09.11.24
Nakkila, Finland
www.suominen.com
2023 Nonwovens Sales: $488 million
Key Personnel
Tommi Björnman, president and CEO; Janne Silonsaari, CFO; Markku Koivisto, executive vice president, EMEA and CTO, Markku Koivisto, interim executive vice president, Americas: Jonni Friman, executive vice president, TMO
Plants
Bethune, SC; Windsor Locks, CT: Paulinia, Brazil; Cressa, Italy; Nakkila, Finland; Alicante, Spain
Processes
Spunlace, wetlaid, thermal bond, chemical bond, SPC, Webril
With sustainability continuing to be its core focus, sales were reported at €450.9 million at Suominen Corporation, the world’s leading supplier of nonwoven materials to the disposable wipes market. By region, €288 million of sales were conducted in the Americas while the remaining €162 million were in Europe.
The highlights of the year included the introduction of several new products, particularly those focused on Suominen’s sustainability efforts. The company reported that sales of new products accounted for over 35% of the total sales for the year, with sustainable product sales increasing by 79% in 2023. Throughout the year, 12 new sustainable products were launched.
One of these new products, Biolace with cotton, is a 100% biodegradable and compostable cotton-enhanced wipe, that was launched in December 2023 to the American market. It is made by combining multiple sustainable fibers using filtered water. This material can help reduce solution add-on requirements compared to other 100% sustainable options due to a combination of fiber selection and process techniques.
Another new addition to the Biolace product family is Biolace with a Nubtex micro-dot pattern designed for those applications looking for more intense cleaning. Unique Nubtex micro-dot pattern combined with sustainable fibers for fluid management provide an exceptional material design for difficult cleaning tasks. The product is a 100% biodegradable and compostable nonwoven best suited for personal care, household and workplace use.
“Compared to a standard dot pattern, the Nubtex pattern creates a more abrading surface area that aids in loosening dirt and debris for improved pick-up and removal from surfaces and skin,” explains Andrew Charleston, manager, Category Management, Americas.
Efforts in this area will continue. In August, Suominen announced that it is installing a Card-Pulp-Card line at its facility in Alicante, Spain, as part of its sustainability initiatives.
“With this investment we respond to the accelerating demand for sustainable nonwovens in Europe. This investment is made to enhance our profitability and competitiveness,” says Tommi Björnman, president and CEO.
The new line, which represents an investment of approximately €20 million, will be complete in the second half of next year.
Other recent investments include a €10 million upgrade to an existing line in Bethune, SC, which will strengthen capabilities in sustainable products, is made in line with Suominen’s strategy and supports the company’s vision to be the frontrunner in nonwovens innovation and sustainability.
“With this investment we strengthen our position as the leader in sustainable nonwovens in the Americas market and respond to the increased demand of environmentally friendly products. This investment also enhances our operational performance in terms of safety, quality and productivity,” says Björnman.
This investment is expected to be completed in the first half of 2025.
Last year, Suominen completed a similar investment at its plant in Naikkila, Finland where it spent about €6 million to enhance and upgrade a line there. At the time, the company said the improvements responded to increased demand for environmentally friendly products and also to enhance its operational performance in terms of safety, quality and productivity.
Amidst these investments, Suominen finalized the closure of its production site in Mozzate, Italy, in April 2023 after determining the existing equipment there was incapable of meeting European demand for disinfectant wipes made from sustainable materials.
Meanwhile, at its Paulinia, Brazil, site, Suominen has reduced its greenhouse emissions through the installation of 2200 solar panels as it shifts to fossil-free electricity. This follows similar efforts in Europe where the company shifted to fossil-free electricity at all of its plans in 2021.
Suominen aims to reduce its energy and water consumption, landfill waste and greenhouse gas emissions respectively by 20% per ton of product by 2025, compared to the base year of 2019. In 2022, its greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 20% per ton of product.
www.suominen.com
2023 Nonwovens Sales: $488 million
Key Personnel
Tommi Björnman, president and CEO; Janne Silonsaari, CFO; Markku Koivisto, executive vice president, EMEA and CTO, Markku Koivisto, interim executive vice president, Americas: Jonni Friman, executive vice president, TMO
Plants
Bethune, SC; Windsor Locks, CT: Paulinia, Brazil; Cressa, Italy; Nakkila, Finland; Alicante, Spain
Processes
Spunlace, wetlaid, thermal bond, chemical bond, SPC, Webril
With sustainability continuing to be its core focus, sales were reported at €450.9 million at Suominen Corporation, the world’s leading supplier of nonwoven materials to the disposable wipes market. By region, €288 million of sales were conducted in the Americas while the remaining €162 million were in Europe.
The highlights of the year included the introduction of several new products, particularly those focused on Suominen’s sustainability efforts. The company reported that sales of new products accounted for over 35% of the total sales for the year, with sustainable product sales increasing by 79% in 2023. Throughout the year, 12 new sustainable products were launched.
One of these new products, Biolace with cotton, is a 100% biodegradable and compostable cotton-enhanced wipe, that was launched in December 2023 to the American market. It is made by combining multiple sustainable fibers using filtered water. This material can help reduce solution add-on requirements compared to other 100% sustainable options due to a combination of fiber selection and process techniques.
Another new addition to the Biolace product family is Biolace with a Nubtex micro-dot pattern designed for those applications looking for more intense cleaning. Unique Nubtex micro-dot pattern combined with sustainable fibers for fluid management provide an exceptional material design for difficult cleaning tasks. The product is a 100% biodegradable and compostable nonwoven best suited for personal care, household and workplace use.
“Compared to a standard dot pattern, the Nubtex pattern creates a more abrading surface area that aids in loosening dirt and debris for improved pick-up and removal from surfaces and skin,” explains Andrew Charleston, manager, Category Management, Americas.
Efforts in this area will continue. In August, Suominen announced that it is installing a Card-Pulp-Card line at its facility in Alicante, Spain, as part of its sustainability initiatives.
“With this investment we respond to the accelerating demand for sustainable nonwovens in Europe. This investment is made to enhance our profitability and competitiveness,” says Tommi Björnman, president and CEO.
The new line, which represents an investment of approximately €20 million, will be complete in the second half of next year.
Other recent investments include a €10 million upgrade to an existing line in Bethune, SC, which will strengthen capabilities in sustainable products, is made in line with Suominen’s strategy and supports the company’s vision to be the frontrunner in nonwovens innovation and sustainability.
“With this investment we strengthen our position as the leader in sustainable nonwovens in the Americas market and respond to the increased demand of environmentally friendly products. This investment also enhances our operational performance in terms of safety, quality and productivity,” says Björnman.
This investment is expected to be completed in the first half of 2025.
Last year, Suominen completed a similar investment at its plant in Naikkila, Finland where it spent about €6 million to enhance and upgrade a line there. At the time, the company said the improvements responded to increased demand for environmentally friendly products and also to enhance its operational performance in terms of safety, quality and productivity.
Amidst these investments, Suominen finalized the closure of its production site in Mozzate, Italy, in April 2023 after determining the existing equipment there was incapable of meeting European demand for disinfectant wipes made from sustainable materials.
Meanwhile, at its Paulinia, Brazil, site, Suominen has reduced its greenhouse emissions through the installation of 2200 solar panels as it shifts to fossil-free electricity. This follows similar efforts in Europe where the company shifted to fossil-free electricity at all of its plans in 2021.
Suominen aims to reduce its energy and water consumption, landfill waste and greenhouse gas emissions respectively by 20% per ton of product by 2025, compared to the base year of 2019. In 2022, its greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 20% per ton of product.
