeking high performance yet sustainable alternatives to synthetic and other natural fibers. The AFT platform includes Activat1 bast fiber products and feedstocks from kenaf, flax and/or jute, which are suited to all nonwoven manufacturing processes. ActivatBL, bast fiber and core blend products offer excellent performance and value for paper and pulp applications, the company says.

As demand for woven and nonwoven textiles increases, so does demand for sustainability in these applications. A large margin of the nonwovens market is for single use items, such as home maintenance and beauty product wipes and healthcare products. With an eye toward controlling landfills, recyclable and biodegradable or compostable materials are increasingly called for by manufacturers and consumers. Biobased fibers such as kenaf, flax and jute offer the sustainability profile manufacturers and consumers demand with no sacrifice in performance.

Choosing Activat fiber products over petroleum-based or other synthetic and natural fibers offers manufacturers operational cost savings, improved risk mitigation, environmental hazard and toxicity reduction, reduced water consumption and decreased emissions, according to the company. Kenaf composite and nonwoven automotive products, for example, reduce automobile weight and increase fuel efficiency. And by replacing conventional plastics and fiberglass with biobased alternatives, the vehicle’s overall carbon footprint is further reduced.

www.kenactiv.com