Thursday, November 20
9:00 am - 10:40 am
Degradability in Absorbent Hygiene Products - Necessary, but not Sufficient
Interest from the hygiene market in degradability of their disposable products is nothing new. More than 30 years ago the nonwovens industry arguably sparked the kickoff of what has now become a global biopolymers industry - a move that is revolutionizing the single use plastics industry, upending thinking on the fate of products after their use and helping introduce biodegradability as a viable characteristic in the right environment.
Given the history, it’s ironic that nonwovens as an industry has probably benefitted the least until now from the raft of polymers and properties provided by the fast-growing global biopolymers industry.
Against the context of a rapidly accelerating societal awareness of the unknowns and possible risks from microplastics, Davies discusses why degradability as a product attribute is fast becoming ever more vital, yet, simultaneously, why degradability alone is not sufficient. Against that context, he discusses the most recent advances from SK leaveo to expand the comprehensive fabric property set that is now possible, including dramatic improvements in softness, as well as skin comfort, thermal performance, processability, and of course, cost effectiveness.
» Steve Davies
US Market Development, SK Leaveo
BIOGRAPHY
Steve Davies joined forces with Seoul based SK Leaveo in 2025 to help introduce to the market their new Leaveo portfolio of PBAT based PBAT biopolymer grades.Steve brings to the role 35 years leadership experience in the materials industry spanning fibers, plastics, and chemicals. He is recognized for advancing circular economy solutions, commercializing novel materials, and building multi-sector partnerships that unite industry, government, academia, and NGO’s – experience applied most recently as CEO of M-SPIRE (Minnesota’s Sustainable Plastics Innovation Regional Engine). Previously, Steve spent two decades at NatureWorks, where he helped transform the company from a scrappy, aspirational startup into a global biomaterials leader serving broad nonwovens and plastics markets.
In 2024, Steve founded Davies Advisors, combining this career industry experience and network with his personal passion for the natural environment and the circular economy. Davies Advisors helps organizations evaluate and commercialize novel and advanced materials and solutions, providing business strategy development, go-to-market planning, stakeholder engagement and issues management.
He regularly represents the broad biopolymers industry, providing a provocative perspective on functional materials innovation to audiences that span from manufacturers to trade associations, consumer brands, and policy makers.
