INDA Discusses Flushable Wipes Standards on Search Engine Podcast
INDA’s Director of Government Relations, Wes Fisher, appeared on the Search Engine podcast to explain industry standards for flushable wipes and clarify misconceptions about their impact on wastewater systems.
INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, reported that Wes Fisher, Director of Government Relations, recently participated as a guest on the Search Engine podcast in an episode titled “Are Flushable Wipes Actually Flushable?”. During the discussion, Fisher shared perspectives from the nonwovens industry and outlined INDA’s position on flushability standards used to determine when a wipe can be labelled as flushable.
The episode addressed common assumptions linking flushable wipes to wastewater blockages, noting that these claims are not supported by evidence. It also emphasised the importance of helping consumers clearly differentiate between flushable and non-flushable wipes.
“I was delighted to highlight several important topics with the Search Engine team, including sharing results of the California Collection study that showed the importance of Do Not Flush labeling for non-flushable wipes and clarified that flushable wipes do not contribute to wastewater system issues,” said Fisher. “INDA is committed to advancing science-based methods to ensure that all products labeled flushable behave as intended in wastewater environments.”
Flushable wipes account for about 10 per cent of wipes sold in the United States and are primarily used as moist toilet tissue. They are produced using wood pulp and short plant-based fibres designed to disperse in water in a manner similar to dry toilet paper.
By contrast, non-flushable wipes represent roughly 90 per cent of the market and are manufactured with longer fibres to provide strength and durability. These include baby wipes, household cleaning wipes and makeup removal wipes, all of which carry a prominent “Do Not Flush” symbol on their packaging.
The podcast episode was released on 30 January 2026 and is available through the Search Engine platform.
listen to the episode here: https://www.searchengine.show/