Cotton Nonwovens: A Sustainable Material for a Green Future

One of the most innovative uses of cotton nonwovens is happening in an unlikely category: disposable diapers. Cottonsie™ is a new diaper brand that has replaced plastic-based materials with 100% cotton in key layers—including the topsheet, backsheet, and acquisition distribution layer. The result? A high-performance diaper that’s soft, breathable, and more than 80% biodegradable within 18 months.
Founded by chemist and textile scientist Nicole Richards, Cottonsie was developed using a patent-pending process that allows cotton to wick and transfer moisture at an equivalent rate to synthetic fibers—solving one of the biggest challenges of using cotton in absorbent products. Cottonsie’s approach goes beyond green marketing, offering the highest cotton content out of any diaper brand, offering an opportunity for genuine reductions in plastic use. It’s a tangible example of how cotton nonwovens are helping solve some of today’s most urgent sustainability challenges.