Sheboygan, Wis.-based Rockline Industries Inc.'s regenerated cotton wipe received the 2010 Visionary Award, presented at the Vision 2010 Consumer Products Conference held last month in New Orleans and organized by the Cary, N.C.-based Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA). The annual Visionary Award recognizes innovative consumer end products that incorporate nonwoven fabrics or use nonwoven technology during the manufacturing process.

The regenerated cotton wipe's substrate is comprised of 100-percent biodegradable materials - a 75-percent cotton/25-percent Lenzing Tencel® blend. The cotton comes from post-industrial waste generated by T-shirt manufacturing, and according to Rockline, the recovery process used to regenerate the cotton is energy- and water-efficient. The regenerated cotton wipe was one of five finalists chosen from products nominated for the award.

"With such an emphasis being placed on sustainable products in all industries, including nonwovens, the Vision conference attendees obviously were impressed by the green story of the Rockline Regenerated Cotton Wipe," said Rory Holmes, president, INDA. "There were five outstanding products representing all aspects of consumer products from filtration to personal and household care and they were all winners by being selected as finalists in the 2010 competition.

"The four other finalists were: Germany-based Henkel Corp.'s Purex® Complete 3-in-1™ laundry sheets; Plain City, Ohio-based Advanced Cleaning Technologies LLC's Ultimate Cloth®; Cincinnati-based Proctor & Gamble Co.'s always® Infinity feminine hygiene pad; and Ingleside, Ill.-based Superior Felt & Filtration LLC's Fitseal™ disposable respirator mask.

February 2, 2010