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INDA's World of Wipes conference in Atlanta registers 400 attendees

22 Jun '21

4 min read

Pic: INDA

The World of Wipes international conference has registered 400 attendees and over 350 wipes professionals. The conference will deliver the latest insights and material science developments with themes focused on sustainability issues, the impact of COVID-19 on consumer wipes, regulatory trends, flushability, and more, from July 12-15, 2021, in Atlanta.

On July 12, 2021, Chris Plotz, INDA director of education and technical affairs, will provide critical training on research, development, and manufacturing of wipes. ‘Wipes and the Growing Plastics Debate’, moderated by Janet O’Regan, director, nonwovens marketing, Cotton Incorporated, will be covered in two sessions. First, Anna Gergely, director, EHS regulatory, Steptoe & Johnson, will speak on recent developments under the European Union (EU) green deal and plastics strategy and provide an update on the impact of the pandemic. Gil Stevens, Edana’s external relations and sustainability director will speak on the European single-use plastic directive. Jean Francois De Gruttola, business development director, Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Africa, Lenzing Fibers, will look at the aftermath of the EU Single-Use Plastics (SUP) directive, INDA said in a media statement.

In the second part, an update on the Canadian plastic policy will be presented by Karyn Schmidt, senior director, chemical regulation, regulatory and technical affairs, American Chemistry Council (ACC). The latest legislative developments in the US will be discussed by Andrew Hackman, principal lobbyist, Serlin Haley. Government Affairs Update – Facilitated by O’Regan, Jessica Franken, INDA’s director of government affairs, will present ‘Policy Update: 2020 was a mess. What’s next in 2021?’

The Confusing World of Regulations Impacting the Disinfecting and Sanitizing Wipes, will be moderated by Jeff Slosman, president, National Wiper Alliance. Tony Herber, principal regulatory consultant/assistant federal team manager, Scientific & Regulatory Consultants will bring his expertise on the FDA and EPA regulations and confusion with Canadian rules. Andrea Mojica, vice president, regulatory affairs, Antimicrobial Products and Cleaning Products Association (HCPA), will discuss emerging pathogens, disinfection versus soap and water, and manufacturers’ concerns. Matthew Schiering, chief marketing officer, Contec, will talk about food contact wipes, according to INDA.

On July 14, industry-leading experts will present on thought-provoking topics related to wipes trends, innovations, sustainable packaging and the impact of COVID-19 during this packed second day. Jonathan Layer, business development manager Americas, Birla Cellulose/Multifibres and Yarns (USA) will moderate ‘Trends in the Wipes Market and Among Consumers’. Speakers include Brad Kalil, INDA director of market intelligence and economic insights, on Understanding the State of the Nonwovens Wipes Industry and a Market Gone Mad; and Laura Mahecha, industry manager, I&I cleaning products, Kline & Company will discuss I&K cleaning wipes: market statistics and end user insights. Svetlana Uduslivaia, head of research, Euromonitor International, will explore consumer wipes: look at the post-Covid world and Jay Roth, director of sales, Elsner Engineering Works, will speak on growth and demand of canister wipes converting lines in the US and around the globe.

Innovation in wet wipe preservatives, moderated by Robert Johnson, principal, Smith, Johnson & Associates, will feature presentations on ‘Wipes Don’t Go Moldy… Do They?’ by Heidi Beatty, chief executive officer, Crown Abbey; and unveiling wet wipes preservation: new findings on microbial risks and novel preservative solution created by rational design presented by Paul Salama, CTO and head of innovation, Sharon Laboratories.

John Poccia, president, Poccia Consulting, is the moderator for sustainable packaging and dispensing for wipes. Topics are creating value through dispensing by Douglas Kretchmer, chief executive officer, The Green Edge; and sustainability impacts across the value chain of wipes packaging by John Wilson, director marketing and sustainability, Amcor Flexibles North America. Speaking on sustainable packaging options for wet wipes will be James Harvey, director of market and product development, ColorMasters, and Carl Cucuzza, president/managing partner, Teknoweb.

‘Nonwoven substrates for more sustainable wipes’, will be led by Kyra Dorsey, product development manager, Suominen. Discussing sustainable solutions for wipes will be Vishal Bansal, vice president, innovation, Glatfelter, and Silke Brand-Kirsch, vice president, marketing and business development, Glatfelter. Plastic Free Wipes – A Natural Concept will be tackled by Richard Knowlson, principal, RPK Consulting, and Cotton Incorporated’s O’Regan. Among the other compelling issues that will be covered are ‘Hemp fibres in nonwovens – ready for the big time?’ by Paul Latten, director of research and development and new business, Southeast Nonwovens; Sustainable Hygiene Products and Single-use Items – Are there Eco-friendly Alternatives? by Lothar Kaierle, vice president sales nonwovens, American Truetzschler.

INDA’s David Rousse will lead the session ‘flushable wipes: loved by consumers, wrongly accused by utilities’ and speak on flushable wipes: some rays of light emerging. Lara Wyss, president, Responsible Flushing Alliance, will tackle the question of to flush or not to flush and present on FlushSmart Responsible Flushing Alliance’s public education campaign.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (GK)

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