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Sustainability

The nonwovens industry has been increasingly attuned to the significance of sustainability, spurred by pressing global issues such as climate change, resource depletion, energy scarcity and extreme weather events, all of which underscore the urgent need for sustainable practices. As stakeholders recognize these interconnected challenges, sustainability has emerged as a pivotal driver for innovation, resilience, and responsible stewardship within the nonwovens sector.

Industry members understand the importance of addressing these issues while meeting consumer expectations, complying with regulations, and fostering innovation. By placing sustainability at the forefront, the nonwovens sector can and is generating value for stakeholders while actively advancing a more sustainable future for the planet and the industry.

Our industry demonstrates this strong commitment to reducing its environmental footprint while meeting the growing demand for innovative and functional materials. Advanced technologies are being employed to optimize resource efficiency, reduce energy consumption, and minimize waste generation. Water and energy management initiatives are being implemented to conserve resources and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Additionally, efforts are underway to enhance the recyclability and biodegradability of nonwoven products, ensuring that they can be disposed of responsibly at the end of their lifecycle. By prioritizing sustainability in product development, the industry is meeting consumer demand for environmentally responsible choices while driving positive environmental outcomes. Through continuous innovation and evolution, the industry is striving to advance sustainable solutions that minimize environmental impact and promote a healthier, more resilient future for all.

As the leading association in North America representing the nonwovens industry, INDA is committed to advancing sustainability across various avenues for its members and outside stakeholders alike. Our efforts are centered on three fundamental pillars of sustainability that encapsulate the industry’s primary focus areas including: 1) Responsible Sourcing; 2) End-of-Life Solutions and 3) Innovations in Sustainability.

To bolster INDA’s efforts in advancing sustainability within the industry, we have deployed a range of impactful tools, including:

  • Webinars: Our new webinar series serves as a platform to educate industry professionals and stakeholders on pressing sustainability issues, innovative solutions, and other pertinent topics crucial for advancing sustainability goals within the industry.
  • Market Intelligence Research Report: We are currently developing a comprehensive research report on sustainability in the nonwovens industry, offering valuable insights and data to inform strategic decision-making and drive sustainable practices.
  • INDA Media Sustainability Special Edition: INDA Media is proud to introduce a dedicated special edition focusing on sustainability, providing in-depth coverage, analysis, and case studies to inspire and guide industry stakeholders towards sustainable practices and outcomes.
  • Industry Position Statements: INDA is actively crafting and disseminating industry position statements on key topics relevant to sustainability, outlining our stance and recommendations on issues vital to the industry’s sustainable future.
  • An upcoming partnership with Good360, a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to distributing corporate product donations to vetted charities in need. Through this collaboration, we will explore innovative solutions to repurpose surplus materials, reduce waste, and support communities in need, fostering a more sustainable and socially responsible approach to business.
  • INDA’s inaugural full conference at IDEA 2025, focused on sustainability. Additionally, sustainability will continue to be a focal point across all INDA conferences, ensuring critical discussions and insights into sustainable practices throughout the industry.
  • Continued dedicated engagement on policy and technical issues of vital to the sustainability efforts of the nonwovens industry.

These tools collectively empower INDA and its stakeholders to navigate the complexities of sustainability, drive meaningful change, and spearhead a more sustainable trajectory for the nonwovens industry.

Responsible Sourcing in the nonwovens industry refers to the procurement of raw materials and inputs that minimize the industry’s ecological/environmental footprint throughout the supply chain.

Examples include utilizing renewable/recycled inputs and natural and other biobased fibers; purchasing and using others’ waste/byproducts as raw material inputs; using chemistries/substances that minimize impact on environmental/human health, etc.

Innovations in Sustainability describes techniques and technologies that don’t necessarily fall under the other two pillars but represent unique advancements in the industry’s efforts to advance its sustainability goals. Examples include new and novel improvements to the manufacturing process to reduce energy, water and other resource consumption; use of technology to trace and ensure the sustainability of products throughout their lifecycle; implementing charitable programs that promote product donations while at the same time supporting waste diversion, etc.

End-of-Life Solutions include the diverse approaches and technologies that the industry uses to manage products at the end of their life cycle, aiming for sustainability, reduced waste, circular economy and responsible disposal of materials. Examples include developing biodegradable/compostable/recyclable materials; consumer education and product labeling about proper disposal; product stewardship/extended producer responsibility programs and more.

Here are some additional sustainability resources:

Important Notification: As a service to the industry, INDA provides links to other Internet sites that feature discussions of issues, products, or services relating to sustainability.  In doing so, however, INDA does not, expressly or by implication, endorse the referenced sites, nor does it vouch for the accuracy or reliability of the information, products, or services featured on those sites.  INDA is not responsible for the opinions, ideas, data, site security, products, or services presented or discussed at those locations.