#Nonwovens

2026-07-01

EDANA announces five new board members following 2026 Annual General Meeting

The EDANA Board of Governors is elected or re-elected at the Annual General Meeting by the member companies. The Governors are senior executives (business leaders) from member companies, based in different countries and representing different sectors of the nonwovens industry. The Board has central responsibility for guiding EDANA's overall strategy and approving its policies and priorities. It meets three times a year.

On 17–18 June, EDANA welcomed its members to Brussels for the 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Board Meeting. This year, the AGM elected five new Board members, who will join the existing Board for a three-year term running from 1 July 2026 to 1 July 2029.

Giulia Antonioli will serve as Executive Officer on the EDANA Board. With over 20 years of experience shaping Brand Communication, Reputation, and Advocacy at P&G, Giulia Antonioli brings a rare blend of EU institutional insight (European Commission, Italian Chamber of Commerce in Belgium) and deep consumer industry experience. Since 2019, she has led Europe's Brand Communications, Reputation, and Advocacy for Baby Care.

Carles Moix leads Finance for EMEA and Asia at Magnera. A dynamic international executive with a strong track record in manufacturing, packaging, and industrial sectors, he brings deep expertise in P&L leadership, global operations, financial transformation, large-scale restructuring, and cross-border M&A.

Robert A. Friedline, Ph.D., leads EMEA Product Development at Kenvue across Women's Health, Skin Health, Oral Care, and more. With over 20 years in global consumer health, he joined Kenvue in February 2022 and has led R&D organisations across the full innovation lifecycle, stewarding brands including o.b®, Carefree®, Neutrogena®, and Listerine®.

Brian Udengaard brings over 20 years of nonwovens industry experience, primarily in the hygiene field. Recently joined Nitto Advanced Film Solutions to lead strategic R&D initiatives, where Nitto combines in-house nonwoven production with external technology partnerships.

Thomas Peter Schiele is a senior executive and economist (Dr. rer. pol., University of Mannheim) with extensive international leadership across the chemical and materials industry. His career at BASF SE spans VP roles in polymers, energy procurement, paper coating chemicals, and adhesives across Europe, South America, and Asia.

EDANA is pleased to welcome the new Board members, whose expertise and leadership will help guide EDANA as they continue to support and advance the nonwovens industry!

EDANA also extends its sincere thanks to the departing Board members for their dedication, valuable contributions, and service to the association, and wishes them every success in their future endeavours.

EDANA launches landmark continence report to mark the start of the World Continence Week

Today marks the official commencement of the World Continence Week. To honour this global awareness initiative, EDANA has published a comprehensive report titled "The Central Role of Absorbent Hygiene Products in the Management of Adult Urinary Incontinence: Benefits, Costs and Environmental Impact." The World Continence Week (WCW) is an annual global initiative dedicated to raising public awareness about incontinence and bladder or bowel health issues. Traditionally held in June, this awareness week aims to shed light on a condition that affects millions of people worldwide but is frequently kept secret due to widespread social stigma, embarrassment, and taboo.

INDEX™26: A strong edition in a challenging context, confirming Geneva’s role as a global hub for innovation in the nonwovens sector

EDANA’s INDEX™26, the world’s leading trade fair for nonwovens, co-organised with Palexpo, officially concluded last Friday 22 May with a successful edition. In a context marked by uncertainty and continued pressure, the 2026 edition of INDEX™ concluded successfully. With a diverse range of 625 exhibiting companies from 44 countries, an important number of visitors, and an expanded international reach, the event confirmed its role as a central hub for innovation and a representative showcase of the nonwovens’ ecosystem.

PET spunbond from China – EDANA welcomes imposition of provisional anti-dumping measures

On 13 May 2026, after eight months of investigation, the European Commission imposed provisional anti-dumping duties of 45.6-50.0% on imports of PET spunbond from China. EDANA welcomes this expression of the Commission’s clear determination to protect EU industries from the unfair trade practices of Chinese producers.

Towards pragmatic and harmonised labelling in the EU

EDANA, alongside 14 European associations, urges the European Commission and Member States to adopt a pragmatic approach for the future harmonised packaging labels, in line with the EU’s agenda for the EU Single Market, simplification and competitiveness. The system should rely on text-free pictograms, available in achromatic or monochromatic versions matching the packaging palette, with the possibility of using digital labelling as a core element. Our associations represent manufacturers of consumer goods across Europe.

Keeping products moving with Swedish automation at FILTECH 2026

At FILTECH 2026, taking place in Cologne from June 30th to July 2nd, members of TMAS – the Swedish textile machinery association – will highlight how the country’s engineering expertise is enabling filtration manufacturers to increase productivity, improve traceability and reduce dependence on labour-intensive manual processes.

Cotton made in Africa partners receive top marks in independent verifications

Cotton made in Africa® (CmiA) and CmiA Organic are two internationally recognised standards that aim to promote sustainable development in the African cotton sector south of the Sahara. To ensure the standards’ credibility among brands, retailers, and consumers, independent verifiers evaluate compliance on the ground. The verification results for 2025, now published in the Aggregated Verification & Implementation Report, were very strong: The verifiers awarded consistently very good remarks regarding management, people, prosperity, and the environment.

Bangladesh: Italian textile machinery mission stops in Dhaka and Chittagong

Technological upgrading and the transition toward higher value-added production are driving the new Italian industrial mission to Bangladesh. This year, the mission will split between the country’s two main manufacturing hubs, where Italian manufacturers will meet the leaders of the local textile supply chain in two strategic stages: July 7th in Dhaka and July 9th in Chittagong.

Yarn Expo Shenzhen 2026 closes doors, advancing sustainable and innovative sourcing in South China

Yarn Expo Shenzhen 2026 served as a strategically positioned mid-year sourcing platform for the Greater Bay Area, highlighting Shenzhen’s role in connecting regional demand, supply and innovation exchange across the textile value chain. During the three-day fair, over 20,000 visits were drawn from 74 countries and regions[1], as exhibitors and buyers engaged with new developments in greener, performance-led, and value-added yarn and fibre solutions. Held in conjunction with Intertextile Shenzhen Apparel Fabrics and PH Value, the fair underscored the benefits of closer synergy and new materials across yarn, fabric and apparel platforms for the South China market.