On February 25th, Yuhan-Kimberly announced the launch of "Kleenex Washable Biodegradable Sanitary Cloths." The product utilizes plant-derived raw materials PHA, PLA, and pulp, offering an innovative product that combines hygiene and environmental friendliness, potentially reshaping the market landscape.
Yuhan-Kimberly is committed to its sustainable business goal of achieving 95% of its sales through sustainable products by 2030 and has expanded into several innovative products, such as "Huggies Nature Made Diapers" using sugarcane-derived biomass materials and "Kleenex Paper Wipes" using plastic-free fabric.
Applying biodegradable fabrics to reusable sanitary cloths is a challenging task, even for industry leaders. Introducing more environmentally friendly materials while maintaining the product's washability is not easy. The solution lies in collaborative cooperation between material suppliers and manufacturers. The core of the new product-the biodegradable fabric-brings together the technological strength and capabilities of Yuhan-Kimberly, CJ CheilJedang, and Yujin Hanil.
This collaboration between the three companies completely avoids petroleum-based materials, using only plant-derived raw materials such as PHA and PLA, as well as FSC®-certified natural pulp to create the fabric. Verified by a leading Korean testing agency, it achieves a biodegradability rate of over 90% within 45 days.
The commercialization of biodegradable fabric in hygiene wipes began in 2022 with the signing of the "Green Action Alliance" agreement between Yuhan-Kimberly and CJ CheilJedang to jointly promote a sustainable industrial ecosystem. Since then, the development of the PHA-based fabric and its actual product launch have spanned over three years.
The new product also utilizes Hydro-Knit technology, a core technology for enhancing fabric durability, ensuring the product remains strong even after multiple washes.
To ensure safety when in contact with tableware or skin, the product has achieved Dermatest Excellent certification and has been confirmed to be free of the 26 allergenic ingredients and microplastics listed by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Furthermore, its antibacterial rate reaches 99.9% (antibacterial test strains: Staphylococcus aureus, pneumonia bacteria).
Yuhan-Kimberly, a representative from Kleenex, stated, "This new product ensures unique hygiene and convenience while also representing a substantial advancement in environmental protection. As the leading brand of hygiene wipes, we strive to promote production and consumption that considers the global environment and continuously enhance the global competitiveness of domestically produced household products."
The new product is available in major supermarkets, the Kleenex Naver official online store, and other major online and offline channels.
