Presented by INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, in partnership with Nonwovens Industry magazine, the IDEA^® Achievement Awards are presented every three years in conjunction with IDEA – The World’s Preeminent Event for Nonwovens & Engineered Fabrics.

All professionals in the global nonwovens and engineered fabrics industry can nominate products. The Awards recognize the best new product introductions in the following six categories since the last IDEA^® show:

• IDEA^® Equipment Achievement Award
• IDEA^® Raw Material Achievement Award
• IDEA^® Short-Life Product Achievement Award
• IDEA^® Long-Life Product Achievement Award
• IDEA^® Sustainability Advancement Award
• IDEA^® Nonwoven Product Achievement Award

IDEA^® Equipment Achievement Award

Given to the company with the best equipment new product introduction since the last IDEA^® show.

Product Eligibility:
Companies are encouraged to nominate their own product(s) for the IDEA®   Equipment Achievement Award, but only one (1) product per company will be selected as a finalist. To qualify for consideration as a nominee for the IDEA®   Equipment Achievement Award all nominated products must:

• Be involved in some portion of the process and production of a nonwoven product. Competition is open to all equipment involved in the production of a nonwoven fabric.
• Have been introduced to the consumer market, or to the trade, within the 36 months preceding the event date.
• May have been selected as a finalist or selected as an award winner in any previous Innovation Award® competition within the last 36 months. Having been selected, however, is not a requirement.

Product Criteria:
Nominated products should demonstrate advancements in one or more of the following categories:

• Creativity (Was there imaginative skill used to create a solution to a known problem?)
• Novelty of approach (Is the method or thought process used to create the product new?)
• Uniqueness (Is this the only product of its type in the marketplace?)
• Technical sophistication (Does the product/process use or advance a nonwoven technology in an intellectually elegant manner?)

IDEA^® Raw Material Achievement Award

Given to the company with the best new fiber/raw material product introduction since the last IDEA^® show.

Product Eligibility:
Companies are encouraged to nominate their own product(s) for the IDEA®   Raw Materials Achievement Award, but only one (1) product per company will be selected as a finalist. To qualify for consideration as a nominee for the IDEA®   Raw Materials Achievement Award all nominated products must:

• Be a new raw material for a nonwoven product. Competition is open to all new raw materials for nonwoven fabrics.
• Have been introduced to the consumer market, or to the trade, within the 36 months preceding the event date.
• May have been selected as a finalist or selected as an award winner in any previous Innovation Award® competition within the last 36 months. Having been selected, however, is not a requirement.

Product Criteria:
Nominated products should demonstrate advancements in one or more of the following categories:

• Creativity (Was there imaginative skill used to create a solution to a known problem?)
• Novelty of approach (Is the method or thought process used to create the product new?)
• Uniqueness (Is this the only product of its type in the marketplace?)
• Technical sophistication (Does the product/process use nonwoven technology in an intellectually elegant manner?)

IDEA^® Short-Life Product Achievement Award

• Presented for the best new disposable/short-life product utilizing nonwovens since the last IDEA^® show.

Product Eligibility:
Companies are encouraged to nominate their own product(s) for the IDEA®   Achievement Award, but only one (1) product per company will be selected as a finalist. To qualify for consideration as a nominee for the IDEA®   Short-Life Product Achievement Award all nominated products must:

• Be a new disposable/short-life nonwoven product. Competition is open to all new disposable/short-life engineered nonwoven fabrics.
• Have been introduced to the consumer market, or to the trade, within the 36 months preceding the event date.
• May have been selected as a finalist or selected as an award winner in any previous Innovation Award® competition within the last 36 months. Having been selected, however, is not a requirement.

Product Criteria:
Nominated products should demonstrate advancements in one or more of the following categories:

• Creativity (Was there imaginative skill used to create a solution to a known problem?)
• Novelty of approach (Is the method or thought process used to create the product new?)
• Uniqueness (Is this the only product of its type in the marketplace?)
• Technical sophistication (Does the product/process use nonwoven technology in an intellectually elegant manner?)

IDEA^® Long-Life Product Achievement Award

Presented for the best new durable/long-life product utilizing nonwovens since the last IDEA^® show.

Product Eligibility:
Companies are encouraged to nominate their own product(s) for the IDEA®   Long-Life Product Achievement Award, but only one (1) product per company will be selected as a finalist. To qualify for consideration as a nominee for the IDEA®   Long-Life Product Achievement Award all nominated products must:

• Be a new durable/long-life nonwoven product. Competition is open to all new durable/long-life engineered nonwoven fabrics.
• Have been introduced to the consumer market, or to the trade, within the 36 months preceding the event date.
• May have been selected as a finalist or selected as an award winner in any previous Innovation Award® competition within the last 36 months. Having been selected, however, is not a requirement.

Product Criteria:
Nominated products should demonstrate advancements in one or more of the following categories:

• Creativity (Was there imaginative skill used to create a solution to a known problem?)
• Novelty of approach (Is the method or thought process used to create the product new?)
• Uniqueness (Is this the only product of its type in the marketplace?)
• Technical sophistication (Does the product/process use nonwoven technology in an intellectually elegant manner?)

IDEA^® Sustainability Advancement Award

Presented for the best new product or process that advances one or more elements of Sustainability or Circularity in the nonwovens industry since the last IDEA^® show.

Product Eligibility:
Companies are encouraged to nominate their own product(s) for the IDEA®   Sustainability Advancement Award, but only one (1) product per company will be selected as a finalist. To qualify for consideration as a nominee for the IDEA® Sustainability Award all nominated products must:

• Be a new advancement of an element of sustainability and/or circularity of a nonwoven product or process. Competition is open to all nonwoven fabrics and processes.
• Have been introduced to the consumer market, or to the trade, within the 36 months preceding the event date.
• May have been selected as a finalist or selected as an award winner in any previous Innovation Award® competition within the last 36 months.  Having been selected, however, is not a requirement.

Product Criteria:
Nominated products should demonstrate advancements in one or more of the following categories:

• Creativity (Was there imaginative skill used to create a solution to a known problem?)
• Novelty of approach (Is the method or thought process used to create the product new?)
• Uniqueness (Is this the only product of its type in the marketplace?)
• Technical sophistication (Does the product/process advance one or more elements of sustainability and or circularity nonwoven technology in an intellectually elegant manner?)

IDEA^® Nonwoven Product Achievement Award

Given to the company with the best new nonwoven product introduction since the last IDEA^® show.

Product Eligibility:
Companies are encouraged to nominate their own product(s) for the IDEA®   Nonwoven Product Achievement Award, but only one (1) product per company will be selected as a finalist. To qualify for consideration as a nominee for the IDEA®   Nonwoven Product Achievement Award all nominated products must:

• Be a new nonwoven product. Competition is open to all new nonwoven fabrics.
• Have been introduced to the consumer market, or to the trade, within the 36 months preceding the event date.
• May have been selected as a finalist or selected as an award winner in any previous Innovation Award® competition within the last 36 months. Having been selected, however, is not a requirement.

Product Criteria:
Nominated products should demonstrate advancements in one or more of the following categories:

• Creativity (Was there imaginative skill used to create a solution to a known problem?)
• Novelty of approach (Is the method or thought process used to create the product new?)
• Uniqueness (Is this the only product of its type in the marketplace?)
• Technical sophistication (Does the product/process use nonwoven technology in an intellectually elegant manner?)

Finalist Selection:
INDA’s Technical Advisory Board selects three finalists in each category and industry professionals will subsequently have the opportunity to vote on the recipient in each category through the Nonwovens Industry website.

Each company whose products are nominated shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless INDA, its directors, officers, members, employees, and agents, and all other individuals involved in the voting process from and against any and all claims, actions, judgments, demands, liabilities, losses, injuries, costs and expenses arising out of or relating to such company’s products, including the manufacturing, packaging, labeling, advertising, sale, and use of such products.

Voting Methodology:
Online industry voting at www.nonwovens-industry.com to determine the winners. The INDA website will also contain a link to Nonwovens Industry for voting.   The winning finalist shall be determined by totaling the on-line voting total from Nonwovens Industry magazine.