Earth's Best... Only Better

What do a hobby gardener and an industrial farmer have in common? More than you might think. Nonwovens are playing a growing role in agriculture and landscape applications—as well as in the backyards of many consumers—because they offer an array of benefits such as efficiency, breathability, strength, water permeability, thermal/UV stability and recyclability. Both consumer and professional growers are interested in earlier harvests, higher yields, better quality, improved plant growth and protection from weather, insects and other negative environmental influences.

    In terms of technology, spunbond, spunlace and needlepunched nonwovens dominate in these applications, but film (plastic) sheets and woven structures are still posing stiff competition for nonwoven fabrics. As in all segments of the nonwovens industry, the ultimate purchase comes down to the two “Ps” of performance and price.

    Johns Manville (JM), which exclusively sells polyester spunbond products into these markets,
is one company feeling the squeeze as polypropylene prices have not increased as sharply as polyes