From the Sector

Most materials have an inherent capacity to handle heat. Plastic, for instance, is typically a poor thermal conductor, whereas materials like marble move heat more efficiently. If you were to place one hand on a marble countertop and the other on a plastic cutting board, the marble would conduct more heat away from your hand, creating a colder sensation compared to the plastic.

Typically, a material’s thermal conductivity cannot be changed without re-manufacturing it. But MIT engineers have now found that a relatively common material can switch its thermal conductivity. Simply stretching the material quickly dials up its heat conductance, from a baseline similar to that of plastic to a higher capacity closer to that of marble. When the material springs back to its unstretched form, it returns to its plastic-like properties.

The thermally reversible material is an olefin block copolymer — a soft and flexible polymer that is used in a wide range of commercial products. The team found that when the material is quickly stretched, its ability to conduct heat more than doubles. This transition occurs within just 0.22 seconds, which is the fastest thermal switching that has been observed in any material.

This material could be used to engineer systems that adapt to changing temperatures in real time. For instance, switchable fibers could be woven into apparel that normally retains heat. When stretched, the fabric would instantly conduct heat away from a person’s body to cool them down. Similar fibers can be built into laptops and infrastructure to keep devices and buildings from overheating. The researchers are working on further optimizing the polymer and on engineering new materials with similar properties.

“We need cheap and abundant materials that can quickly adapt to environmental temperature changes,” says Svetlana Boriskina, principal research scientist in MIT’s Department of Mechanical Engineering. “Now that we’ve seen this thermal switching, this changes the direction where we can look for and build new adaptive materials.”

Boriskina and her colleagues have published their results in a study appearing today in the journal Advanced Materials. The study’s co-authors include Duo Xu, Buxuan Li, You Lyu, and Vivian Santamaria-Garcia of MIT, and Yuan Zhu of Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen, China.

Elastic chains
The key to the new phenomenon is that when the material is stretched, its microscopic structures align in ways that suddenly allow heat to travel through easily, increasing the material’s thermal conductivity. In its unstretched state, the same microstructures are tangled and bunched, effectively blocking heat’s path.

As it happens, Boriskina and her colleagues didn’t set out to find a heat-switching material. They were initially looking for more sustainable alternatives to spandex, which is a synthetic fabric made from petroleum-based plastics that is traditionally difficult to recycle. As a potential replacement, the team was investigating fibers made from a different polymer known as polyethylene.

“Once we started working with the material, we realized it had other properties that were more interesting than the fact that it was elastic,” Boriskina says. “What makes polyethylene unique is it has this backbone of carbon atoms arranged along a simple chain. And carbon is a very good conductor of heat.”

The microstructure of most polymer materials, including polyethylene, contains many carbon chains. However, these chains exist in a messy, spaghetti-like tangle known as an amorphous phase. Despite the fact that carbon is a good heat conductor, the disordered arrangement of chains typically impedes heat flow. Polyethylene and most other polymers, therefore, generally have low thermal conductivity.

In previous work, MIT Professor Gang Chen and his collaborators found ways to untangle the mess of carbon chains and push polyethylene to shift from a disordered amorphous state to a more aligned, crystalline phase. This transition effectively straightened the carbon chains, providing clear highways for heat to flow through and increasing the material’s thermal conductivity. In those experiments however, the switch was permanent; once the material’s phase changed, it could not be reversed.

As Boriskina’s team explored polyethylene, they also considered other closely related materials, including olefin block copolymer (OBC). OBC is predominantly an amorphous material, made from highly tangled chains of carbon and hydrogen atoms. Scientists had therefore assumed that OBC would exhibit low thermal conductivity. If its conductance could be increased, it would likely be permanent, similar to polyethylene.

But when the team carried out experiments to test the elasticity of OBC, they found something quite different.

“As we stretched and released the material, we realized that its thermal conductivity was really high when it was stretched and lower when it was relaxed, over thousands of cycles,” says study co-author and MIT graduate student Duo Xu. “This switch was reversible, while the material stayed mostly amorphous. That was unexpected.”

A stretchy mess
The team then took a closer look at OBC, and how it might be changing as it was stretched. The researchers used a combination of X-ray and Raman spectroscopy to observe the material’s microscopic structure as they stretched and relaxed it repeatedly. They observed that, in its unstretched state, the material consists mainly of amorphous tangles of carbon chains, with just a few islands of ordered, crystalline domains scattered here and there. When stretched, the crystalline domains seemed to align and the amorphous tangles straightened out, similar to what Gang Chen observed in polyethylene.

However, rather than transitioning entirely into a crystalline phase, the straightened tangles stayed in their amorphous state. In this way, the team found that the tangles were able to switch back and forth, from straightened to bunched and back again, as the material was stretched and relaxed repeatedly.

“Our material is always in a mostly amorphous state; it never crystallizes under strain,” Xu notes. “So it leaves you this opportunity to go back and forth in thermal conductivity a thousand times. It’s very reversible.”

The team also found that this thermal switching happens extremely fast: The material’s thermal conductivity more than doubled within just 0.22 seconds of being stretched.

“The resulting difference in heat dissipation through this material is comparable to a tactile difference between touching a plastic cutting board versus a marble countertop,” Boriskina says.

She and her colleagues are now taking the results of their experiments and working them into models to see how they can tweak a material’s amorphous structure, to trigger an even bigger change when stretched.

“Our fibers can quickly react to dissipate heat, for electronics, fabrics, and building infrastructure.” Boriskina says. “If we could make further improvements to switch their thermal conductivity from that of plastic to that closer to diamond, it would have a huge industrial and societal impact.”

This research was supported, in part, by the U.S. Department of Energy, the Office of Naval Research Global via Tec de Monterrey, MIT Evergreen Graduate Innovation Fellowship, MathWorks MechE Graduate Fellowship, and the MIT-SUSTech Centers for Mechanical Engineering Research and Education, and carried out, in part, with the use of MIT.nano and ISN facilities.

INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, has announced the four distinguished recipients of the 2026 INDA Lifetime Service Award and Lifetime Technical Achievement Award. Tom Daugherty, Pricie Hanna, Carey Hobbs, and CK Wong are being recognized for their exceptional leadership, innovation, and enduring contributions to advancing the nonwovens industry and strengthening the global community it serves.

The INDA Lifetime Awards honor professionals with distinguished records of service and technical accomplishment whose work has significantly influenced the development and advancement of nonwoven technologies, businesses, and the broader industry.

Award Recipients

• Tom Daugherty and Carey Hobbs will receive their awards at the World of Wipes® (WOW) International Conference, June 30th beginning at 4:30 pm
• Pricie Hanna will receive her award at the Hygienix™ Conference, November 17th at 4:30 pm
• Sabrina Wong, President, U.S. Pacific Procurement Company Ltd., will accept the posthumous award on behalf of her husband, CK Wong, at a future INDA event

Tom Daugherty: INDA Lifetime Technical Achievement Award
“It has been a great privilege to spend nearly 45 years collaborating with so many talented individuals in this industry to improve the lives of consumers worldwide. I am truly humbled to receive the INDA Lifetime Technical Achievement Award. My deepest thanks to my colleagues at P&G, partners across the supply sector, The Nonwovens Institute at NC State, the INDA community, and my wife and family for their amazing partnership. Here’s to the next generation of innovation!”

Tom Daugherty’s career spans decades of service to the nonwovens industry, both in industry R&D leadership roles at Procter & Gamble where he first retired in 2016, and also in a unique industry-academic partnership role at The Nonwovens Institute at NC State, where he retired in 2025.

Throughout, he was dedicated to the idea of driving business growth through innovation, and doing this by working to improve consumer’s lives with delightful benefits and winning with consumers vs. the best competition. Other powerful innovation themes included focus on platform technologies that could be leveraged for multi-generational initiatives to meet consumer needs, and to allocate balanced effort across the different innovation types to build, transform, and create markets.

He advanced through R&D positions spanning upstream technology development, business unit product development, and initiative launch. And through his collaboration as a part of multidisciplinary teams representing, in varied capacities, global brands such as Pampers, Luvs, Always, Naturella, Bounty, Swiffer, Mr. Clean, and others, he contributed to product and process technologies that have been used hundreds of billions of times by consumers around the world. 

Nonwoven specific innovations include developing benefits and functions related to comfort, resilience, softness, wettability, fluid handling, apertures, mechanical fastening, carrier for skin care ingredients, barrier for leakage prevention, surface cleaning, personal care skin cleaning, and stretch. And at The Nonwovens Institute, it was an honor to contribute to the delivery of filtration products needed for health care during the COVID pandemic.

Recognizing the importance of contributing to building the business, and to building organizational and industry capability, Tom was also very active in industry service roles. He served on the INDA Board of Directors from 2007 to 2009 and later as a member of the INDA Executive Committee from 2010 to 2016. In addition, he played a significant role at The Nonwovens Institute (NWI), serving on its Executive Committee from 2003 to 2016, including as Chair from 2006 to 2008, and as Chair of the NWI Scientific Advisory Board from 2010 to 2016. And in his second career at The Nonwovens Institute, Daugherty brought enthusiasm and strategic leadership to the organization, helping support its continued growth and success.

Tom commented upon the highlights of his long and multi-faceted career, “The absolute best part of my career was having the opportunity and privilege to collaborate with so many talented people in the nonwovens industry. Collaboration is the most powerful, and fun, way to create and deliver business results.”

Pricie Hanna: INDA Lifetime Service Award
“I have benefited from the services of INDA’s talented staff for the 40 years that I have been in the nonwovens industry.  I am truly humbled and honored to receive the INDA Lifetime Service Award. It has been a blessing to collaborate with this close-knit community of dedicated professionals as the industry has innovated and grown all around the world.”

Pricie Hanna is Managing Partner of Price Hanna Consultants, a firm founded in 2011 with Partner, David Price, which specializes in nonwoven products and technologies. Pricie’s expertise in hygiene absorbent products ranges from tracking market trends to estimating the demand and technical requirements for raw materials – such as resins, fiber, fluff pulp, nonwovens, film, superabsorbents, adhesives and elastics – used to make these products. She is a frequent conference speaker and has authored numerous papers and publications on the global markets for hygiene absorbent products and other nonwovens businesses.

For twenty-three years before that, Pricie was Vice President of John R. Starr, Inc., and led the firm’s consulting practice in hygiene absorbent products and nonwoven wipes. Pricie managed numerous client engagements involving market and technology feasibility, supply/demand outlook, strategy development, new product opportunity evaluation, competitor assessments, value chain analyses, and financial valuations.

Prior to joining John R. Starr, Inc., Pricie was Vice President – Finance, Planning and Administration for the Scott Nonwovens Division of Scott Paper Company. During sixteen years with Scott Paper, Pricie held various corporate positions including Vice President – Corporate Planning; Vice President – Corporate Financial Services and Assistant Treasurer. Before joining Scott Paper, Pricie was a corporate lending officer at Citibank in New York City. She received an A.B. degree from the University of Pennsylvania and completed the Executive Education Program in Corporate Financial Management at the Harvard Graduate School of Business. She and her husband Colin live in West Chester, Pennsylvania. They have two adult children and two avid soccer-playing grandsons.

Carey Hobbs: INDA Lifetime Technical Achievement Award
“I was shocked to learn that I’m receiving this Lifetime Achievement Award. I have devoted my professional career to making cars quieter, making jackets warmer, defending our country, and helping families enjoy quilting. This honor humbles me and lets me know that my career has positively impacted people’s lives.”

Carey Hobbs joined Hobbs Bonded Fibers (formerly known as Clark Brothers Felt Company) in 1963 and grew the company into a leader in the nonwoven industry, with applications across government, military, medical, automotive, industrial, and crafts until he sold in 2015.

He loved providing jobs that his employees could depend on, and his team members became integral leaders in their community.

The company was only the seventh bonded polyester plant in the world. Carey was renowned for creating the Heirloom and Tuscany Collections, which became two of the most in-demand quilt batting labels in the industry.

While he produced his own brands that ranked #2 in the industry, he also manufactured the #1 and #3 brands for other companies. As a result, he produced 90% of the quilt batting sold in America.

“I saw quilting as the ideal arena because it is so personal. Quilt patterns and techniques have been passed down from generation to generation. We still have quilts made by our own parents and grandparents.”

Carey adds, “I figured that if I couldn’t sell all the quilt batting in the nation, at least I could manufacture most of it. If I were going to lose a sale to someone, I could lose it to myself under a different label. I was fortunate to lead a team of innovators who elevated an entire industry.”

Carey was the second-largest producer of fiber fill for ski jackets and leaned into the automotive sector, supplying components for 12 of the 15 top-selling vehicles in the United States. A constant innovator, he owns or has owned all or parts of at least four patents, some of which remain classified as projects involving the joint Armed Forces.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) named Carey the “Small Businessperson of the Year” for the Dallas District. He was also appointed by the George H.W. Bush administration to serve on the U.S. Department of Commerce Industry Sector Advisory Committee for Trade Policy Matters for Textiles and Apparel.

He celebrated his 90th birthday in December and published his memoir, Piloting Life, which includes 60 years of stories and advancements in the nonwoven industry, along with his passion for family and flying. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

Carey served our nation in the U.S. Marine Corps as a jet fighter pilot and a test pilot. In our industry, he served two terms on INDA’s board of directors. Today, he focuses on his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and serves on the boards of various charitable organizations. He and his late wife, Brenda, helped start the Texas Tech University Center for Collegiate Recovery Communities, which became the model adopted by more than 200 universities.

CK Wong: INDA Lifetime Service Award
“It is with profound gratitude that I accept this Lifetime Service Award in honor of my late husband, C.K. Wong. His dedication to nonwovens industry was not just a career, but a calling. He gave his time, his wisdom, and his heart to advancing the work and uplifting those around him. This recognition is a testament to the values he lived by—integrity, perseverance, and service. Though he is no longer with us, his legacy continues to guide and inspire, and I am deeply moved that his contributions are remembered in this way.” – Sabrina Wong, President, U.S. Pacific Procurement Company Limited

C.K. Wong, Chairman and CEO of U.S. Pacific Nonwovens Industry Limited, built a distinguished career at the forefront of the global nonwovens sector. Born and raised in Hong Kong, he became a U.S. citizen in his twenties after earning a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in New York City.

Recognizing the potential of the emerging nonwovens industry in the early 1970s, CK began his career in the export and import of nonwoven products. In 1988, he returned to Hong Kong as a marketing consultant, and the following year established his corporate headquarters there to oversee manufacturing operations in China. His company specialized in converting nonwoven roll goods into disposable products for industrial and medical protection, addressing the critical challenge of cross-contamination. Over time, the business expanded into household, sports, and other value-added applications. Among his notable achievements was the invention of a patented patient mobility product, which generated significant global business through collaboration and partnerships.

Under CK’s leadership, U.S. Pacific Nonwovens Industry Limited experienced substantial growth. Beginning in 2000, he emphasized the importance of environmental sustainability, investing heavily in a spunbonding production line dedicated exclusively to PLA (polylactic acid), a biodegradable material.

Beyond his business accomplishments, CK was a respected industry leader and advocate for the advancement of nonwovens worldwide. He served as Vice Chairman, Vice Chairman-Finance, and later as an Executive Committee Appointee of INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, where he was credited with helping to open the doors to China for the association. In China, he held prominent leadership roles, including Honorable Chairman of the Guangdong Nonwovens Association (GDNA) and Chairman of the Spunbonded Division of the China Nonwovens & Industrial Textiles Association (CNITA).

Through his vision, leadership, and commitment to innovation, CK Wong made lasting contributions to the growth and globalization of the nonwovens industry. His legacy continues today, inspiring entrepreneurship, sustainability, and international collaboration.

Australian Wool Innovation (AWI), the organisation behind the global Woolmark brand, has announced Bryan Fry as its next Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. 

AWI Chairman George Millington says the decision by the Board follows an extensive recruitment process: “Bryan brings global leadership experience, most recently serving as Chairman and Global Chief Executive Officer of Pernod Ricard Winemakers, where he led large-scale international operations across multiple markets and premium brands. 

His career is distinguished by a rare combination of hands-on agricultural experience as an agronomist alongside deep expertise in international marketing, brand development and commercial strategy. This unique blend of skills positions him strongly to lead the research, development and marketing organisation for Australian woolgrowers, including AWI’s global Woolmark program. 

Bryan’s background in agriculture, coupled with his proven global leadership and brand expertise, makes him exceptionally well suited to lead the organisation. 

I would also like to thank John Roberts for his outstanding leadership as CEO since October 2021. During his tenure, John has delivered strategic focus and strong performance for the organisation and industry alike. John will work closely with Bryan to ensure a thorough and seamless handover, supporting continuity and ongoing momentum.” 

Bryan Fry said he was looking forward to commencing the role and working closely with stakeholders across the industry: “I am excited to join AWI and to help deliver better outcomes both on and off farm. Australian wool is by far the best natural fibre in the world and I am looking forward to playing my part in securing an even brighter future for woolgrowers and the wider industry.”

16 industry associations published a joint statement on deemed importer obligations to urge the EU and its Member States to put in place such a Regulation without delay:

European traders and industry are deeply concerned about the rise of imports of small consignments. The introduction of the ‘deemed importer’ in 2028 comes too late. We call upon the EU and its Member States to introduce a legal obligation on foreign operators to appoint a legally responsible person or entity in the EU for e-commerce imports without any further delay. 

The extraordinary growth of e-commerce in recent years has led to an exponential number of small packages of low-valued goods entering the EU, each of which needs to be accompanied by an individual customs declaration since the entry into force of new VAT rules for e-commerce in 2021. In 2022, for example, almost 1 billion customs declarations for low-value goods were filed. The sheer volumes of e-commerce are testing customs' limits. 

Many of the products arriving here contravene the rules in force in the EU. Infringements like VAT fraud, breaching health and safety EU standards, violation of intellectual property rights and misleading claims fuel unfair competition within the Single Market, disadvantaging businesses that follow the EU’s high standards. Such unfair trade practices, linked to small consignments, are corroding entire industrial value chains, eroding our economic strength and resilience and put the consumer health at risk. Additionally, they threaten shops all over the EU, accelerating the depopulation of town centres. 

Against this background, we welcome that the EU, with the new Union Customs Code (UCC), plans to introduce the so-called “deemed importer”, i.e. holding platforms responsible for ensuring that customs duties and VAT are paid at purchase as well as for non-financial obligations. 

However, if the “deemed importer” is introduced only in 2028, this will come too late. In 2025 alone, 5.8 billion parcels were imported into the EU. In the coming years, the pressure on our industries of competing with non-compliant traders which bear no responsibility for non-compliance, will mount to an unbearable extent and threaten the livelihood of even more economic operators, with massive consequential job losses. 

The introduction of an obligation to appoint a legally responsible person or entity in the European Union who can be held accountable is long overdue. This can be established much earlier than 2028 by a simple EU Regulation at short notice, long before the ‘deemed importer’ and other elements of the UCC are introduced. Technically easily feasible, it is just a question of political will. 

We also acknowledge the forthcoming European Product Act, which aims to further strengthen the overall framework for product compliance and market surveillance. We stress that compliance with European Union Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) obligations must be effectively enforced, including in relation to online sales and third-country sellers. Online marketplaces and any legally responsible EU representative should be subject to clear and binding enforcement mechanisms to ensure that products placed on the EU market comply with applicable EPR requirements (including packaging, WEEE, batteries and textiles), thereby preventing free-riding and safeguarding a level playing field. These initiatives will only deliver their full effect in the medium term. 
If properly defined and implemented, these new concepts have the potential to help address gaps in online product compliance. 

List of Signatories:
Applia – Home Appliance Europe
CEC – European Footwear Confederation
Cosmetics Europe - The personal care association
EBCA - European Branded Clothing Association
ECOS – European Coalition on Standards
EFIC - European Furniture Industries Confederation
EURATEX - European Apparel and Textile Confederation
EXPRA – Extended Producer Responsibility Alliance
Independent Retail Europe
LightingEurope – The voice of the Lighting Industry
Repair&Share
Svensk Handel – Swedish Commerce
TIE - Toy Industries of Europe
WEEE Forum
ZERO – Associação Sistema Terrestre Sustentável
EucoLight

EDANA unveiled the nominees for the INDEX™26 Awards, the nonwoven industry’s highest accolade for technical and sustainable excellence. Out of a record-breaking field of entries, the finalists represent the cutting edge of material science—from bio-based hygiene fibers and PFAS-free protective textiles to revolutionary water-filtration machinery. Each nominee has been selected by a jury of industry experts for their ability to solve critical global challenges, including the transition to a circular economy and the pursuit of enhanced consumer performance. 

1. Nonwoven Roll Goods

Lenzing – LENZING™ Dualwipe 
LENZING™ Dualwipe is a high-performance cleaning wipe crafted from regenerated cellulose using LENZING™ Nonwovens Technology. Its innovative dual-surface design integrates abrasion and absorbency in a single material, enabling efficient cleaning without relying on fossil-based synthetic materials, binders, or chemical additives. One side features a mechanically active surface for scrubbing away dirt, grease, and residues, while the other offers a soft, highly absorbent surface for liquid uptake and surface finishing. Designed for industrial, professional, and household applications, LENZING™ Dualwipe is compatible with existing converting and processing infrastructure, facilitating rapid adoption. 
 
The jury praised LENZING™ Dualwipe for addressing the pressing industry challenge of combining performance with sustainability. By leveraging a novel web architecture of cellulose filaments, it eliminates plastics and microplastics while delivering high-efficiency cleaning. The innovation demonstrates how fiber-level design can create tangible environmental impact without compromising functionality, offering a scalable, market-ready solution that aligns with both regulatory and consumer demands. 
 
Magnera Corporation - Next-Gen Fluid Barrier Technology 
Magnera’s proprietary fluid barrier technology represents a major advancement in protective medical textiles. Designed for demanding surgical and clinical environments, it delivers durable liquid repellency against water, oil, and other fluids without intentionally added PFAS, chemicals traditionally used for this function. Evidence of PFAS persistence in the environment and possible associated health risks has prompted global regulatory action and growing demand for alternatives. Through advanced material engineering, the technology maintains the high-performance healthcare professionals require while aligning with evolving global regulatory expectations. By eliminating legacy chemistries and ensuring consistent barrier performance, it provides a safer and more environmentally responsible alternative to conventional PFAS-based materials.  
  
The jury recognized Magnera for addressing a long-standing challenge in medical textiles: achieving reliable fluid resistance without harmful chemicals. Combining regulatory readiness, operational reliability, and sustainability, the innovation offers healthcare providers and manufacturers a credible, scalable solution for the future.  While healthcare remains a primary application, the underlying platform has potential relevance in other markets that require durable, PFASalternative liquid barrier solutions. 
 
Woolchemy  - neweFlex™ ADL 
Woolchemy has developed neweFlex™ ADL, a plastic-free acquisition distribution layer containing neweFibre™ — Woolchemy's hygiene-grade wool fibre that meets strict regulatory standards for non-sterile hygiene products while preserving wool's natural functionality. Engineered as a plastic-free alternative to petroleum-based ADLs, neweFlex™ ADL is a blend between wool and plant-based fibres to deliver natural benefits including breathability, thermal regulation, and odour control — while being naturally compatible with skin. Wool is a keratin-based fibre — the same structural protein found naturally in human skin, making it an inherently gentle, renewable choice for disposable hygiene products such as diapers and sanitary pads. 
 
The jury recognised neweFlex™ ADL for overcoming long-standing technical and regulatory barriers that previously prevented wool from being used in disposable hygiene products. By enabling wool fibres to run on standard carded spunlace nonwoven equipment, Woolchemy has created a plug-and-play solution for manufacturers seeking alternatives to fossil-based nonwovens. Demonstrated performance in hygiene layers, including fast liquid acquisition and low rewet, confirms that this renewable material can match synthetic materials while advancing the industry’s transition toward more sustainable, plastic-free hygiene products.

2. Finished products made from, or incorporating nonwovens - Single-use application

Corman - Organyc brand "Personalized Protection" Light Incontinence Pads  
Corman’s new light incontinence pads deliver personalized protection through three key innovations. The Smart-Cotton™ cover with a citric acid buffer maintains an ideal skin pH of 5.5, reducing irritation. The patented Cotton-Balanced Absorbent Core channels liquid to superabsorbent polymers that lock in moisture and expand toward the body for superior leak protection. Natural odor control uses an organic ingredient to bind ammonia and slow odor formation, eliminating odor instead of masking it. Clinically proven, the pads address the three main concerns of light incontinence: leaks, odor, and skin irritation. 
 
The jury recognized the product for its consumer-focused innovation, combining skin-friendly materials, adaptive absorption, and effective odor control in one solution. The patented absorbent core was highlighted as a market-first technical advancement. Supported by clinical evidence, the product enhances comfort, confidence, and dignity for users. Its impact is amplified by the brand’s sustainability initiatives, including reducing ocean plastics and improving livelihoods through the Plastics for Change partnership, demonstrating both social and environmental responsibility. 
 
Teknomelt Teknik Mensucat – Fibrasiv® 
Fibrasiv® Abrasive Spunlace is an application-driven nonwoven innovation developed to meet the growing demand for effective yet safe cleaning materials across multiple end-use sectors. The material functions by combining a soft, absorbent spunlace base with an integrated abrasive structure that enables controlled mechanical cleaning. This allows the removal of stubborn dirt, residues, and contaminants while minimizing the risk of surface damage. 
 
The jury appreciated Fibrasiv® for redefining the functional boundaries of spunlace nonwovens. By embedding controlled abrasive performance directly into a soft, flexible fabric, the innovation transforms a traditionally gentle wiping material into a multifunctional cleaning solution. This approach improves cleaning efficiency, reduces reliance on harsh chemical cleaners, and simplifies cleaning processes by replacing multiple tools with a single material. Its combination of performance, usability, and sustainability makes Fibrasiv® a valuable advancement for both professional and consumer cleaning applications. 

3. Finished products made from, or incorporating nonwovens - Durable application

Confitex Technology - Reusable Nonwoven Bed Pads 
This new Confitex technology has enabled the world’s first machine-washable and tumble-dryable nonwoven bed pads, opening a significant new application for nonwoven materials. Using a proprietary fibre-stabilisation bonding technique, the innovation allows absorbent nonwoven structures to withstand more than 30 machine wash and tumble-dry cycles while maintaining performance. The fully nonwoven construction combines a fast-wicking top sheet with a highly absorbent core capable of holding over two litres of liquid. In addition, a bonded frame structure prevents leakage across the entire surface, including the edges, addressing a common weakness of stitched textile bed pads. 
 
The jury particularly valued how this innovation unlocks a new market segment for the nonwoven industry. By making absorbent nonwovens fully laundry-compatible, the technology enables nonwoven suppliers to enter the rapidly growing reusable bed pad market, historically dominated by textile products. At the same time, the product delivers improved absorbency, leak protection, and ease of care for users, while supporting sustainability goals through reusability and the use of predominantly natural-based fibres. 
 
DuPont Personal Protection - DuPont™ Tychem® 6000 SFR 
DuPont™ Tychem® 6000 SFR garments represent a breakthrough in personal protective equipment, delivering unprecedented dual protection against chemical exposure and flash fire hazards. Designed to be worn over primary flame-resistant (FR) clothing, these garments use a lightweight, multi-layer fabric laminate to provide at least 30 minutes of barrier protection against more than 250 chemicals, including toxic industrial chemicals, and flammable organic solvents. By combining advanced chemical resistance with secondary flame protection, Tychem® 6000 SFR enables workers in oil & gas, chemical manufacturing, and emergency response to operate safely in high-risk environments without compromising comfort or mobility. 
  
The award jury highlighted the innovation for its ability to address a long-standing safety challenge: protecting workers simultaneously from chemical and thermal hazards. Tychem® 6000 SFR protective coverall delivers the broadest chemical coverage in the lightest-weight secondary flame-resistant garment, while its engineered design self-extinguishes in flash fire scenarios. The jury praised the garment’s combination of multi-hazard protection, durability, and comfort, recognizing its significant contribution to improving occupational health and safety standards. 
 
Pelsan Tekstil - Metabreathe™ 
Metabreathe™ is an advanced nonwoven-based thermal insulation composite designed to address a key challenge in cold chain logistics: combining high solar reflectance with breathability and recyclability. Unlike conventional covers that rely on glued aluminum foils or PET films, Metabreathe™ utilizes a proprietary process where reflective particles are precision-printed onto a high-performance breathable film, which is then integrated with a specially engineered nonwoven structural foundation. This unique composite approach preserves the fabric’s interstitial spaces and the film's microporosity, allowing air and moisture vapor to pass through while reflecting over 90% of solar radiation. Scientifically proven to keep cargo 1215°C cooler during extreme ramp exposure, Metabreathe™ is currently trusted by global logistics leaders. 
 
The award jury highlighted Metabreathe™ for its practical and environmental impact This innovation represents a notable step forward for cold chain materials, reducing raw material consumption by 70% and demonstrating how nonwoven material science can reconcile performance, efficiency, and circular economy principles.

4. Raw materials or components of special relevance to the nonwovens and related converted products industry  

Bostik  - Kizen™ Miles 9.0 
Bostik’s latest innovation, Kizen™ Miles 9.0, is the first adhesive designed for disposable hygiene article construction, that offers the unique feature of debonding on demand: when exposed to a specific chemical key, combined with controlled temperature and mechanical stress, the adhesive allows clean, rapid separation of plastic components in minutes. This process keeps the adhesive material on the substrate, preventing contamination for cleaner, more efficient hygiene article recycling. But during the lifetime of the hygiene article, this new material, based on up to 75% renewable materials, delivers exceptional bonding across a wide range of substrates—including PP, PE, and PLA—while maintaining stable performance over time and under wet conditions. 
 
The jury praised Kizen™ Miles 9.0 for its combination of sustainability and functionality. By reducing carbon footprint by up to 90% per kilogram of adhesive (compared to fully fossil based adhesives, according to internal Bostik calculation) and enabling separation of complex hygiene article components, it addresses a critical bottleneck in diaper recycling. Its ability to maintain performance during use yet allow controlled disassembly after use was recognized as a breakthrough in circular economy solutions for absorbent hygiene products. 
 
Fiberpartner – PolyPlant® 
PolyPlant® is a PLA-based fiber engineered to overcome the traditional mechanical, thermal, and processing limitations of conventional polylactic acid. Its proprietary formulation enhances crystallization behavior, molecular stability, and fiber morphology while maintaining full biogenic carbon content. Without relying on synthetic additives, PolyPlant® delivers high-performance PLA fibers that are compatible with existing industrial equipment, enabling manufacturers to adopt renewable materials without sacrificing efficiency or product quality. 
 
The award jury praised PolyPlant® for its scientific ingenuity and practical impact.  By addressing PLA’s limitations, PolyPlant® provides a credible alternative to fossilbased fibers. Its intrinsic performance improvements, achieved without additives, ensure consistent product quality and reliable processing in real-world production lines. The jury highlighted its potential to accelerate the transition toward sustainable materials while maintaining industrial efficiency, marking PolyPlant® as a transformative innovation for the fiber and nonwoven sectors. 
 
The Lycra Company - LYCRA® ADAPTIV fiber 
Building upon its proven performance in apparel, LYCRA® ADAPTIV fiber now elevates hygiene garments with hybrid elasticity that adjusts to the body at rest and in motion. This results in products that stay in place, have a second skin fit and are easier to put on and take off. LYCRA® ADAPTIV fiber represents a material-led innovation that has the potential to enable consistent, inclusive user experience across expanded size ranges— addressing an industry-wide challenge. 
 
The jury praised LYCRA® ADAPTIV fiber for addressing a key industry challenge: delivering a consistent wearing experience across expanded size ranges without adding SKUs. By dynamically adjusting to diverse body shapes, the fiber ensures comfort, support, and fit for users at all points of the size spectrum. This innovation helps manufacturers pursue scalable solutions that feel personalized across body types—while preserving SKU discipline and operational efficiency.

5. Innovation in machinery of special relevance to the nonwovens industry 

Kansan – KM Hydroentanglement Filtration System 
This innovation is a mechanical filtration system developed as an alternative to conventional chemical filtration units used in wetlaid and spunlace production lines.  
 
Instead of complex filtration systems, flotation units, and chemical additives, the system utilizes dedicated mechanical filtration equipment to enable the recovery and reuse of water and fibers directly within the production process.  
 
By eliminating the need for chemicals, the system provides a more sustainable, efficient, and process-integrated solution for water and fiber management in nonwoven production. 
 
The jury recognized that through its multi-stage mechanical filtration concept, the system delivers substantial environmental and operational benefits: approximately 200 kWh of energy savings per hour, 20 cubic meters of water savings per hour, and up to 2 tons of fiber recovery per day. Its ability to significantly reduce chemical consumption, lower operational costs, and improve sustainability without compromising production efficiency impressed the jury as a truly forward-thinking solution. 
 
Teknoweb Converting - OCEAN – Converting technology for high-performance, lowimpact underpads 
OCEAN is IMA Teknoweb’s advanced converting system for absorbent underpads, combining new manufacturing technology with a revised product design to improve performance while using fewer materials. The system features a drumless core formation process that builds the absorbent core directly on a carrier web, ensuring even distribution of fluff and SAP and enabling ultra-thin, lightweight underpads. It also supports multilayer structures, including optimized 5-layer designs and a patent-pending 4-layer configuration with integrated leakage barriers. This approach allows production of thinner, lighter, and more efficient underpads without affecting quality or output. 
 
The award jury highlighted OCEAN for addressing industry challenges around material efficiency, product reliability, and sustainability. Its linear core formation and multilayer designs can reduce raw material use by up to 30% and lower energy consumption. By combining stable output with reduced environmental impact, OCEAN provides manufacturers with an approach that balances innovation, performance, and resource efficiency, responding to the market demand for highquality, discreet absorbent products. 
 
ZUIKO - Converting machine for recloseable baby diapers 
ZUIKO has developed a converting line to produce adjustable pull on pant diapers that address the challenge of achieving a secure fit around a baby’s waist and legs while maintaining softness and stretchability. The design of such a diaper combines the adjustability of open diapers with the stretch characteristics of pant diapers. Unlike conventional pant diapers, which are processed symmetrically, ZUIKO’s recloseable diapers are asymmetric, requiring a precise, glue-less attachment process during folding. Central to the production is ZUIKO’s patented “Stretch Repitch Drum™,” which regulates elastic tension and product spacing, allowing panel folding in line with the machine’s flow. This system enables the production of over 700 diapers per minute without the need for multiple folding units. 
  
The jury recognized the technical ingenuity of ZUIKO’s approach, particularly how the machine merges two product attributes efficiently. They highlighted the asymmetric folding and tension-control mechanisms as practical solutions to a long-standing industry challenge. The innovation offers a new product format for consumers and provides manufacturers a method to produce it at scale without added complexity. 
 
The winners in each category will be announced during a special ceremony at the INDEX™26 exhibition, the world’s leading nonwovens event, which will take place on the first day of INDEX™26, Tuesday, 19 May at 10:30 CET, on the EDANA stand. These awards serve not only to honor the ingenious engineering of the finalists but also to provide a roadmap for the future of the entire nonwovens supply chain. 

Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited, a global sustainable chemical company, together with Nigerian Breweries Plc, the foremost brewer in Nigeria, and Genesis Power & Energy Solutions Ltd, a leading African clean energy infrastructure development and asset management company, have entered a strategic partnership to establish one of Africa’s largest state-of-the-art recycled PET (rPET) production facilities in Nigeria, based on planned production capacity. The landmark collaboration marks a significant step toward strengthening circular economy infrastructure and sustainable packaging value chains across the region. 

Located in Lagos, the site represents an investment to develop a facility capable of producing up to 45,000 tons of food‑grade rPET resin annually, with start‑up targeted in the first half of 2027. By converting post‑consumer PET bottles into high‑quality recycled material for packaging applications, the initiative aims to meet fast‑rising demand for recycled content, reduce plastic waste, and create local value through improved collection systems, job creation, and increased participation across the recycling value chain.  

The partnership brings together complementary strengths across the PET value chain. Indorama Ventures, the world’s largest recycler of PET for beverages, contributes expertise in sustainable materials development. Nigerian Breweries, a Heineken operating company, provides strong local market insight and engagement across Nigeria’s beverage ecosystem, while Genesis Energy supports the initiative with sustainable infrastructure and energy expertise. The project is expected to support recycling capacity in Nigeria, subject to regulatory approvals, technical validation, and operational implementation. Together, the partners aim to establish commercially viable rPET operations that enable responsible growth and longterm environmental impact. 

This initiative aligns with Nigeria’s National Policy on Plastic Waste Management, introduced in 2020 to strengthen collection, recycling, and circular economy solutions, with the goal that all plastic packaging be recyclable, biodegradable, compostable, or reusable by 2030. Lagos, as Nigeria’s commercial hub, provides a strategic base to develop recycling infrastructure capable of serving both national and regional demand. 

Commenting on the landmark partnership, Yash Lohia, Executive President of Petchem and Chairman of ESG Council at Indorama Ventures, said, “This partnership marks a defining milestone in our global recycling journey. By establishing our largest recycling facility to date and one of the largest rPET sites in Africa, we are bringing Indorama Ventures’ global expertise, proven technologies, and long-term vision for circularity to a region with immense growth potential. This investment reflects our belief that scaling sustainability solutions locally is essential to building resilient, sustainable packaging systems that deliver lasting environmental and economic value.”  

With a global recycling footprint spanning 20 facilities across 11 countries, Indorama Ventures has recycled more than 160 billion post-consumer PET bottles into high-quality recycled materials. The Nigeria facility represents the company’s first recycling investment in Africa and the largest recycling plant Indorama Ventures has ever built, underscoring the scale of the company’s long-term commitment to circular infrastructure, advanced recycling technology, and partnerships that strengthen collection, education, and innovation across the value chain. 

Genesis Energy supports the partnership by enabling sustainable infrastructure and energy solutions that underpin low carbon industrial development and circular economy systems across Africa. The company operates across 11 African countries, with utility-scale generation projects of more than 780MW in operations, ongoing construction, and advanced development in Nigeria, South Africa, Benin Republic, Zambia, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Mali and United Kingdom, as well as a project development pipeline north of 4.5GW. It deploys solar, wind, battery storage, and natural gas solutions, and is pursuing an ambition to allocate up to $2 billion annually over the next five years, with a targeted 10 GW of installed and contracted capacity.  

Speaking on the partnership, Chairman and CEO of Genesis Energy, Mr. Akinwole II Omoboriowo, said, “This compelling initiative demonstrates Genesis’ commitments to deploying capital to climate resilient investments by leveraging clean energy as a strategic nexus to advancing viable economic opportunities. The investment is also a testament to how cross-sector partnerships can enable sustainable industrial development. By combining circular economy principles with resilient infrastructure and energy solutions, the initiative supports long-term environmental impact and local value creation.”  

Beyond industrial investment, the project is expected to contribute to broader environmental and socioeconomic objectives through increased PET collection, diverted plastic waste away from landfill, and sustained engagement with local communities to promote best practices in waste collection and recycling.  

The signing of the partnership agreement represents the first milestone in a longer-term development roadmap and reflects a shared commitment by the partners to invest responsibly, support sustainable packaging solutions, and contribute to Nigeria’s transition toward a more circular and resource-efficient economy. 

The 18th World Pultrusion Conference (WPC) took place in Valencia, Spain, from 5 to 6 March 2026. Pultrusion, also known as the pultrusion process, is a highly efficient method for manufacturing fibre-reinforced plastic profiles for various applications in the construction, infrastructure and transport sectors.

Around 120 participants from all over the world attended the conference. A total of 27 speakers gave 26 presentations on the latest developments, technologies and applications relating to pultruded fibre composites. The international audience consisted of experts from industry, research and application.

The lecture program covered a wide range of topics, including current market developments, innovative applications and new material and process developments. There was a particular focus on sustainability aspects, the further development of pultrusion processes – especially in the field of thermoplastic systems – and new applications for the technology, for example in construction, infrastructure and high-tech applications. The conference thus provided an important platform for professional exchange on trends and future prospects in the pultrusion industry.
 
As the largest event in Europe on the subject of pultrusion, the English-language conference takes place every two years in a European country of significance to the pultrusion industry and is organised by the European Pultrusion Technology Association (EPTA) in cooperation with the American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA).

The 19th edition of the WPC will take place in Istanbul (Turkey) in 2028.

The Lenzing Group, a supplier of regenerated cellulose fibers for the textile and nonwovens industries, hosted a high‑level roundtable in Brussels to discuss how bio‑based materials can strengthen Europe’s economic security and support the shift toward a fossil‑free future. Organized in cooperation with Euractiv, the event brought together representatives of the European Commission, the UK Mission to the EU, academia, civil society, and industry. 
 
Speakers included Aurel Ciobanu‑Dordea, Director for Competitive Circular Economy and Clean Industrial Policy at the European Commission’s DG Environment, Dr. Daniel Bradley, Deputy Counsellor & Head of Climate and Environment at the UK Mission to the EU, and Patricia A. Sargeant, Executive Vice President Nonwovens Commercial at the Lenzing Group. 
 
A key topic of discussion was the potential of cellulosic fibers as fully bio‑based, biodegradable alternatives in nonwoven applications such as wet wipes. While Europe has the industrial foundation to scale these fossil‑free materials, competitiveness is constrained by global regulatory and cost asymmetries. Lenzing identified clear, coherent policy signals – including possible updates to the Single Use Plastics Directive (SUPD) –as essential for investment certainty and broader market uptake. 
 
“Europe has set ambitious goals for a clean‑industry transition. Our roundtable in Brussels showed that bio‑based materials are not a future vision – they are a practical, scalable reality today. As an integrated cellulosic fiber producer with deep European roots, Lenzing helps strengthen industrial resilience while accelerating the shift away from fossil‑based synthetic fibers,” said Georg Kasperkovitz, Member of the Management Board of Lenzing Group. 
 
Lenzing reaffirmed that industrial competitiveness and climate ambition can reinforce each other. Its specialty fibers, produced from renewable wood, offer lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to generic alternatives and are certified biodegradable and compostable. The company’s climate targets align with the 1.5‑degree pathway and have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative. 
 
“Maintaining and expanding European production capacity is essential for supply‑chain resilience and strategic autonomy. Lenzing operates major integrated pulp and fiber sites in Austria, Czechia, and the UK, with Europe‑based R&D supporting jobs, innovation, and technological know‑how within the region. Cellulosic fibers play a critical role in single-use products for hygiene applications – underscoring the need to redesign products toward biodegradable material solutions that address SUPD concerns and microplastic pollution,” emphasized Patricia A. Sargeant. 

Monforts has launched a new digital platform designed to give textile manufacturers faster, more intuitive access to the company’s finishing technologies, technical expertise and aftersales support worldwide.

A key feature of the new website is a series of interactive 3D tours covering the company’s principal technology ranges. Visitors can virtually explore the latest MONTEX stenter lines, MONFORTEX sanforising systems and THERMEX continuous dyeing technologies as well as the different coating options and exhaust air cleaning modules, moving around each installation to examine configurations, key components and optional features aimed at maximising efficiency and boosting output.

The platform has also been developed to streamline day-to-day interaction with existing customers. Ordering spare parts and arranging service support can now be initiated directly via a simplified contact tool, ensuring rapid routing of enquiries to the relevant specialists.

In addition to new machinery, the website provides comprehensive information on the modernisation of installed Monforts lines. This includes upgrades to advanced drive systems and software, as well as a broad range of energy-efficiency and resource-saving options that enable customers to enhance performance and extend machine lifecycles.

“Our new digital platform has been developed with a clear focus on usability and accessibility,” says Nicole Croonenbroek, Marketing Manager at Monforts. “It allows customers to engage directly with our technologies and experts, while making essential services such as spare parts and technical support quicker and easier to access. It reflects our ongoing commitment to long-term partnership and continuous improvement.”

Girbau, a global leader in commercial and industrial laundry solutions, has developed a new industrial laundry for PortAventura World, one of Europe’s most visited theme resorts, with millions of visitors each year. The facility is a turnkey project delivered by Girbau, from design and consulting through to implementation, with the capacity to process up to 15 tonnes of laundry per day. It has been designed to deliver efficiency, reliability and sustainability, providing service not only to the resort but also to nearby hotels, tourist accommodations and businesses requiring a high-performance professional service. 

The project originated from PortAventura World’s need to establish a completely new industrial laundry capable of handling high daily production volumes without interruption. To achieve this, the company opted for a comprehensive approach that combined strategic consulting, customised design, high-capacity machinery and automation, with the goal of making solid decisions from day one and ensuring an efficient start-up.

Girbau supported PortAventura World throughout the entire process through 360º consulting, which included a detailed analysis of production needs, the design of the laundry facility and a ramp-up process with training prior to opening and follow-up during the post-installation start-up. This approach made it possible to make decisions based on data and clear forecasts, ensuring that the solution matched the project’s requirements precisely.

The facility incorporates comprehensive high-capacity industrial laundry solutions. Specifically, it integrates the company’s entire ecosystem of solutions in a fully coordinated way, covering everything from washing processes to internal logistics. The installation includes a TBS50 washing tunnel, SPR50 extraction press, ST industrial dryers, high-capacity washers and commercial dryers, as well as overhead loading systems, two ironing lines, garment strapping solutions and advanced internal logistics systems. All of this is complemented by water and energy recovery technologies designed to optimise every stage of the process. In addition, the system integrates automation technologies to minimise manual intervention and configurations adapted to the available space and workflow, ensuring that the entire plant operates as a single efficient system.

The key to the project lies not in each individual piece of equipment, but in their integration as a single production system, perfectly adapted to the workflow, available space and the resort’s demanding operational requirements.
Thanks to this integrated solution, PortAventura World has optimised its production processes, reducing operational effort and improving operational control. This has resulted in more agile, efficient and reliable operations, as well as a significant reduction in operating costs.

Sustainability has been a key pillar of the project. As a B Corp certified company since 2022, PortAventura World integrates sustainability into all its decisions, including its industrial laundry operations. The implemented solution incorporates technologies aimed at reducing water, energy and chemical consumption, as well as resource recovery systems. As a result, the new plant has achieved a 35% reduction in water consumption and a 25% reduction in energy consumption, while maintaining service quality at all times.