SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. —May 16, 2012 — Kenactiv Innovations, Inc., a leading innovator and manufacturer
of sustainable biobased performance fibers and products, announced today the launch of its Activat
Fiber Technologies platform to meet rapidly increasing demand for sustainable fiber products by the
textile, automotive, healthcare, plastics, packaging and consumer products industries.
Activat Fiber Technologies applies Kenactiv’s innovative and customizable processing and
treatments to kenaf, jute and flax fibers to create sustainable solutions for manufacturers seeking
high performance yet sustainable alternatives to synthetic and other natural fibers. The AFT
platform includes Activat1 bast-fiber products and feedstocks from kenaf, flax and/or jute, which
are suited to all nonwoven manufacturing processes. ActivatBL, bast fiber and core blend
products offer excellent performance and value for paper and pulp applications. Kenactiv
Innovations, Inc. is the premier US manufacturer offering kenaf, jute and flax which each have
unique performance profiles and suitability for different applications.
As demand for woven and nonwoven textiles increases, so does demand for sustainability in
these applications. A large margin of the nonwovens market is for single use items such as
home maintenance and beauty product wipes and healthcare products. With an eye toward
controlling landfills, recyclable and biodegradable or compostable materials are increasingly
called for by manufacturers and consumers. Biobased fibers such as kenaf, flax and jute offer the
sustainability profile manufacturers and consumers demand with no sacrifice in performance.
“While manufacturers have for some time recognized the sustainability and performance
benefits of biobased fibers for these industrial and consumer applications, supply chain stability
and quality control have been obstacles to their use,” said Richard W. Elsey, President and COO of
Kenactiv Innovations, Inc. “With large scale agricultural capacity right here in the US and the
largest bast fiber processing operation in North America — plus additional capacity abroad —
Kenactiv Innovations is uniquely able to meet both the volume and quality demands of large scale
manufacturers.”
Kenactiv Innovations is a specialist in the natural and enzymatic technologies required to
process bast fibers to achieve the fiber length, consistency and tensile strength these demanding
applications require while also maximizing their sustainability and cost benefits. Choosing Activat
fiber products over petroleum-based or other synthetic and natural fibers offers manufacturers
proven operational cost savings, improved risk mitigation, environmental hazard and toxicity
reduction, reduced water consumption and decreased emissions. Kenaf composite and nonwoven
automotive products, for example, reduce automobile weight increasing fuel efficiency. And by
replacing conventional plastics and fiberglass with biobased alternatives, the vehicle’s overall
carbon footprint is further reduced.
The Company offers highly customizable treatments and processes including enhanced or
selective absorption, antimicrobial, fire retardance, high flash, water resistance, woolenization
and dye compatibility to satisfy customers’ unique design specifications. “Coupled with our diverse
raw fiber offerings and processing capacity, we can provide sustainable solutions across a broad
spectrum of woven and nonwoven textile applications,” according to Elsey.
For further information regarding Activat Fiber Technologies and products, please contact
Jack Galvin EVP of Sales, at jgalvin@kenactiv.com.
Posted on May 22, 2012
Source: Kenactiv Innovations Inc./PRNewswire
