TotalEnergies Corbion and Yuhan-Kimberly Launch Biobased, Washable Kitchen Towels After Three-Year Partnership
GORINCHEM, Netherlands — TotalEnergies Corbion, a global leader in polylactic acid (PLA) bioplastics, and Yuhan-Kimberly, a pioneer in sustainable consumer hygiene products, have announced the commercialization of a new generation of washable, biobased kitchen towels — marking a major milestone in their multi-year joint development partnership.
Three Years of Co-Development
The product, officially launched in 2026, is the result of more than three years of close collaboration between the two companies. TotalEnergies Corbion contributed its advanced Luminy® PLA technology, while Yuhan-Kimberly brought deep expertise in hygiene product design and consumer application development.
The washable kitchen towel is manufactured using a synergistic blend of biobased materials:
- Luminy® PLA (L130) from TotalEnergies Corbion
- PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoates)
- FSC®-certified pulp
This combination delivers durability, reusability, and functionality while remaining entirely plant-based and aligned with circular economy principles.
A Compelling Alternative to Disposable
Designed to be washed and reused multiple times, the new kitchen towel represents a compelling alternative to conventional disposable wipes and paper towels. It serves as a demonstrator for how advanced biopolymers can be combined to unlock new performance and sustainability benchmarks in everyday consumer products.
“This launch is not the result of a single project, but of a long-term, trust-based partnership,” said Kevin Cho, Senior Business Development Manager at TotalEnergies Corbion. “Luminy® PLA has been co-developed and validated together with Yuhan-Kimberly to meet demanding functional and sustainability criteria.”
Why It Matters
The collaboration demonstrates that biobased materials can meet the performance requirements of everyday consumer products while dramatically reducing environmental impact. The product is fully plant-based, reusable, and designed for circularity — a tangible example of how the bioplastics industry is moving beyond single-use applications.
Source: TotalEnergies Corbion