Freudenberg’s focus on recyclable innovations has led to the company adding a number of jobs to its nonwovens business. Additionally, the company’s innovations including everything from mattresses and wallpaper to brooms and automotive interiors are keeping 377 million plastic bottles out of landfills each year and, from a business standpoint, have led to new contracts and increased business, allowing Freudenberg’s Nonwovens, Vitech, Texbond, Filtration and Household Product companies to add jobs.

“As customers demand more and more green products, Freudenberg is driving the innovative development and production of things people and businesses use every day – all made from recycled plastic,” says Leesa Smith, president of Freudenberg North America Ltd. Partnership and a member of the company’s global executive team. “Our green practices are reflected in the buildings we work in, our daily actions and in the way we manufacture products. This has enabled us to expand our workforce in key areas, and we expect the uptick in business to continue.”

Freudenberg Nonwovens, headquartered in Durham, NC, uses millions of pounds of 100% post consumer and post industrial recycled plastic a year to make environmentally sustainable materials for building and construction substrates, landscaping and weedblock materials, residential and commercial wallpaper, carpet backings, filtration devices and automotive floor mats and carpeting. This year, the company resumed operation of its recycled polyester fiber line, hired approximately 30 employees and has seen commercial demand for its Lutradur and Lutradur ECO recycled plastic products increase. Its partner, Freudenberg Vitech, is an industry leader in the production of nonwoven automotive fabric made from 100% post consumer recycled material. It manufactures fabric in its Hopkinsville, KY facility for automotive headliners, sun visors, seat backs and packaging trays using fabric made from 100% post-consumer PET bottle scrap.

Freudenberg Texbond, based in Macon, GA, recycles more than one million plastic drink bottles a day in production of its nonwoven roofing membrane and building materials. Its products address soundproofing, waterproofing and thermal insulation challenges for the construction industry while helping customers meet green purchasing initiatives. Texbond processes the plastic from bottles into polyester fibers, which are further processedin to fabric.

Additionally, Freudenberg Filtration Technologies uses 100% post consumer recycled plastic to create the material used in its high-quality commercial and industrial Viledon air and liquid filtration systems.