Supermarket shelves across South Australia are now stocking the nation’s first certified flushable wet wipes, a move expected to significantly reduce the strain on wastewater systems caused by traditional non-flushable wipes.
The product by The Hygiene Co. based in Woodville North, achieved the recent Australian and New Zealand Flushable Products Standard, marking a significant step towards sustainable consumer products.
The introduction of these flushable wet wipes at Foodland stores comes amid challenges faced by water utilities worldwide.
Traditional wet wipes, which do not disintegrate like toilet paper, have been known for clogging sewer systems, with SA Water reporting 1,155 blockages in the Adelaide alone from 2022 to 2023.
Over $2 million was spent last year on managing these blockages and redirecting the waste to landfill. Typically, two-thirds of blockages caused by wet wipes occur at the sewerage connection of a property, increasing the risk of an overflow inside a home.
“It’s great to see a South Australian business leading the way by investing in sustainable products that will help reduce the impact of wet wipes on essential sewerage infrastructure,” Minister for Housing and Urban Development Nick Champion said.
“This Australian first has the potential to significantly reduce the amount of time and money spent removing wet wipes from our sewer system.
“Wastewater infrastructure is critical, and we have an ageing sewerage network so important innovations like flushable wet wipes will ensure our sewers continue to help South Australians.”
“We’re incredibly proud to be the first Australian-owned manufacturer to deliver a certified flushable wet wipe to the market and flip the script on these products,” Director of The Hygiene Co. Phil Scardigno says.
“Unlike traditional wet wipes, our flushable fabric is non-woven and is made to mirror toilet paper by breaking down quickly in water as it flows through the sewer network.
“It’s an exciting space to be in, as there’s a lot of other applications beyond wet wipes and our hope is this will encourage the wider industry to elevate their own products.”
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