from left: Brian Potgieter, Fibertex Nonwovens SA, Johnny Oriokot, Jones & Wagener and Riaan Rademeyer, Fibertex Nonwovens SA.
Fibertex Nonwovens South Africa participated at the Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa (IWMSA) KwaZulu-Natal Landfill and Waste Treatment Interest Group (LaWTIG) conference, held recently in KwaZulu-Natal.
Brian Potgieter, Technical Sales Engineer at Fibertex Nonwovens, said the event provided an important platform to highlight the company's commitment to advancing environmental performance through technical innovation. "Our message to engineers and waste-management professionals is that Fibertex is more than a geotextile supplier. We develop new technologies that support environmental protection and we apply the technical insight we've gained across construction, mining, civil and waste-management sectors. Our commitment is to deliver advanced solutions, designed to meet the specific requirements of every project.
"A special focus for Fibertex at this event was the introduction of our new EnviTex Oil geotextile to industry professionals. This innovative material, which represents a major step in sustainable waste-sector solutions, is engineered to provide continuous, passive protection of groundwater from petroleum-based pollution.
"The Fibertex Nonwovens team also participated in a panel discussion on Construction Quality Assurance (CQA), engaging with engineers and environmental specialists on the importance of meticulous installation practices for geosynthetics. We believe that collaborative knowledge-sharing between manufacturers, designers and regulators is essential for the waste sector's move towards a more sustainable infrastructure. The team is committed to helping shape best practice in Africa and to promoting products that deliver measurable environmental value."
EnviTex Oil, which has recently been launched into the African market, is a polypropylene-based geotextile that combines filtration, separation and passive bioremediation in a single layer. The material intercepts and degrades petroleum hydrocarbons in soil and groundwater, allowing water to pass through, while trapping contaminants within its fibre matrix. By isolating and degrading hydrocarbons in situ, EnviTex Oil reduces pollutant load in natural drainage systems and enhances long-term aquifer protection.
Bioremediation - a natural process in which micro-organisms break down pollutants into harmless substances, like carbon dioxide and water - occurs directly within the fabric structure. The textile's specialised finish improves absorbency and releases nutrients that stimulate the growth and metabolic activity of naturally occurring microbes, accelerating the degradation of hydrocarbons.
Independent laboratory tests confirm that EnviTex Oil can absorb up to 11 times its own weight in petroleum hydrocarbons and achieve a total degradation capacity of around 200 ml/m² per year under controlled laboratory conditions that simulate field environments. This rate corresponds to the gradual breakdown of typical hydrocarbon concentrations encountered in light-industrial and landfill runoff. The system operates without external energy input or chemical dosing and the geotextile can be easily replaced when pollutant loading exceeds degradation capacity.
EnviTex Oil combines mechanical strength, permeability and biological activity in one material, positioning this material as one of the first bioremediating geotextiles available to the local market. This product is suitable for installation beneath roads, parking areas, fuel-handling facilities, workshops and other high-risk zones where oil leakage or spillage can contaminate groundwater.
Geotextiles are manufactured by Fibertex Nonwovens according to stringent ISO 9001 quality-management and ISO 14001 environmental-management specifications, ensuring compliance with international manufacturing and sustainability standards.
The company's high-performance nonwoven materials and geosynthetic products are designed for high efficiency and environmental compliance in civil, industrial and environmental applications across the continent. The team supports advanced products with local expertise, to deliver sustainable, engineered solutions for infrastructure and environmental protection.
For further information Brian Potgieter, Technical Sales Engineer, Fibertex Nonwovens South Africa (Pty) Ltd
16 Van Eck Avenue, Hammarsdale 3700, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa Telephone +27 31 736 7100 Email: brpo@fibertex.com Web www.fibertex.com
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