The History of Wiping Products

As of now, Australia is facing a blaring fast-fashion problem. On average, Australians discard an astonishing 23 kilograms of textiles that end up in landfills all over the country.

At E’Co Wipes, we’ve made a concerted effort to recycle and reuse these cotton-based textiles into functionally-viable industrial rag wipers. We’re in bid to reduce the alarming rate of textiles—85 per cent!—that end up in landfills.

So, how did we get to this point? Let’s take a walk down memory lane:

The Industrial Revolution

The story goes back to 1760 when Britain’s Industrial Revolution first began. As the age of development and mass-manufacturing was ushered in, the need for various products, equipment, and tools saw an exponential increase.

One such tool was rag wipers.

The heavy machinery that signified the Industrial Revolution, used greasy lubrication and oil, which had to be cleaned up. In its initial stages, linen and cotton cloth were used to wipes the excess lubrication.

This growing need, matched with a limited supply, meant that early recycling efforts were inevitable. Merchants began to recycle old textiles and sell them as rags to serve the changing needs of the market.

After World War II

As the industries’ changing needs required, the cleaning materials became more sophisticated. Various new fibres and disposable materials were introduced into the market—each of them serving a specific niche.

Newer technologies and manufacturing capabilities meant that rag wipers could be produced at lower costs and would be easily available for industries to use. Each new material utilized features of natural and man-made fibres to provide the best of both worlds.

The Current Age

Synthetic fibres, microfibres, and non-woven materials—there’s a lot that goes into the perfect rag wiper for any industry or consumer. The difference today is that our decisions are set against the backdrop of a context: environmental impact of our actions.

The production processes that were started in 1760 have had far-reaching implications on our lives today.

In an attempt to enact some necessary positive change and turn toward a system of environmental sustainability, E’Co Wipes is committed to safe, effective, and environmentally-friendly rag wipers.

Each of our various rag wipers is made with cotton-based materials that have been through several stages of testing and quality assurance. As one of the leading global recycling companies and wiping cloth suppliers, we’re dedicated to providing quality-controlled rags that will save the environment while satisfying your cleaning needs.

We’ve been shipping our eco-friendly recycled rag wipers to people worldwide since 1978. Be a part of the change; join us in striving towards this cause.