This Lancaster Farming Industrial Hemp podcast features Jason Finnis from Bast Fiber Technologies discussing hemp fiber applications in nonwoven hygiene products like wipes, pads, and diapers — alternatives to petroleum-based materials.
Background
Finnis has spent 30 years commercializing hemp fibers for hygiene and next-to-skin applications. Bast Fiber Technologies operates as a secondary processor, upgrading decorticated hemp fiber at facilities in Lumberton, North Carolina, and Germany. The company describes itself as a "clean tech fiber engineering company" focused on replacing plastic fibers in applications previously using only synthetic materials.
What Are Nonwovens?
Nonwoven products are ubiquitous in daily life. They appear in single-use items like bathroom cleaning wipes, baby care products, and surface disinfectants. Currently, most nonwoven fibers are plastic or semi-synthetic, creating an invisible source of microplastics and landfill contamination.
Processing & Quality Standards
Bast Fiber Technologies doesn't manufacture finished products; instead, it supplies purified hemp fiber bales (approximately 250 kilos each) to nonwoven converters. The company emphasizes that "quality starts in the field," requiring close collaboration with farmers and decorticators to maintain fiber length uniformity (targeting 60mm ± 10mm) and minimize trash content below 3%.
The company upgrades fibers through cleaning and tailoring processes without pulping or chemically dissolving them. As Finnis explains: "we can add performance to the fibers" by adjusting properties for specific end-uses, such as optimizing softness for top sheets in diapers or adding fire-resistant finishes.
Hemp Advantages
Hemp offers sustainability benefits — high biomass yields, regenerative growth potential, and reduced water and chemical inputs. The fibers provide excellent absorbency, insulative properties (acoustic and thermal), and natural softness suitable for next-to-skin contact.
Supply Chain Vision
"Grow, process and sell in the same geographic region." — Jason Finnis
This approach limits carbon emissions from shipping, supports local farming communities, mitigates weather-related supply risks, and ensures continuity for customers. The company plans to expand its Lumberton facility to process southeastern U.S.-grown hemp fibers.
Current Commercialization
Bast Fiber Technologies works with global nonwoven converters and end-brand companies. Commercialized products include Mewalii (Scandinavian period care) and Clinique (Eastern European brand), with additional brands in development stages.
Market Drivers
Three converging forces drive adoption: consumer preference for plastic-free products, brand commitment to eliminating single-use plastics, and European legislation like the Single-Use Plastic Directive. Major brands — from Procter & Gamble to Honest Company — seek natural fiber alternatives.
Future Outlook
The nonwoven market encompasses millions of tons of fiber globally. Bast Fiber Technologies' current capacity of 20,000–30,000 tons represents a small fraction, yet offers significant regional impact and substantial growth potential. Finnis, who began this work 30 years ago when "everybody looked at me like I was insane," notes significant industry momentum.