Kimberly-Clark says it is developing a fiber with the promise to revolutionize paper-based products for two decades, the maker of Scott paper towels, Cottonelle toilet paper and Huggies diapers now says it has made a breakthrough. For two decades, Kimberly-Clark has scoured the Earth for a material that could replace wood fiber.

The company says paper-based products of the future could be made with hesperaloe, a plant with long, pointy leaves that grows in arid climates. Fiber from the plant can be used to make paper towels, toilet paper and other products that are both stronger and softer than wood-based equivalents, executives from Kimberly-Clark said. Executives say the new fiber could transform the industry. The plant thrives in dry regions, making it a sustainable alternative to traditional timber sources.

If production reaches scale, it could also be cheaper and less environmentally damaging than cutting down trees, they say. “We call it our Goldilocks discovery,” said Craig Slavtcheff, the company’s top research-and-development officer. This breakthrough could reduce reliance on timber and lower carbon emissions.

The company plans to announce its findings later Monday. This could lead to cost savings for manufacturers.