INDA and EDANA, the leading North American and European-based nonwovens-related trade associations have voiced their support of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) $700,000 fine against Pental for falsely claiming its White King wipes were flushable. Both organizations are dedicated to advancing education and technology in the wipes category and have worked with leading industry and wastewater experts to develop a comprehensive battery of tests that ensure a wipe intended to be marketed as “flushable” is compatible with the wastewater system after it is flushed.

“There are rigorous testing procedures for flushability and Pental’s product did not pass those tests and should have been clearly marked with a “Do Not Flush” symbol per our Code of Practice for labeling,” says Dave Rousse, president of INDA. “A thorough review of White King wipes revealed that the product had not undergone flushability claims testing and recent industry testing has shown that the product does not pass the stringent Edition 3 Flushability Guidelines (GD3) of INDA and EDANA. This type of behavior hurts responsible manufacturers because some consumers and regulators will unfairly attribute those failures to the entire category of flushable wipes.”

“Wipes that don’t pass GD3 testing should have a prominent ‘Do Not Flush’ symbol and should not be flushed,” says Pierre Wiertz, general manager of EDANA. “We want consumers to be properly informed and confident that products with a flushable claim have passed this rigorous testing. That is why the flushable claim should only be used on products that pass the GD3 guidelines.  Companies that do not back their “flushable” claim with product testing following the guidelines should be held accountable.”

Last month, Pental, the maker of White King wipes, was ordered by the Federal Court to pay $700,000 for misleading its customers into thinking that its toilet and bathroom cleaning wipes were flushable. The ACCC said Pental’s packaging and promotions for its White King wipes claimed that they were made from specially designed material that would disintegrate like toilet paper when flushed.

The company also boasted that users could “simply wipe over the hard surface of the toilet … and just flush away”.

The ACCC began proceedings in the Federal Court in December 2016, after a complaint by consumer advocate group Choice.Pental cooperated with the ACCC by admitting these claims were wrong.