Abstract: Compostable and biodegradable compositions of a blend of natural cellulosic and thermoplastic biodegradable fibers are disclosed. Typically the compositions include cotton and cellulose acetate. A process for the manufacture of a nonwoven composition which comprises a compostable blend of natural cellulosic fibers such as cotton and thermoplastic biodegradable fibers such as cellulose acetate; the blend is then carded to obtain the nonwoven composition.

Abstract: A multilayered nonwoven composite web particularly useful as a substitute for a woven web such as a textile web, and having improved liquid wicking and retention properties comprising a first layer of fibrous material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic meltblown man-made fibers, thermoplastic spunbonded man-made fibers, thermoplastic man-made staple fibers and combinations thereof, this first layer being light weight, and a second layer of cellulosic-based fibers, preferably cotton fibers, the first and second layers being thermally bonded together over about 5 to 75% of the surface area of the web to form a coherent web having an air permeability of between about 25 and about 37 ft.sup.3 /min/ft.sup.2 (0.127 and 0.188 m.sup.3 /sec/m.sup.2). In a preferred embodiment, the composite web includes at least a third layer of thermoplastic man-made fibers and the layer of cellulose-based fibers is sandwiched between the two layers of thermoplastic man-made fibers.