#Nonwovens / Technical Textiles

2024-04-04

Driving Change: New EDANA Forums at the Heart of Innovation and Sustainability in the Nonwovens Industry

From 4-6 June 2024, EDANA will organize its first innovation forum. The inception of this new event emerged from the merger of two long-standing EDANA events: the International Nonwovens Symposium (INS) and the Nonwovens Innovation Academy (NIA).

Historically, the nonwovens sector has been synonymous with innovation, furnishing society with adaptable materials that benefit our daily routines, spanning healthcare, construction, filtration, household, and civil engineering among other sectors.

At EDANA we believe that convening the nonwovens industry at events is critical for our industry and can facilitate collaborative efforts for progress, while still safeguarding proprietary business data and respecting intellectual property. Open innovation not only breaks barriers but also streamlines costs, saving valuable time and resources by infusing diverse ideas into the innovation process and accelerating groundbreaking solutions. This is why in 2023, we reviewed and strengthened our event offering to introduce the EDANA Innovation and Sustainability Forums.

The first edition of the Sustainability Forum was held in November 2023 and was a resounding success, eliciting strong praise from attendees. Now open for registration, at first glance, the EDANA Innovation Forum - which is sponsored by Gessner - is shaping up to be just as successful, boosting a strong programme split across three sessions covering innovation in nonwovens applications, technology, and material solutions.

EDANA Innovation Forum Programme Overview

The forum will open with a keynote on Why Innovation Fails: The 7 Keys to Success from Joachim De Vos, Co-chair & Managing Partner of Living Tomorrow – TomorrowLab, as he delves into the complexities of innovation, exploring the fundamental questions that often elude us. Joachim's 7 keys to success are based on lessons learned from companies on how to improve innovation processes. Joachim conducted thousands of interviews with companies over ten years to understand why their innovations failed, and what they could have done better.

Over the remaining days, attendees will hear from over 20 distinguished speakers from companies including Autefa, BASF, PFNonwovens, SABIC, Trützschler Nonwovens, and more. Each speaker will share unique insights into nonwoven innovations spanning materials, technology, and applications.

The first session will address innovations in applications with presentations showcasing innovations in wipes, firefighting garments, and menstrual care. Attendees will learn how a multilayered engineered fabric developed by Glatfelter is revolutionizing the industrial and institutional wipes sector; how a textile from Isomate can maintain structural integrity under extreme conditions making it perfect for fire resistance; and a speaker from Texol-Orma will explain the human skin microbiome and how this relates to hygiene products while enhancing the user experience.

Session two will cover technological innovations, including spunlace equipment, digitalisation, polymer technology and bio-based nonwovens. Session three will conclude the main conference agenda with presentations on innovation in material solutions which will examine cellulosic nonwovens and plastic additive concepts. The third day will see the EDANA Innovation Forum relocate to the most innovative place in town: The Munich Urban Colab, a place for new forms of cross-sector and interdisciplinary collaboration.

The programme for this third day will include inspirational talks, including an address by the founders of the Urban Colab facility, as well as presentations from keynotes and start-ups. And of course, no EDANA event is complete without networking.

The EDANA Innovation Forum is the perfect place for participants to network, collaborate, and lead the way in today's dynamic nonwovens business landscape. Throughout the Forum, there will be plenty of opportunities to meet and exchange with other attendees be it by engaging in discussions at the tabletops or during the evening reception at the M'Uniqo Rooftop Bar, which has a 360° panoramic view of the stunning city of Munich!

As societal awareness for the footprint we leave behind and the responsibility that we bear towards our planet has increased, innovation has become inextricably linked with sustainability. Industries, worldwide are innovating to find more efficient ways to utilize resources, minimize waste, increase recycling, and reduce our overall environmental impact.

Take the Stage at the EDANA Sustainability Forum

The EDANA Sustainability Forum will be back for a second edition in Brussels, Belgium from 5-7 November 2024. Building on the achievements of the previous edition, the agenda will cover all relevant sustainability topics for the nonwovens industry including medical nonwoven circularity; good practice on green claims; sustainability reporting (CSRD); corporate sustainability (CSDDD); and circularity in durable nonwoven applications. The call for papers is out now. If you would like to feature in this year’s programme please send your abstracts to giovanna.merola@edana.org by Friday 3 May 2024. Visit the EDANA website for more information.

EDANA warns of consequences of misclassification of PET spunbond imports

EDANA would like to remind its members and industry stakeholders of the legal requirement to comply with the EU rules on customs classification when importing nonwovens from third countries outside the EU. In this regard, it was recently discovered that there appears to be a high level of customs misclassification occurring in our industry. This could have dangerous and costly consequences for importers.

INDEX™ unveils the first selection of product presentations

A mosaic showcasing several speakers from the Exhibitor Product Presentations at INDEX™26 A comprehensive programme of company presentations will take place across the three days of the INDEX™26 exhibition at Geneva Palexpo, reflecting many aspects of the ongoing transition to sustainable materials through polymer and additives design, fibre engineering and new finishing chemistries.

Businesses urge European Commission to allow continued sale of products already lawfully placed on the market before the Empowering Consumers Directive’s application to avoid unnecessary waste and costs

EDANA, the voice of nonwovens, alongside a coalition of leading European business associations, has issued a joint statement urging the European Commission to introduce a "grandfathering clause" to the Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition (ECGT) Directive. The coalition warns that without transitional provisions for products already lawfully placed on the market, the new rules could inadvertently lead to massive waste and economic disruption.

ANDRITZ sets focus on textile recycling and durable nonwoven production technologies at ITMA Asia 2025

International technology Group ANDRITZ will be presenting its innovative nonwovens production and textile solutions at ITMA ASIA + CITME 2025 in Singapore, from October 28 to 31, 2025 (Hall 2, D106). ANDRITZ will showcase its MMCF production plants, textile sorting and recycling, bast fiber processing, needlepunch, airlay, and life-cycle service technologies, with a focus on sustainable solutions. Discover how these innovations can grow your business opportunities and support a greener future.

OUTLOOK™ 2025: Charting a sustainable and innovative future for the Nonwovens Industry

EDANA concluded its flagship event, OUTLOOK™ 2025, last week, marking it as a major success and addressing the biggest questions facing the industry. The three-day conference highlighted the urgent need for a unified approach to sustainability, regulation, and innovation in the absorbent hygiene and wipes sectors.

Global Nonwovens Alliance unveils Inaugural Board, advancing collaboration and growth worldwide

The Global Nonwovens Alliance (GNA), a tax-exempt federation jointly founded by INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, and EDANA, the Voice of Nonwovens, announces the appointment of its founding Board of Directors. This group of leaders represents some of the most influential executives across the nonwovens value chain and reflects GNA’s mission to foster global collaboration, innovation, and growth in the industry.

JEC World 2026 returns with an unprecedented content program

Recognized worldwide as the leading trade exhibition for composite materials and their applications, JEC World returns on March 10-12, 2026, at Paris Nord Villepinte as the most ambitious edition to date, in line with its motto “Pushing the limits”. As the must-attend event for the composites industry, JEC World will offer an unprecedented program, blending conferences, markets insights, technical sessions, awards, and above all, a unique experience and invaluable connections.

Beyond the wardrobe – innovative cotton takes the spotlight

Cotton can do more – a lot more. Cutting-edge textiles and high-tech products made from 100% cotton prove just how powerfully performance and sustainability can come together. That very surge of innovation is front and centre at the 38th Bremen Cotton Conference, taking place March 25–27, 2026, at Bremen’s Parliament on the historic market square – culminating in a bold and dedicated closing session on Friday. In the spotlight: performance upgrades for pure cotton, smart strategies for circular textile waste solutions, and pioneering concepts for demanding technical applications. From natural fibre–reinforced composites to highly effective flame-retardant solutions, cotton steps out of the closet and shows the future potential woven into every fibre.

Keeping print inclusive: Empowering women in the print industry

Across all industries, cultivating a diverse and inclusive workplace is increasingly recognised as valuable and essential to long-term success. However, despite the print industry’s significant advancements in technology and innovation, visible representation of women remains limited. As the sector grapples with low recruitment, it’s important to challenge outdated perceptions. Creating real change, however, requires collective effort - no single company can do it alone.