Seven professional tests, none can be skipped. We provide not just material, but a guarantee for unblocked drains, safeguarded brand reputation, and a passport to the green, sustainable future of the nonwovens industry.
The term "flushable" has evolved from a product feature to a core industry imperative. As the global push for sustainability intensifies, biodegradable and flushable materials have become key to future competitiveness. The nonwovens industry is rapidly transitioning from traditional manufacturing to a new phase integrating green and smart solutions. In this landscape, truly compliant flushable nonwoven fabric is not just an option; it's a critical requirement for brands aiming for leadership.
However, the market is fraught with confusion. While “flushable” labels abound, products that genuinely meet stringent international standards remain scarce. This gap places brands at risk: from costly plumbing blockages and consumer complaints to compliance failures and reputational damage. For high-quality merchants, navigating this complexity is the primary challenge and opportunity.
The global nonwovens market is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by sustainability and regulatory forces. A dominant trend is the shift toward green, low-carbon, and circular product development. In the post-pandemic era, many companies are pivoting from medical protection to the broader health and wellness sector, where materials like flushable nonwovens are pivotal.
Yet, amidst this green revolution, a significant pain point persists. The disparity between marketing claims and actual performance has led to a crisis of trust. For merchants and brands, the stakes are high. Choosing the wrong material can result in:
Consumer Backlash: Product failures leading to clogged pipes directly translate to brand distrust.
Regulatory Risk: Non-compliance with evolving regional environmental regulations.
Financial Loss: Costs associated with product recalls, litigation, and plumbing repairs.
The path forward is clear: break away from "internal competition" on price alone and move towards high-quality development driven by innovation and verified performance.
What does "flushable" truly mean? It is definitively governed by two primary, science-based frameworks:
The internationally recognized INDA/EDANA Guidance Document (GD4).
The Chinese National Standard GB/T 40181-2021.
These standards move beyond vague claims, defining flushability through a product's entire journey. A truly flushable product must:
Clear toilets and drainage pipes completely.
Disperse rapidly in sewer water.
Be compatible with wastewater treatment systems without causing harm.
Biodegrade within a reasonable timeframe.
Reliance on data is non-negotiable. The table below details the core tests that separate marketing hype from verified, sustainable performance.
|
Test |
Core Purpose |
Passing Criteria |
What Excellence Looks Like |
|
Toilet and Drain Clearance Test |
Evaluate if the product can be completely flushed from the toilet and pass smoothly through drainage pipes. |
≤5% of flushed product residue. |
After over 100 flushes, no product residue remains. |
|
Slosh Box Disintegration Test |
Evaluate the product's dispersion ability under water flow impact. |
>25% of disintegrated product passes through a 12.5mm sieve. |
100% passes through the sieve. |
|
Settleability Test |
Evaluate the product's settling characteristics in sewage to avoid floating and causing blockages. |
Average settling speed >0.1cm/s, 95% of product settles. |
All samples settle rapidly, average speed reaches 2.86cm/s. |
|
Biodegradability Test (Aerobic/Anaerobic) |
Evaluate the product's ultimate degradation capability in wastewater treatment environments. |
>95% degradation after 14 days (aerobic) / 28 days (anaerobic). |
Achieves 100% degradation after both 14 aerobic and 28 anaerobic days. |
|
Pump System Test (Household/Municipal) |
Evaluate the product's impact on pump system operation. |
Does not cause system stoppage; power increase ≤15%. |
Stable household pump system; municipal pump power increase only 1.77%. |
Technical Core: Decrypting the Underlying Logic of Flushability
The technical core of flushable nonwoven lies in resolving the contradiction between "strength" and "dispersibility". Better strength often leads to poorer dispersibility, and better dispersibility often leads to weaker strength. To break through this technical challenge, leading companies have achieved breakthroughs through various technological innovations.
Fiber selection is one of the decisive factors. Research indicates that using special viscose fibers with a flower-shaped cross-section and numerous deep surface grooves (such as Danufil fibers) can significantly enhance the material's flushability.
Regarding raw material formulation, studies have found that when the mass fraction of wood pulp fiber is between 40%-60%, the prepared material can basically meet the requirements for practical use and flushability. The optimal mass ratio of wood pulp fiber to viscose fiber is 1:1.
The production process is equally crucial. Through specialized hydroentanglement technology and fiber web 3D structure remodeling technology, it is possible to maintain sufficient wet wipe strength while ensuring rapid dispersion upon contact with water.
Market Trends: The Future Landscape of Flushable Materials
Green sustainable development has become an irreversible trend in the industry. Signals from industry exhibitions like CINTE25 in 2026 indicate that China's technical textiles industry is moving from "manufacturing" to "smart manufacturing", transitioning from "traditional" to a new stage integrating "green and smart".
Market forecasts suggest the nonwoven fabric market will grow from $64.61 billion in 2026 to $86.55 billion in 2031, with a CAGR of 6.03%.
It is worth noting that flushable materials are expanding their application boundaries. Beyond traditional wipes, flushable nonwovens are gradually being applied in high-end hygiene products, medical dressings, and other fields, realizing the consumer experience of "use and discard without burden".
Industry conferences, such as the 2026 FOCUS International Forum, have explicitly identified "flushable, biodegradable" as a core topic, highlighting the industry's emphasis on this trend.
Selection Strategy: How to Identify Truly Reliable Suppliers
Faced with numerous suppliers claiming their products are "flushable", purchasers need to establish a scientific evaluation system. The primary standard is to require suppliers to provide complete, authoritative third-party test reports covering all results of the seven INDA/EDANA tests or the eight GB/T 40181-2021 tests.
Intellectual property protection is an important indicator for measuring a supplier's technical strength. Leading companies typically hold core patents for flushable technology. For instance, NBOND Nonwovens holds 15 relevant patents, including international invention patents.
R&D investment and customization capabilities should not be overlooked. Excellent suppliers can not only provide standard products but also adjust formulations and processes according to customers' specific needs, balancing parameters such as wet strength, softness, and dispersion speed.
The industry is undergoing profound changes. The 2026 Wipes Conference listed "flushable, biodegradable" as its primary theme. Regulations in major global markets are becoming increasingly stringent, and consumers' environmental awareness is growing.
The cost of plumber's bills, consumer complaint calls, and the risk of brand reputation damage — these costs far exceed the increased expense of choosing truly qualified flushable materials. Procurement decisions are no longer just about price comparison; they are an investment in risk management and brand value.
The market has proven that brands that plan ahead and choose genuinely compliant flushable materials are winning consumer trust and market share. Next time you evaluate a supplier, perhaps start the conversation with a complete third-party test report.