Yuhan-Kimberly, a joint venture between Korea’s Yuhan Corporation and U.S. based Kimberly-Clark, has developed the world’s first biodegradable and reusable nonwoven paper towel made with amorphous PHA. Now available in South Korea, the Kleenex Biodegradable Reusable Dishtowel features CJ Biomaterials’ proprietary PHACT™ A1000P technology. This new consumer product is the result of the partnership between CJ Biomaterials and Yuhan-Kimberly that began in 2022 focusing on the development of eco-friendly products that accelerate the use of sustainable materials.

PHACT™ A1000P is derived from sustainably grown, plant-based raw materials including sugarcane. It is a soft, rubbery, biobased material that can replace conventional plastics while breaking down naturally in compost and environmental conditions. It is certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) for commercial and home compostability and by TÜV AUSTRIA as OK compost HOME and INDUSTRIAL, as well as OK biodegradable MARINE and SOIL. Yuhan-Kimberly combined PHACT A1000P with other plant-derived materials, including cellulose and polylactic acid (PLA), into high-performance spunbond nonwovens produced by Eugene Hanil Synthetic Fiber co., Ltd. to create a paper towel that is 100% biobased and will not produce persistent microplastics.

The new paper towels can be washed and used multiple times before disposal and are often used in homes and restaurants throughout Korea. Developing its new towel, Yuhan-Kimberly was seeking raw materials that could bind cellulose fibers into a soft and strong spunbond nonwoven but would also pass testing for persistent microplastics developed by KOTITI Testing & Research Institute, the first internationally accredited testing and inspection institute for textile products in Korea. As a polymer produced through fermentation, CJ Biomaterials’ PHACT A1000P is certified as biodegradable and performs well as a binder for cellulose fibers.

Yuhan-Kimberly had previously tested towels using PLA alone as a binder, but mechanical performance limitations created significant challenges. Incorporating PHACT PHA largely eliminated those issues while allowing Yuhan-Kimberly to maintain its existing manufacturing process and production speeds, resulting in a finished product with enhanced softness and durability that passed KOTITI testing for persistent microplastics.

“This new product delivers improved hygiene and convenience while also representing meaningful progress for the environment,” says KueYoung You, head of innovation center, Yuhan-Kimberly. “As South Korea’s leading provider of personal care and hygiene products, we will continue promoting production and consumption that considers the environment while strengthening the global competitiveness of Korean household products.”

The Kleenex Biodegradable Reusable Dishtowel is currently available in supermarkets across South Korea, and online.