We believe the hygiene industry is at a tipping point. 

Having been at the forefront of the reusable hygiene industry from a technical innovation perspective for more than 10 years, we have watched with interest its phases of development and mainstreaming in recent years. 

In the current phase, small-scale entrepreneurs are giving way to mainstream players coming from either the traditional single-use femcare sector or from the apparel industry.

As awareness of climate change drives regulatory pressures, and consumers’ interest in health and body wellness comes to the forefront, brands can no longer compromise on either performance or eco-credentials. 

Setting the standards
As the category grows, verified performance becomes a key aspect for reusables. To date, the reusables market has been unregulated, but at Confitex we are passionate campaigners for industry standards to guide consumer choices and provide risk mitigation for retailers. In the meantime, we continue to be one of the few companies investing in independent external verifications to support our marketing claims around the performance of our products. 

There is good debate about what the testing protocols should be. Reusable absorbent products face unique technical challenges and react very differently from single-use ones. It is therefore not appropriate to simply adopt nonwoven industry protocols for reusables products, given the concerning real-life consequences for the wearer if they do not live up to their claimed absorbency.

Technology and Innovation are the Key to Sustainability
Innovation and technology can definitely improve the sustainable ecosystem, firstly by creating better-performing and more practical products that people trust and want to use, secondly by enabling them to be made more sustainably, and thirdly, by enabling them to be made more affordably so more people can access them.

When I founded Confitex more than 10 years ago, it was with the strong belief that by creating the ultimate reusable absorbent hygiene products we could transform lives and help reduce waste.

‘Reuse’ is near the top of the waste reduction hierarchy – second only to reduce, which simply isn’t an option when you’re managing your period each month or living with light bladder leakage. People need a solution, and more and more they’re demanding one that’s less detrimental to the environment than the single-use absorbents that currently dominate the sector. Regulators are increasingly taking a strong stance – the EU, for example, has indicated plans to ban plastic-based single-use absorbent hygiene products as soon as a reliable sustainable alternative is widely and affordably available.

Confitex is Leading the Charge for Sustainable, Reusable Hygiene Products
Our market-leading technology and automated manufacturing are what we believe positions Confitex ahead of other reusable manufacturers in this space. 

Historically, the problem faced by the reusable absorbent hygiene sector was that the technology wasn’t quite there yet to make washable products that rivalled the performance of single-use pads and liners. 

Having solved that issue with our unique reusable absorbent and leakproof technology, which has been independently verified by leading international standards laboratories, Confitex is now focused on automating the production process so we can make washable products on a large enough scale for them to be affordable and accessible to mass consumers. 

And that economic sustainability is very important, because it’s only when reusable solutions are as reliable, convenient and affordable as single-use pads and liners that they will be widely enough adopted to really make a dent on the number of single-use absorbent hygiene products flooding into landfill. 

These new technologies, which are covered by numerous patents, have been developed for our private label clients so they are not available through our global ecommerce stores under the Confitex brand.

A Greener Future
In designing our state-of-the-art new factory, we have taken a holistic approach to production, and streamlined operations for maximum efficiency. This process integration has achieved a substantial reduction in materials, chemicals, energy, wastewater and microplastics, and a corresponding reduction in our carbon footprint and environmental impact. 

On an industry level, wider adoption of textile-based reusables will reduce the amount of waste entering the environment, but decarbonising the production process is somewhat difficult, as textiles emit a lot of carbon dioxide during chemical processing, unlike their nonwoven counterparts used in single-use products. 

So on one side you have single-use pads and liners made from nonwoven materials, which produce fewer carbon emissions during production but generate vast amounts of waste, and on the other side you have textile-based products, which create higher carbon emissions during production but generate less waste because they can be used multiple times. 

Confitex is heavily focused on finding a solution that delivers the best of both worlds. Further innovation in this space is necessary, and we’re confident that Confitex will be at the forefront of developments. 

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Franitsek Riha-Scott is the founder of Confitex, an eco-conscious textile company driven by a desire to transform lives and protect the planet. By marrying high-tech absorbent and leakproof textiles with stylish designs, Confitex aims to change the handling of everyday leaks and smash any stigma along the way. The company’s goal is a world where nobody needs to live in fear of life’s little leaks. www.confitex.com