Biodegradable nonwoven fabrics and methods for making said fabrics

Nonwoven fabric comprising sunbond layer 106 of biodegradable polymer fibres of polylactic acid PLA or a derivative thereof, and a biodegradable and/or biobased binder 104 applied to the layer of fabric. The fabric may have an additional layer of blended plant-derived fibres and/or biodegradable polymer fibres included in the fabric. All the biodegradable polymer fibres may be biobased. There may be an additional layer comprising a carded hydroentangled and/or thermally bonded nonwoven made of plant-derived fibres and/or biodegradable polymer fibres. The plant-derived fibres may be cellulosic. A PLA meltblown, additional PLA spunbond or permeable PLA film may be included in the fabric. An antimicrobial agent may be applied to the fabric, which may be a chitosan or metal oxide nanoparticle, preferably zinc, silver or copper oxide nanoparticles. A bio-sustainable article may be formed from the woven, which may be a surgical gown. The fabric may have at least two layers of biodegradable polymer fibres thermally or chemically bonded together, and a biodegradable binder applied to at least one layer of the fabric.