flushable raw material are increasingly widely used, from home care to public place cleaning, and healthcare. Wet wipes have become an indispensable daily necessity. With the growing strictness of environmental regulations and the enhancement of consumers' environmental awareness, spunlace non-woven flushable wet wipes have become the focus of market attention.
So, how is a qualified wet wipe produced? Below, we will provide a comprehensive analysis from a process perspective.
I.Raw Material Selection: The First Step in Determining Dispersibility
The production of wet wipes relies on fibre raw materials. Common raw materials for wet wipes include:
Wood pulp fibres: Easily dispersible when exposed to water, they are the core material for flushable wet wipes.
Natural fibres (cotton, bamboo fibres): High softness and good skin-friendly properties.
Viscose, Lyocell, and other regenerated fibres: High wet strength, combining durability with environmental friendliness.
👉 For ‘flushable’ products, the length and proportion of fibres in the raw materials are critical. Short fibres ensure dispersibility, while certain regenerated fibres prevent easy breakage during use.
II. Web formation process: preliminary fibre shaping
After raw material processing, the fibres enter the web formation stage, a foundational process in wet wipe production.
Wet web formation: uses water flow to evenly spread the fibres, suitable for flushable materials.
In producing flushable wet wipes, wet web formation is typically used to ensure even fibre distribution, facilitating subsequent dispersion.
III. Spunlace Reinforcement: Core Technology Process
The reason wet wipes form a fabric rather than a clump of fibres lies in the reinforcement process.
Traditional wet wipes may use chemical adhesives, but this affects biodegradability.
Spunlace non-woven fabrics use high-pressure water jets to interlace fibres, eliminating the need for adhesive components and making them more environmentally friendly.
👉 This step determines whether the wet wipe is durable during use and ensures it disperses quickly when flushed down the toilet.
IV.Post-processing and functional enhancement
To meet different usage scenarios, wet wipes typically undergo ‘functional processing’ after production:
Moisturising and formula liquid filling: such as cleaning solutions or skincare ingredients.
Antibacterial and antimicrobial treatment: particularly suitable for personal care wet wipes.
Softness and skin-friendly optimisation: Enhancing user experience.
This step directly determines the market positioning of the wet wipes: household care, baby-specific, personal hygiene wipes, etc.
V.Cutting and Packaging
After being rolled, cut, and folded, the wet wipes enter the automated packaging process. Depending on their intended use, packaging formats include:
Individual small packages (portable)
Pull-out box/bag packaging (for home or commercial use)
Proper packaging not only ensures moisture retention but also enhances the product's premium feel.
VI.Biodegradability Testing
A qualified biodegradable wipe must undergo rigorous testing:
Water dispersion test: whether it can quickly disintegrate after being flushed into a toilet.
Drainage pipe simulation: whether it causes blockages.
Environmental degradation: Can it decompose in natural environments?
Only through these tests can the product meet both cleaning requirements and environmental standards.
VII.Summary
The production process of wet wipes involves multiple stages, including raw material selection, web formation, hydroentanglement reinforcement, functional treatment, cutting, and packaging. Among these, the hydroentangled non-woven fabric process is the key to ensuring the flushability and environmental performance of wet wipes.
As global environmental trends accelerate, hydroentangled non-woven flushable wet wipes will become the mainstream in future industry development。
