Fiberpartner has been nominated for the INDEX 26 Award in the category “Raw materials or components of special relevance to the nonwovens and related converted products industry” for its PLA-based fiber innovation, PolyPlant.

PolyPlant is an advanced PLA-based fiber engineered to overcome the well-known limitations of conventional polylactic acid materials, particularly in relation to thermal resistance, crystallization behavior, and long-term mechanical stability. Through proprietary material engineering, Fiberpartner has developed a formulation that enhances crystallization kinetics, molecular stability and fiber morphology – without relying on synthetic additives or fossil-based modifiers.

This approach enables high and uniform crystallinity without traditional nucleating agents, improved thermal stability and reduced shrinkage, consistent mechanical performance over time, faster and more stable processing behavior and full retention of biogenic carbon content.

By addressing the traditional performance gap between renewable and fossil-based fibers, PolyPlant provides a viable pathway for manufacturers seeking to transition toward more sustainable materials without compromising process efficiency or product performance.

“PolyPlant has been developed to meet the real demands of industrial nonwoven production,” says Selahattin Onur, head of innovation at Fiberpartner. “It enables converters to integrate renewable fibers into existing production setups while maintaining stability, consistency, and throughput.”

The fiber is designed as a drop-in solution compatible with standard nonwoven processing technologies, supporting reliable bonding behavior and reduced defect risk during thermal processing. This makes PolyPlant relevant across a wide range of applications where both performance and sustainability are critical.