Ahlstrom’s new BioProtect™ product nominated to IDEA 2025 Nonwoven Achievement Award featuring OrganoClick’s OC-BioBinder®

Ahlstrom, a globally leading nonwoven producer, has been nominated as a finalist for the IDEA 2025 Awards in the “Nonwoven Product” category for its innovative BioProtect™ laundry care solution. This biodegradable and certified biobased product is based on cellulosic fibers in combination with OrganoClick’s OC-BioBinder® and represents years of dedicated development.

A Sustainable Innovation in Laundry Care

BioProtect™ is an advanced, sustainable nonwoven solution designed to prevent color runs during laundry of clothes. Made entirely from naturally derived fibers using OC-BioBinder® as binder, it is certified biobased, biodegradable (ISO14855-1), and home compostable. Manufactured using wetlaid technology, BioProtect™ ensures premium quality with excellent dye-catching performance, strong wet strength, and high absorption capacity.

“Our high-performance solution delivers outstanding dye-catching capabilities, offering protection against color runs with results that match industry benchmarks,” says Pierre Mary, Vice President, Nonwovens at Ahlstrom.

“Designed from renewable sources, BioProtect™ significantly reduces environmental impact,” adds Anna Brikh, Product Manager, Consumer Nonwovens. “It has also been awarded the highest OK biobased rating of 4 stars by the accredited certification institute TÜV Austria.”

OC-BioBinder®: A Sustainable Alternative to Fossil-Based Binders

OrganoClick’s OC-BioBinder® is a series of biobased, plastic-free binders designed for the nonwoven industry. Made from renewable raw materials and residual streams from the food industry, these binders replace traditional fossil-based plastic binders, significantly reducing CO2 emissions. OC-BioBinder® is available in various formulations tailored for home compostable nonwoven applications such as premium napkins, tablecloths, and wet wipes.

“We are thrilled to see our biobinders being used in new applications that require durability under challenging conditions,” says Mårten Hellberg, CEO of OrganoClick. “We look forward to continuing our mission of replacing plastics and making products truly sustainable from the inside out.”

About Ahlstrom

Ahlstrom is a global leader in fiber-based specialty materials, committed to sustainability through its purpose: Purify and Protect, with Every Fiber, for a Sustainable World. With a vision to be the Preferred Sustainable Specialty Materials Company, Ahlstrom operates across three divisions—Filtration and Life Sciences, Food and Consumer Packaging, and Protective Materials—delivering safe and eco-friendly solutions worldwide. In 2023, the company reported net sales of EUR 3.0 billion and employed approximately 7,000 people. Learn more at www.ahlstrom.com.