In the post-epidemic era, the demand for environmental protection of household wet wipes has increased

As the market normalizes after the pandemic, consumers are looking for more environmentally friendly products.

The past few years have been bumpy for the household wet wipes market. In the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, wet wipes manufacturers and suppliers scrambled to expand the capacity of household disinfectant wipes to meet the surge in demand. Demand for cleaning wipes has weakened as fears about the spread of the virus have subsided, wet wipes are still being used at higher levels than before the outbreak.

Although consumers are reducing clean frequency, the pandemic has left a deep impression on consumers, with 42% of consumers claiming that they are cleaning more often than a year ago, or even more often than before the pandemic, as of December 2022.

In February, Clorox, the leader in the household wipes category, launched Free & Clear compostable wipes, bleach-free cleaning wipes that are safe for children, pets and food when used as directed. The wipes dissolve grease, remove dirt and scale, do not contain dyes, bleach or ammonia, so they do not require rinsing, and are made from compostable plant-based materials.

The wet wipes can be safely used on hard, non-porous surface materials in the home, such as kitchen surfaces, bathroom surfaces, high chairs, playpens, pet meal POTS and pet carriers, providing consumers with a more sustainable option for daily cleaning. The product line also meets the stringent requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Safer Choice standard, ensuring that all ingredients are reviewed for human health and environmental safety.

In terms of disinfection, Nice-Pak, the world's largest manufacturer of wet wipes, has an innovative perspective focused on sustainability and performance. "Reducing plastic and plant fibers is a top priority for us, and we have made significant progress in these two areas over the past few years," says John Iarocci, vice president of research and quality.

Kleen Test Products (KTP), a manufacturer of wet wipes, says that as consumers shift to clean wet wipes for convenience and ease of use, they continue to push for better products, especially when it comes to sustainability and performance.