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Edana's 2019 Nonwovens Symposium ends successfully

15 Jun '19

2 min read

Pic: Edana

Edana’s 2019 International Nonwovens Symposium (INS), which was held on June 12-13, 2019, at Vienna, Austria, has ended on a successful note. The leading European event demonstrated the technical and strategic building blocks that will ensure the industry’s sustainable growth, with top level speakers and professionals from the nonwovens sector.

Over 160 participants gathered at the venue to hear sector experts assess trade trends, exciting new innovations and sustainability initiatives from across the nonwovens spectrum, according to Edana.

Opening with a review of the impact of trade wars on nonwoven markets from Hosuk Lee- Makiyama, director of the European Centre for International Political Economy, the INS programme also covered sustainable product innovations including a well-received presentation of new nonwovens based on pineapple waste fibre, BASF’s search for ways to sustainably diversify its feedstock, Gherzi’s findings on brilliant opportunities for processing recycled carbon fibres into nonwovens, and Glatfelter’s new approach to plastic-free wipe substrates.

The whole symposium programme featured an impressive range of presentations highlighting the rapid integration by the nonwovens supply chain of the priority to balance functionality and consumer convenience with reduced environmental footprints, while many promising research areas such as elastic melt-blown nonwovens showed opportunities and even market introductions of new nonwoven end-uses such as in shape-wear or outdoor-wear.

The INS this year was also chosen to introduce the Edana Sustainability Vision, a sweeping new industry initiative which provides direction in ensuring that the relevant UN Sustainable Development Goals for the nonwovens industry are a core consideration in business strategies, product design and impact assessment.

The new vision is centred on four key sustainability areas. Sustainable supply chain promotes fair and safe working conditions and green procurement in the supply chain. Eco-efficiency helps to use resource efficiently for low carbon production and products. Building trust increases transparency and safeguarding quality to consumers. Responsible end-of-life engages with all stakeholders in developing optimal waste and circular economy solutions.

The presentation of the vision was accompanied by the launch of the fifth Edana Sustainability Report, a comprehensive overview of the performance and ambitions in sustainable development across Edana’s membership. (GK)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India

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