Pouched products with heat sealable binder

A method of preparing a water-permeable pouch material, comprising:

• providing a first fibrous web comprising a plurality of fibers and a heat sealable binder material;
• mechanically entangling the first fibrous web to form a first nonwoven layer;
• associating the first nonwoven layer with a second nonwoven layer to give a multilayer composite,
• wherein one of the first and second nonwoven layers comprises regenerated cellulose fibers and wherein the other of the first and second nonwoven layers comprises biodegradable fibers,
• point bonding the multilayer composite on less than 30% of the surface area thereof;
• and
• heating the multilayer composite to at least partially melt the heat sealable binder material to form the water-permeable pouch material;
• wherein the heat sealable binder material is in the form of a liquid coating or a powder and has a melting point of about 300° C. or less and further comprises a plasticizer,
• and wherein the water-permeable pouch material has a basis weight of about 20 gsm to about 35 gsm.

A method of enhancing biodegradability of a pouched product, comprising:

• providing a multilayer composite comprising two or more nonwoven layers and comprising low melting point heat sealable binder material, wherein the heat sealable binder material has a melting point of about 300° C. or less, and wherein the heat sealable binder material comprises a biodegradable polymer and is in the form of a liquid coating or a powder
• wherein the two or more nonwoven layers comprise a first layer comprising regenerated cellulose fibers and a second layer comprising biodegradable fibers;
• forming a water-permeable pouch from the multilayer composite;
• and
• enclosing a composition comprising a water soluble component within the water-permeable pouch to form the pouched product, the composition comprising a cellulose material or cellulose derivative in an amount of about 40 to about 75% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, and wherein the composition is substantially free of a tobacco material;
• wherein the water-soluble component is capable of being released through the water-permeable pouch, and
• wherein the heat sealable binder further comprises a placticizer, and
• wherein the water-permeable pouch is point bonded on less than 30% of the surface area thereof and has a basis weight of about 20 gsm to about 35 gsm.

A method of preparing a water-permeable pouch material, comprising:

• providing a first fibrous web comprising a plurality of fibers and a heat sealable binder material;
• mechanically entangling the first fibrous web to form a first nonwoven layer;
• associating the first nonwoven layer with a second nonwoven layer to give a multilayer composite,
• wherein one of the first and second nonwoven layers comprises regenerated cellulose fibers and wherein the other of the first and second nonwoven layers comprises biodegradable fibers,
• point bonding the multilayer composite on less than 30% of the surface area thereof;
• and
• heating the multilayer composite to at least partially melt the heat sealable binder material to form the water-permeable pouch material;
• wherein the heat sealable binder material is in the form of a liquid coating or a powder and has a melting point of about 300° C. or greater, and
• wherein the heat sealable binder further comprises a placticizer;
• and wherein the water-permeable pouch material has a basis weight of about 20 gsm to about 35 gsm.