Brussel's EDANA unites nonwovens industry on sustainable future goals

EDANA, the leading global association for nonwovens and related industries, concluded its annual Sustainability Forum recently at the KBR Royal Library of Belgium in Brussels. Under the theme 'Building a Sustainable Future Together,' this year’s forum included keynote speeches, panel discussions, and collaborative sessions centred on environmental responsibility, corporate social responsibility, and circular economy innovations within the nonwovens sector.

Ana Rovzar, founder of Polygon AR, opened the forum with a keynote on clean energy, highlighting the rapid growth in renewable energy investments, which saw a 50 per cent increase in 2023. “It is accelerating much faster than people think” she remarked, emphasising that “real progress requires a united front from governments, businesses, and communities to remove regulatory and technological barriers”.

Sustainability expert Mike Barry, formerly of Marks & Spencer, followed with a discussion on aligning corporate strategies with sustainable practices. “Citizens see climate change as a top priority, and companies must act boldly to reduce emissions, especially Scope 3. Sustainability is now a vital part of brand identity, and consumers expect more transparency and commitment than ever”, he said.

EDANA’s sustainability and technical affairs manager, Marta Roche Díez, underscored the organisation’s commitment to driving impactful environmental changes, reflecting on recent achievements and future goals. “Our vision for sustainability is an evolving roadmap, but we’re proud of the progress made and are committed to championing impactful changes”, she said.

In line with EU sustainability regulations, Brieuc Lits, public affairs director at EDANA, examined the potential effects of the EU Green Deal on the nonwovens sector. “The EU’s shift towards balancing sustainability with competitiveness will shape not only policy but the very framework within which we operate”, he noted.

Paolo Haeusermann senior brand director and Europe sustainability leader at Procter & Gamble, shared insights on advancing sustainability in absorbent hygiene products, emphasising their essential role in sustainable health initiatives. “We are talking about essential products in people’s lives”, he remarked.

Industry leaders also discussed embedding sustainability at every level of business. Carsten Ruff from Nitto Advanced Film Solutions spoke on the challenges of fostering a sustainable corporate culture within multinational contexts. “Sustainability is not a contradiction to industrial applications; it’s a powerful driver of innovation”, he observed.

Christophe Morel-Fourrier, sustainability leader for hygiene, packaging, and converting adhesives at Bostik, introduced the Archimedes tool for Portfolio Sustainability Assessment. This tool is designed to help companies align product choices with environmental goals, offering strategic insights for more sustainable business practices.  “Archimedes allows us to make transparent, informed decisions that align with our long-term sustainability goals”, he explained.

A major topic of discussion was the industry’s shift toward a circular economy. Albert Hammerschmied from Freudenberg Performance Materials emphasised the crucial role of post-industrial waste in advancing circularity, especially within the automotive sector. “The potential for nonwovens in the automotive circular economy is vast, but requires industry-wide collaboration”, he commented.

During a session on the future of sustainable practices in building insulation, Alexandre Butté of ANDRITZ Laroche highlighted the significance of eco-friendly materials and strong stakeholder collaboration. “The building industry encounters specific sustainability challenges, but through innovation and sustainable materials, we can close the gap between ambitions and practical solutions,” he said.

Danielle van Horzen, global marketing manager for hygiene and healthcare at SABIC, highlighted the path forward for sustainability within the healthcare sector, focusing on advanced recycling solutions for medical waste. “A significant amount of medical waste is not contaminated, offering us opportunities to create circularity in healthcare,” she stated.

Kristien Depraetere, sustainability coordinator at UZ Leuven, added to the discussion by sharing sustainable practices in hospitals, from waste reduction to advanced recycling in medical waste. “Healthcare can lead by example in the transition to circularity, yet we need practical and legislative support to address unique industry challenges”, she said.

The forum concluded with a visit to the European Commission, offering participants the opportunity to engage with EU officials on pivotal elements of the EU Green Deal, including Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and the Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD).

These discussions underscored the importance of closer collaboration between the nonwovens industry and EU policymakers, reinforcing the forum’s dedication to bridging policy and practice. EDANA’s commitment to environmental responsibility was highlighted throughout the event, as it aims to promote and accelerate green innovation across the industry.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (HU)