If you spend any time on the road, out bush or shuttling between kids’ sport, beach sessions and weekend getaways, you’ll know that a decent wipe can be the difference between staying vaguely civilised and looking like you’ve been dragged behind the car. But the problem with most wipes is obvious the moment you think about it: hidden plastics, petroleum-based fibres and the awful knowledge that the convenience in your hand is likely to outlast a lifetime in landfill.

Kine Body Cloths take a very different approach. Made in South Australia and crafted entirely from plant-based cellulose fibres, they aim to deliver the convenience travellers rely on while dramatically reducing environmental impact. After a couple of weeks of using them everywhere – from day trips to dusty trails to backyard chaos – I’m convinced they hit an impressive middle ground. They’re practical, gentle on skin and genuinely more sustainable than most of what’s on shelves today. Best of all, they’re designed for the whole body, not just the face, making them perfect for quick clean-ups from head to toe.

My first real test wasn’t even outdoors. It was Halloween. By the time the sugar highs had levelled out, we were dealing with layers of face paint, fake blood and one mate whose thick beard had become a sort of sponge for everything except good decisions. The Kine Australia wipes handled the lot – no tugging, no smearing, no harsh residue. If it can get stage-makeup off a bloke who looks like he wrestles bears for leisure, it can handle barbecue sauce, sunscreen, Outback dust and whatever else a family trip throws up. I’ve also found them perfect for wiping greasy faces and fingers before jumping in the pool – no more worries about oil or sauce coating the water.

Where Kine Australia stands out is the philosophy behind the product. Most commercial wipes are woven with plastics that don’t break down, fragment into microplastics and linger in waterways for generations. The Kine Body Cloths’ fibres, on the other hand, are engineered to disperse quickly in water and fully biodegrade within about six months in composting conditions. They’re independently certified to Australia’s AS/NZS 5328 flushability standard – meaning they actually break down in plumbing and wastewater systems instead of clogging them. It’s rare to see a wipe that performs well and leaves such a light environmental footprint.

The ingredients list also reads like something designed for real skin, not laboratory resilience: chamomile to calm irritation, jojoba to nourish, vitamin E for protection and naturally derived citric acid to keep the pH in check. No alcohol. No parabens. No sulphates. The wipes feel soft, smell subtle rather than perfumed and never left a tacky film on hands or face.

For travellers and outdoors folk, the size options are genuinely useful. The regular cloths are larger than most wipes and feel more like a small disposable towel – ideal after a run, a gym session or a dusty walk between campsites. The travel-size packs, meanwhile, tuck easily into a glovebox, backpack pocket or handbag. They’ve already saved me from sticky fingers at a roadside bakery, greasy hands after swapping a bike tube and the fishy residue that never seems to wash off at the jetty.

From a sustainability perspective, the local manufacturing story is a major factor. By producing and assembling the wipes in South Australia, Kine Australia cuts the long-haul freight miles usually tied to imported wipes. Independent reporting shows that this reduces supply-chain emissions by around half, with overall life-cycle emissions dropping by roughly 20 per cent when composting is used at end of life. Even at the shipping stage, the choice to use sea freight instead of air reduces transport emissions significantly. In a category notorious for offshore production and murky environmental claims, this transparency is refreshing.

Day to day, the wipes hold up well. They’re strong enough to clean hands covered in charcoal dust after stoking a campfire, but gentle enough for kids’ faces – especially after an enthusiastic encounter with tomato sauce. They don’t tear easily, they don’t pill and they stay moist in the packet without being soggy. The resealable packs have survived life in backpacks, seat pockets and a sandy beach bag without drying out.

Kine Australia also offers subscription options, which to me feels less like a marketing gimmick and more of a practical benefit for families who go through wipes regularly or for travellers preparing for multi-week trips. You can choose pack sizes and delivery frequency, so you’re not caught out the night before heading off.

What strikes me most is how seamlessly the cloths fit both into everyday life and outdoor adventures. They’re as handy at a remote campsite as they are after school pick-up. They help close the gap between convenience and sustainability – something Australian travellers are increasingly aware of yet often struggle to reconcile. Having a product that works well, feels good to use and doesn’t leave a century-long legacy in landfill is a rare combination.

Kine Australia was founded on that exact frustration. After watching traditional wipe brands shift offshore and lean more heavily into plastic-based materials, founder Mark Yates set out to build an alternative that supported local jobs and delivered uncompromising performance. The result is a product that actually matches the needs of modern Australian families, outdoors enthusiasts and travellers – people who care about low-impact living but still need functional, packable, everyday solutions.

Kine Body Cloths are a thoughtful, genuinely sustainable option for anyone who spends time outdoors, travels frequently or simply wants to keep a pack handy at home or in the car. They clean well, feel great on skin and break down without leaving a trail of microplastics behind. Whether you’re wiping sauce off a kid at a caravan park, freshening up after a trail hike or removing the remnants of Halloween enthusiasm, they’re a reliable addition to any adventure kit.

Convenience without the environmental hangover – finally, a wipe you can use without guilt.

Regular Size | 210mm x 130mm
Multipack (4 × 25 Regular Size Cloths) $27 RRP
Multipack (8 × 25 Regular Size Cloths) $49 RRP

Travel Size | 170mm x 90mm
Multipack (10 × 10 Travel Size Cloths) $40 RRP
Multipack (50 × 10 Travel Size Cloths) $185 RRP

Visit kine.com.au