Mitsui Chemicals and Asahi Kasei, two leaders in the Japanese nonwovens industry, have announced a plan to form a new integrated company combining their nonwovens businesses with a tentative start date of October 2, 2023. This plan will be carried out through a corporation-type demerger enabling the establishment of the new integrated company pending the approval of authorities in Japan and Thailand, where the two companies have operations.

Under the proposed plan, all of Mitsui Chemicals’ nonwovens businesses with the exception of its SWP fibrillated polyolefin fiber, will be integrated with Asahi Kasei’s spunbond and cartridge filter business. The new company will be known as Mitsui Chemicals Asahi Life Materials Co. and it will be based in Tokyo, Japan. Mistui will own slightly more than 60% of the company while Asahi Kasei will hold the remaining shares. Sales are estimated at ¥48.3 billion or about $370 million annually.

In other news, biom is preparing to launch its newest innovation—flushable wipes. This new product line celebrates the same product design that made biom wipes a household name when they launched last year – their refillable, plastic-free, and biodegradable wipes system has beat the Clorox/Lysol competition in awards from House Beautiful, Good Housekeeping, and more. But now, focusing on flushable, the manufacturer took the time to develop a best-in-class flushable substrate and user experience.

Here are our top 3 most viewed stories from the past week:

1. Mitsui Chemicals, Asahi Kasei Combine Nonwovens Businesses

2. biom Launches Flushable Wipes

3. Alkegen to Sell Thermal Acoustical Solutions Business to Private Equity Firm