The Next Generation of Feminine Hygiene — Biomass SAP from Starch
19–22 May 2026 · Palexpo, Geneva
Biomass SAP arrives in Geneva — a starch-based, biodegradable super absorbent polymer engineered to replace petroleum-based SAP in sanitary pads and light incontinence products, without compromising performance.
Biomass SAP is NAGASE's high-biomass, starch-derived super absorbent polymer, developed to help feminine hygiene brands reduce the environmental footprint of their products while maintaining the absorbency performance consumers expect. Created as a renewable alternative to conventional acrylic SAP, it is designed for biodegradability and is already running on partner production lines today.
- Made from renewable, plant-based starch — not fossil feedstocks
- Absorbs up to 45× its weight in saline (grade-dependent)
- Drop-in compatible with both fluff-pulp and SAP sheet converting lines
- Designed for biodegradability, with performance tuned per grade
- Aligned with the direction of the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive, PPWR and ESPR
- Proven in mass-production trials with international brand-owner partners
x45
Saline absorbency (g/g)
Starch
Renewable, plant-derived feedstock
2 Lines
Compatible with fluff-pulp & SAP sheet lines
190
Years of material innovation
The Problem with Conventional SAP
Fossil feedstock in, landfill out.
Today's feminine hygiene category runs on sodium polyacrylate: a high-performing, but fossil-derived and persistent super absorbent polymer. As brands face tightening regulations on single-use plastics, extended producer responsibility rules, and increasingly sustainability-literate consumers, the SAP core of the sanitary napkins has become one of the hardest components to green.
NAGASE's Biomass SAP changes the starting material—and the end-of-life story.
Starch-Based. Designed for Biodegradability.
A new chemistry for the core of the pad.
Our Biomass SAP is synthesized from starch, a renewable agricultural feedstock, and engineered to form a true gel on contact with fluid — not a slurry. In side-by-side laboratory testing against conventional acrylic polymer and a competing biomass SAP, NAGASE's Biomass SAP holds its gel structure cleanly after 30 minutes, delivering the locked-in absorbency pad designers require.
And because it has been engineered with biodegradability in mind, it opens up disposal and recovery pathways — including a pH-triggered dissolution route already demonstrated in our Japanese recycling pilot — that sit far better alongside EU end-of-life expectations than conventional acrylic SAP.
* Each 0.7 g SAP, Saline 25 ml, Left 30 minutes
No retooling required. Biomass SAP has been qualified on both fluff-pulp and SAP-sheet converting lines through partner trials — meaning you can prototype and scale on the equipment already installed at your European converting sites.
Optimized specifically for sanitary pads and light incontinence products — the categories where biomass SAP economics and performance align best for European price points — rather than a one-size-fits-all diaper grade.
NAGASE is piloting an end-to-end used-product recycling scheme in Japan, supported by the Japanese Ministry of the Environment, in which Biomass SAP gel is dissolved via a simple pH shift to enable material recovery.
Experience Biomass SAP at Stand #1024
Organized by EDANA, INDEX is the world's leading nonwovens exhibition — and Palexpo Geneva is where the European hygiene supply chain convenes every four years. This is your opportunity to see Biomass SAP in person, meet the team bringing it to the European market, and discuss what a starch-based core would look like in your next product launch.
Live Demo — See Biomass SAP absorb, gel, and dissolve at the booth.
Technical Discussions — Speak directly with our specialists about product data, testing methods, and specifications.
Sample Requests — Qualified visitors can request samples at the booth (NDA required).
Regulatory Questions — Ask about PPWR, ESPR, and Green Claims. Our team will explain how Biomass SAP aligns with European regulations.
Recycling Overview — Learn how our recycling pilot in Japan dissolves used SAP and recovers materials for reuse.
Who Should Visit Us
- Feminine Hygiene Brands (EU & UK) — Create sanitary pads or panty liners using a renewable material, and build a clear sustainability story your customers can trust.
- Light Incontinence Manufacturers — Stand out in a fast-growing market with plant-based materials that appeal to sustainability-focused consumers.
- Private Label & Retailer Brands — Offer a biomass SAP option to retailers like Carrefour, Lidl, REWE Group, Tesco, and Edeka—using your existing production lines.
- Sustainability, Regulatory & R&D Teams — Evaluate a biomass SAP that has already been tested at scale, with supporting data and a recycling approach ready for future product design.
Meet us at INDEX 2026.
A four-day exhibition goes quickly. Reserve your private consultation with the NAGASE Performance Chemicals team, and we will have samples, data, and product information ready when you arrive at the booth.
Event:
INDEX 2026
The World's Leading Nonwovens Exhibition
Dates:
19-22 May 2026
Four days of nonwovens innovation
Location:
Palexpo, Geneva
Stand# 1024
Attend for Free with
Promo Code NAGA401109
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