Aquapak launches disposable wipes to revolutionize hygiene and combat plastic waste

UK – Polymer technology firm Aquapak has unveiled a new dissolvable, nonwoven wipe material using its proprietary Hydropol polymer, aimed at directly addressing concerns about fatbergs. 

This innovative development aims to tackle the environmental challenges posed by single-use hygiene products like wet wipes and sanitary pads. 

Unlike conventional plastic-based materials, the Hydropol-based alternative is water-soluble, non-toxic, and designed to completely dissolve in household wastewater systems. 

The wipes are designed to dissolve after flushing, eliminating the risk of microplastic pollution and helping prevent sewer blockages. 

In addition, the technology provides a plastic-free option for sanitary products, which traditionally contain up to 90% plastic and can take hundreds of years to break down in the environment. 

Mark Lapping, CEO at Aquapak, stated, “The material is being used to develop next-generation hygiene products such as wet wipes, which will not release microplastics or block sewers.”

“This solves one of the biggest consumer pollution problems facing us today.”

According to the company, Hydropol is effective because it fully dissolves in water, with fibres that swell without disintegrating and biodegrade without attracting fats, oils, or greases that contribute to sewer fatbergs. 

Recently, Aquapak joined forces with Innovatec Microfibre Technology and Kindcloth, the patent holder of dissolvable wipe technology, to scale up production through a streamlined, single-step process that transforms Hydropol pellets into melt-blown nonwoven fibres.  

Lapping added, “We have worked closely with leading nonwoven material manufacturers to develop an environmentally friendly alternative which does not rely on conventional plastic for its functionality and is set to revolutionise the nonwovens sector,”. 

In addition to wet wipes, Hydropol technology has been adapted for a range of disposable products, including makeup removers, face masks, insect repellent wipes, and industrial wipes. 

Aquapak is also partnering with Planera to develop Fluus, a flushable sanitary pad that uses a Hydropol coating in place of traditional plastic, further extending the material’s use in the personal care sector. 

Meanwhile, Aquapak’s Hydropol polymer recently got recognized with two prestigious US industry awards, celebrating its innovation in the nonwoven sector. 

The IDEA Nonwoven Products Achievement Award highlights Hydropol’s role in Innovatec Microfibre Technology’s InnovaWipe Water-Soluble Nonwoven, while the IDEA Sustainability Advancement Award honours its use in KINDCLOTH Insect Repellent Wet Wipe, which is biodegradable, flushable, and microplastic-free. 

These awards reinforce Hydropol’s transformative impact, offering marine-safe, non-toxic solutions that prevent plastic pollution and fatberg formation, advancing sustainability in nonwoven materials.

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