The company was honored for its integrated product policy

The topic of the competition was "The Closed Circle Economy" relating to the areas of environmental protection, product responsibility and dialogue in respect of Responsible Care.

Kelheim Fibres, a world-leading manufacturer of viscose specialty fibers, scored high points with their its short cut fibers VILOFT, specifically developed for the production of increasingly popular moist toilet tissue. Worldwide, the demand in this segment is increasing significantly. In contrast to traditional (spunlace) wipes, wet wipes made of Kelheim’s VILOFT  short cut fibers disintegrate rapidly and prevent the blockage of pumps in the waste water system.

Again, in contrast to commercially available standard products, these wipes are completely biodegradable.

Therefore, Kelheim’s short cut viscose fibers offer an enormous potential for savings with regard to energy and maintenance costs for regional waste water operations. At the same time, they offer a solution for the growing issue of increased pollution of water by micro plastics - a huge benefit for the environment.

This fact convinced the independent jury of experts, who judged the projects submitted by their quality, creativity, impact and exemplary character. The citation for VILOFT  states: "This project impresses with the integrated product policy outlined: Even at the product design stage the focus is on the complete system. A bio-persistent material is being replaced. This prevention of waste and residual materials results in a Germany-wide saving potential in municipal infrastructures."

Kelheim Fibres’ business manager Horst Wörner is pleased: "We have been pursuing the topic of flushability for years. With our VILOFT  fiber we offer the solution that has been sought by waste water authorities for years. Unfortunately, the dimensions of the problem and the corresponding savings potential are not universally known yet.

"This Responsible-Care-Award confirms that we are on the right path and I hope it helps to create more awareness at the consumer level."

Kelheim Fibres is a world leading producer of viscose specialty fibers and the most important supplier of viscose fibers for the tampon industry.

Approximately 90,000 tons of viscose fibers are produced and tested every year at Kelheim in South Germany. These are used in most diverse applications – from fashion, hygiene and medical products to nonwovens and specialty papers.

Innovative products, flexible technologies and a strong customer orientation form the foundations of the company’s success.