#INDEX 23

2023-04-20

HYDRASPUN® Circula wins EDANA’s INDEX™23 Award at INDEX™23 exhibition

Suominen’s HYDRASPUN® Circula won EDANA’s INDEX™23 Award at INDEX™23 exhibition, held in Palexpo, Geneva on April 18 – 23, 2023. HYDRASPUN® Circula was selected from the EDANA’s shortlisted entries in the category of nonwoven roll goods, showcasing how innovation and sustainability are driving the nonwovens industry forward.

HYDRASPUN® Circula is Suominen’s first ever moist toilet tissue nonwoven made with recycled paper. Typically, HYDRASPUN® products contain only virgin cellulosic fibers. In addition to virgin fibers, HYDRASPUN® Circula contains also fibers from recycled paper, without compromising the end product quality.

“HYDRASPUN® Circula demonstrates that innovations in nonwovens can support the circular economy and sustainable production. Receiving recognition for that is very rewarding”, says Johanna Kivistö, Manager, Category Management, Europe.

“We warmly want to thank our partner, Codi Group, for creating such a great innovation in collaboration with us”, says Markku Koivisto, SVP, Europe and R&D.

HYDRASPUN® Circula was developed specifically for moist toilet tissues but can be used also in multiple other applications. It is biodegradable and meets EDANA/INDA GD4 flushability assessment according to internal testing.

“HYDRASPUN® Circula represents years of research, development and collaboration among many functions across our global organization. We are extremely proud of the success we have achieved”, says Avinav Nandgaonkar, R&D Manager.

EDANA awarded Suominen with INDEX™23 Award. © 2023 Suominen

EDANA’s INDEX™23 Awards are the highest accolade for excellence in the nonwovens value chain. The shortlist contains the best examples from the industry, highlighting creativity and innovation from businesses of all sizes, and across all parts of the nonwovens supply chain. The shortlisted entries are displayed at the INDEX™ Innovation Lab of INDEX™23 exhibition.

Francois Guetat joins Suominen as COO

Francois Guetat brings over two decades of global experience in operations, supply chain, and manufacturing excellence. Most recently, he served as SVP of Integrated Supply Chain at Kalmar, where he led business across sourcing, manufacturing, logistics and strategy. His leadership has been shaped by 22 years at Volvo, where he held key roles in Sweden, USA, and Poland.

Suominen reports decline in sales and earnings – Cost savings program and leadership change to drive recovery

Finnish nonwovens manufacturer Suominen Corporation has reported a noticeable drop in both revenue and profitability for the first half of 2025, reflecting a challenging global trade environment, particularly the impact of recent U.S. tariffs, as well as persistently high energy and raw material costs.

Happy Holidays!

Dear reader, the year 2025 is drawing to a close. We are entering what we hope will be a peaceful holiday season, spending time with our families and taking a moment to pause and reflect. We hope we have been able to support you once again this year with relevant news and articles, and we look forward to surprising you with many innovations in the coming year. Enjoy the festive season, stay healthy, and we wish you a happy and joyful holiday season.

Texpertise Focus AI: Messe Frankfurt puts Artificial Intelligence centre stage at its international textile and apparel trade fairs

Under the banner 'Texpertise Focus AI, Messe Frankfurt will place a strong emphasis on Artificial Intelligence (AI) across its international textile and apparel trade fairs from 2026 onwards, setting a future-shaping signal for the industry. The initiative highlights the responsible use of AI along the entire textile value chain, from fibre production to the point of sale. The programme will launch at Heimtextil in Frankfurt in January 2026.

Autoneum and Polestar set new benchmarks for passenger experience and sustainability

As the global market leader in sustainable acoustic and thermal management, Autoneum is a key supplier of interior and exterior components for the highly anticipated Polestar 5 model. The successful collaboration between Autoneum and Polestar marks a significant milestone in sustainable automotive engineering: the electric grand tourer sports car features several innovations in lightweight, fully recyclable polyester-based components that ensure a superior driving experience. Polestar 5 was revealed at the IAA Mobility 2025 in Munich and is available in 24 markets.