Suzano began producing Eucafluff, the world’s first eucalyptus-based fluff pulp, in late 2015 in Brazil. The material, designed for use in absorbent products like diapers and sanitary pads features enhanced softness, superior absorption and high compression. Last year, the comapany announced a massive capacity expansion, increasing production of Eucaluff 400% to 440,000 tons per year.

Guilherme Melhado, global director of Fluff and Fiber Solutions at Suzano, discusses the fiber’s ever-growing role in the global hygiene market.

Nonwovens Industry: As Suzano Eucafluff marks its end of its first decade in the market, what are the major factors that driven its adoption by manufacturers?

Guilherme Melhado: We always believed that Eucafluff® could be a game-changer in the hygiene market.  When we began the R&D process to create the world’s first eucalyptus fluff, we heard a lot of skepticism about the potential for a short-fiber alternative to the long-fiber pine pulp that had always dominated the industry. Ten years on, many of those doubters are now our customers, and we continue to make progress on overcoming…