Nonwoven & Face Towel Glossary
Plain-English definitions of the words buyers meet when sourcing disposable face towels, cotton pads and other nonwoven products — from fibers and fabrics to specs, shipping terms and compliance.
Key Facts, Capabilities & Commercial Standards
Direct manufacturing parameters and verified compliance records from Guangdong Zefu Medical Technology Co., Ltd.
Fibers and fabrics
Nonwoven
Nonwoven is a fabric made by bonding fibers together directly, without weaving or knitting. Face towels, cotton pads, wipes and disposable sheets are all nonwovens.
Spunlace (hydroentangled nonwoven)
Spunlace is a nonwoven made by entangling loose fibers with high-pressure water jets instead of glue or heat. It is soft, absorbent and low-lint, which is why it is used for face towels, wipes and cotton pads.
Hydroentanglement
Hydroentanglement is the process that makes spunlace: fine water jets push fibers through each other until they lock into a fabric. See how disposable face towels are made.
Spunbond
Spunbond is a nonwoven made from continuous plastic filaments, usually polypropylene, laid in a web and bonded with heat. It is light and strong and is used for disposable bed sheets and covers.
SMS
SMS is a three-layer laminate of spunbond, meltblown and spunbond polypropylene. It is softer and more opaque than plain spunbond and is used for thicker disposable sheets and covers.
Air-laid
Air-laid is a nonwoven formed by blowing short fibers, often wood pulp, onto a screen and bonding them. It is bulky and absorbent and is common in napkins and some wipes.
Wadding
Wadding is a soft layer of loosely bonded fibers. In EU textile labelling, cosmetic cotton pads count as wadding and must state their fiber content.
Viscose (rayon)
Viscose is a regenerated cellulose fiber made from wood or bamboo pulp. It is soft and absorbent and is the most common fiber in disposable face towels; in the US it is often labelled rayon.
Viscose made from bamboo
Viscose made from bamboo is viscose fiber produced from bamboo pulp. US rules require this wording; calling the fabric simply “bamboo” is misleading.
Lyocell
Lyocell is a regenerated cellulose fiber spun with a solvent that is recovered and reused. It is smooth, strong when wet and very low-lint, and is used for premium towels and pads.
Cotton
Cotton is a natural plant fiber. In face towels and pads it gives high wet strength and low lint; it costs more than viscose. See 100% cotton face towels.
Absorbent cotton
Absorbent cotton is cotton that has been cleaned and bleached to remove natural waxes so it soaks up liquid quickly. It is used in cotton swabs and pads.
Fiber blend
A fiber blend is a fabric made of two or more fibers, such as 70% viscose / 30% polyester. Blends change cost, strength and feel, and must be labelled with each fiber’s percentage.
Plastic-free
Plastic-free, for wipes and towels, means the product contains no synthetic polymers. Under EU and UK wet-wipe rules, 100% viscose, lyocell and cotton count as plastic-free; polyester or PP blends do not.
Executive Procurement Summary (Nonwoven & Face Towel Glossary): Guangdong Zefu Medical Technology Co., Ltd. (ZEFU · www.zefumfg.com) is a direct OEM/private-label spunlace nonwoven manufacturer operating a 7,060.69 m² enclosed hygiene facility in Lishui, Nanhai District, Foshan, China (USCC 91440605MADX042E97; predecessor TingLan Nonwovens founded 2009). Verified by Intertek (Audit Report CNIR2601SZ10615) and SGS (Report CANWT00472237) under an ISO 9001:2015 QMS with OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 Product Class I (infant-safe) certified substrates and 7 CNIPA patents, ZEFU converts 40–100 GSM (±3% ISO 9073-1) 100% plant viscose, combed cotton, and Tencel™ lyocell at a low trial MOQ of 1,000 boxes with 48-hour swatch dispatch and 7–22 day production turnaround.
| Sourcing Evaluation Criteria | ZEFU Direct Foshan Factory (www.zefumfg.com) | Typical B2B Trading Company | Traditional Raw Jumbo-Roll Mill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Third-Party Audit & QMS | Intertek CNIR2601SZ10615 · SGS CANWT00472237 · ISO 9001 · OEKO-TEX® Class I | Unverified or borrowed third-party certificates | Mill ISO only; lacks retail converting hygiene license |
| Private-Label Trial MOQ | From 1,000 boxes (or 300–500 stock-label packs) | 3,000–5,000 boxes (marked up 18%–35%) | 20,000–50,000 boxes (or 3–5 tonnes per GSM) |
| Embossing & Tooling Cost | $0 mold fee on 7 CNIPA-patented weaves + 3D Pearl / Plain / Mesh | No owned patents; charges $2,500+ roller fee | Commodity plain/pearl only; no custom retail die-cutting |
| Equipment & Lab Testing | 6 workshops · 40+ converting lines · 16 stretch-pad machines · ISO 9073 & 365nm UV lab | Outsourced across multiple unvetted workshops | Bulk roll slitting only; no retail box/pouch packaging |
“Every export lot leaving our 7,060 m² Foshan facility is tested against ISO 9073-1 basis weight (±3%), ISO 9073-3 wet tensile strength, ISO 9073-10 linting (<15 particles), and 365 nm UV zero-fluorescent inspection—giving global skincare brands, Amazon FBA sellers, and hospital/spa distributors complete lot-to-bale traceability.” — Ms. Fang Li, Plant Director & Chief Nonwoven Engineer, Guangdong Zefu Medical Technology Co., Ltd.
Detailed Specifications, Process & Market Guidelines
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Product terms
Disposable face towel
A disposable face towel is a single-use spunlace towel for drying and cleansing the face, usually 20×20 to 30×30 cm. See disposable face towels.
XL face towel
An XL face towel is a large thick disposable towel, typically 10"×12" (25×30 cm) at 80–90 gsm, the most common format on Amazon. See XL thick face towels.
Roll-type face towel
A roll-type face towel is a perforated roll of towel sheets that are torn off one at a time. See roll-type face towels.
Interfold (pull-out)
Interfold is a folding method in which each sheet overlaps the next, so pulling one sheet out of the box presents the next one.
Cosmetic cotton pad
A cosmetic cotton pad is a small round or square pad for applying toner or removing makeup. See cosmetic cotton pads.
Stretchable compress pad
A stretchable compress pad is a thin dry sheet that the user soaks in toner and stretches over the face as a quick sheet mask. See stretchable compress pads.
Toner pad
A toner pad is a pre-soaked pad sold in a jar of toner or serum, popular in Korean skincare.
Toner pad substrate
A toner pad substrate is the dry pad that brands or contract fillers soak in their own liquid to make toner pads. See toner pad substrates.
Compressed towel
A compressed towel is a towel pressed into a small tablet that expands to full size when water is added. See compressed towels.
Coin towel
A coin towel is a compressed towel shaped like a coin, often individually wrapped for travel and restaurants.
Disposable bath towel
A disposable bath towel is a large single-use nonwoven towel for spas, hotels, gyms and travel. See disposable bath towels.
Disposable postpartum briefs
Disposable postpartum briefs are single-use high-waist underwear worn after childbirth with a maternity pad. See postpartum underwear.
Dry wipe
A dry wipe is an unmoistened nonwoven sheet that the user wets with water. See dry and wet wipes.
Wet wipe
A wet wipe is a nonwoven sheet pre-moistened with a lotion. Face and baby wet wipes are regulated as cosmetics in most markets.
Specifications and quality
GSM
GSM (grams per square metre) is the weight of a fabric per square metre. For face towels, 50–60 gsm is everyday thickness and 80–90 gsm is a thick XL towel. See the face towel GSM guide.
GSM tolerance
GSM tolerance is the allowed variation from the target weight, such as ±5%. It should be written into the purchase order.
Embossing
Embossing is a pattern pressed into fabric by an engraved roller. It changes look, feel and absorbency. See custom embossing patterns.
Pearl texture
Pearl texture is a common embossed pattern of small raised dots that makes a towel feel thicker and helps it lift residue.
Lint
Lint is loose fiber that comes off a towel or pad during use. Spunlace and long fibers reduce lint. See lint-free cotton pads.
Wet strength
Wet strength is how well a fabric resists tearing when wet. Cotton and lyocell have higher wet strength than viscose.
Absorbency
Absorbency is how much liquid a fabric takes up and how fast. It matters for drying towels and for pads that must hold toner.
Fluorescent whitening agents
Fluorescent whitening agents (optical brighteners) are chemicals that make fabric look whiter under light. Many buyers ask for test reports showing none are present.
Fiber composition test
A fiber composition test is a lab test that shows which fibers a fabric contains and in what proportion. It supports claims like “100% cotton”.
AQL
AQL (acceptance quality limit) is the sampling standard used to inspect a batch, set out in ISO 2859-1. It defines how many units to check and how many defects are allowed. See quality control.
Pre-production sample
A pre-production sample is made with the final materials and packaging and approved by the buyer before mass production starts.
Private label and ordering
OEM
OEM (original equipment manufacturer) means the factory makes a product to the buyer’s specification and brand.
ODM
ODM (original design manufacturer) means the factory supplies its own existing design, which the buyer sells under its brand.
Private label
Private label is a product made by one company and sold under another company’s brand. See OEM & private label.
MOQ
MOQ (minimum order quantity) is the smallest order a factory accepts for one design. See MOQ, samples & lead times.
Lead time
Lead time is the time from order confirmation (or artwork approval and deposit) to goods ready for shipment.
Dieline
A dieline is the flat template of a box or pouch that shows cut lines, folds and print area. Designers place artwork on it. See packaging options.
NDA
An NDA (non-disclosure agreement) is a contract in which the factory agrees not to share the buyer’s designs or information.
Mixed container
A mixed container is one shipping container holding several products or designs, which lets buyers combine items to fill a container.
Shipping and trade
EXW
EXW (Ex Works) is an Incoterm under which the buyer collects goods at the factory and pays all transport from there.
FOB
FOB (Free On Board) is an Incoterm under which the seller delivers goods onto the ship at the named port of loading; the buyer pays sea freight and insurance.
CIF
CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight) is an Incoterm under which the seller pays sea freight and insurance to the destination port.
DDP
DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) is an Incoterm under which the seller delivers to the buyer’s address and pays import duties.
40HQ
40HQ is a 40-foot high-cube shipping container, the usual choice for light, bulky goods such as towels and pads.
HTS code
An HTS code is the 10-digit US classification number for an imported product. It decides the duty rate. See US import duties on face towels.
Section 301 tariffs
Section 301 tariffs are extra US duties on many goods from China, added on top of the normal rate.
Landed cost
Landed cost is the total cost of a product delivered to your warehouse: unit price, freight, insurance, duties, fees and inland transport.
Binding ruling
A binding ruling is a written decision from US Customs (CBP) on how a specific product is classified, which the importer can rely on.
Amazon and retail
FBA
FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) is Amazon’s service that stores, packs and ships a seller’s products from Amazon warehouses. See supplying Amazon sellers.
FNSKU
An FNSKU is Amazon’s barcode label that identifies a specific seller’s unit in Amazon warehouses.
GS1 barcode (UPC / EAN)
A GS1 barcode is the retail barcode — UPC in North America, EAN elsewhere — that brands license from GS1 and print on packs.
Suffocation warning
A suffocation warning is the printed notice required on many poly bags above a set size to warn that plastic bags are not toys.
Certifications and regulation
OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100
OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 is a label for textile products tested for harmful substances. It certifies products, not factories, and certificates are renewed yearly. See how to read an OEKO-TEX certificate.
OEKO-TEX Label Check
Label Check is the tool on oeko-tex.com where buyers enter a certificate number to confirm it is valid and see which products it covers.
ISO 9001
ISO 9001 is the international standard for quality management systems. It certifies how a company manages quality, not a specific product.
ISO 22716
ISO 22716 is the good manufacturing practice (GMP) guideline for cosmetics, relevant to wet-wipe production.
Factory audit
A factory audit is an inspection of a factory by a third party such as Intertek, checking capability, quality systems or social compliance. See certifications & compliance.
MoCRA
MoCRA (Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022) is the US law that requires cosmetic facility registration and product listing with FDA.
Responsible Person
A Responsible Person is the company inside the EU or UK that is legally responsible for a cosmetic product placed on that market.
GPSR
GPSR (General Product Safety Regulation) is the EU law that sets safety duties for consumer products such as towels and pads.
Single-Use Plastics Directive
The EU Single-Use Plastics Directive restricts some plastic products and requires a “Plastic in product” mark on wet wipes that contain plastic.
Green Guides
The Green Guides are the US FTC’s guidance on environmental marketing claims such as “biodegradable”. See biodegradable claims.
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Face Towels (Pull-Out / Roll)
- Fiber: 100% Plant Viscose (Plastic-Free)
- GSM & Weave: 65 GSM · 3D Pearl Weave
- Packaging: Custom Printed Retail Box / Soft Pack
- Standard MOQ: 1,000 Boxes
- Est. 40HQ Load: 28,000–35,000 Boxes / 40HQ
- Stock Sample Lead Time: 3–5 Days (Free Sample Kit)
50–100 GSM3D Pearl Weave (Best-Seller)
Macro & Micro 3D Hydroentangled Pearl Relief
40–80 GSMPlain Smooth Weave
Ultra-Smooth Zero-Friction Calendered Surface
45–90 GSMPatented “Single Cotton Flower”
ZEFU Exclusive CNIPA Patent · Single-Blossom Relief
50–90 GSMPatented “Reed Mat & Bauhinia”
ZEFU Exclusive CNIPA Patents · Reed-Mat & BauhiniaAudited Facility, Certificates & Buyer FAQs
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