EDANA, the leading global association for the nonwovens and related industries, concluded its annual Sustainability Forum yesterday at the prestigious KBR Royal Library of Belgium in Brussels. This year’s forum, themed “Building a Sustainable Future Together,” featured a series of keynote addresses, panel discussions, and collaborative sessions focused on environmental responsibility,
corporate social responsibility, and circular economy innovations within the nonwovens sector. With an agenda that bridged policy and practice, the Forum highlighted the latest advancements and strategies aimed at tackling climate change, reducing waste, and enhancing sustainability practices.
Keynote Highlights
There were two sustainability-related keynote speakers at the forum. The forum began with a keynote address by Ana Rovzar, founder of Polygon AR, about the rapid shift to clean energy. She highlighted a 50% increase in renewable energy in 2023 alone as she talked about the move away from traditional energy investments and toward renewables. “Real progress requires a united front from governments, businesses, and communities to remove regulatory and technological barriers,” she said, adding that “it is accelerating much faster than people think.”
Sustainability specialist Mike Barry, a former employee of Marks & Spencer, emphasized the significance of integrating sustainability and corporate strategy in another powerful lecture. “Climate change is a major concern for citizens, and businesses need to take decisive action to cut emissions, particularly Scope 3,” he stated. “Consumers now demand greater transparency and commitment than ever before, and sustainability is a crucial component of brand identity.”
Innovative Industry Perspectives and EU Policy Impacts
The Forum’s sessions provided a distinctive fusion of innovative concepts and realistic methods for achieving sustainability. Marta Roche Díez, the Sustainability and Technical Affairs Manager for EDANA, reviewed the organization’s accomplishments in the previous year and set forward plans for the future to promote sustainable innovation in the nonwovens sector. EDANA’s dedication to environmental responsibility in conjunction with EU directives is emphasized by the statement, “Our vision for sustainability is an evolving roadmap, but we’re proud of the progress made and are committed to championing impactful changes.”
Brieuc Lits, EDANA’s director of public affairs, looked at how the EU Green Deal would affect the nonwovens sector. He pointed out that the sector must change to be competitive and in line with regulatory requirements, noting that the EU’s trend towards striking a balance between sustainability and competitiveness will impact not only policy but the basic environment within which we operate.
Last but not least, Paolo Haeusermann, Senior Brand Director and Europe Sustainability Leader at Procter & Gamble, highlighted the significance of absorbent hygiene products and offered ideas on promoting sustainability in these goods. “We are discussing products that are essential to people’s lives.”
Corporate and Product Sustainability: A Deep Dive
A number of corporate executives offered their perspectives on incorporating sustainability into all aspects of operations. Nitto Advanced Film Solutions’ Carsten Ruff talked about the difficulties and solutions of integrating sustainability into business culture, especially in a global context. He noted that sustainability is a strong force for creativity and does not conflict with industrial applications.
Sphera Solutions’ Martijn Gipmans emphasized the need of life-cycle assessments (LCA) and openness for business. He emphasized the value of integrated sustainability assessments to lower the carbon footprint of whole product portfolios and described how “LCA and transparent ESG reporting can catalyze both business growth and environmental progress.”
The Archimedes tool was presented by Christophe Morel-Fourrier, Sustainability Leader for Hygiene, Packaging, and Converting Adhesives at Bostik, as a tactical tool for Portfolio Sustainability Assessment. He clarified, “Archimedes enables us to make clear, well-informed decisions that are consistent with our long-term sustainability goals.” He emphasized that by assisting businesses in assessing the sustainability of their product lines, this tool enables them to make significant decisions that advance environmental objectives.
The Path Forward: Advancing Circularity and Green Innovation
The industry’s shift to a circular economy was one of the most talked-about subjects. Freudenberg Performance Materials’ Albert Hammerschmied emphasized the significance of post-industrial waste in attaining circularity, especially in the automotive industry. “Nonwovens have enormous potential in the automotive circular economy, but industry-wide cooperation is needed.”
Alexandre Butté of ANDRITZ Laroche stressed the value of sustainable materials and stakeholder participation in a session discussing the future of sustainable practices in building insulation. “The building sector has particular sustainability issues, but we can close the gap between objectives and workable solutions with creativity and environmentally friendly materials”
Building a Sustainable Health Sector
Danielle van Horzen, Global Marketing Manager for Hygiene and Healthcare at SABIC, discussed advanced recycling solutions in the healthcare sector. Addressing the challenges of medical waste recycling, she stated, “A significant amount of medical waste is not contaminated, offering us opportunities to create circularity in healthcare.” She
pointed to the potential for advanced chemical recycling to enable circular models, helping to tackle the pressing issue of sustainable medical waste management.
The day concluded with a session on the circular potential within healthcare. Kristien Depraetere, Sustainability Coordinator at UZ Leuven, outlined sustainable practices in hospitals, from waste reduction to advanced recycling in medical waste. “Healthcare can lead by example in the transition to circularity, yet we need practical and legislative support to address unique industry challenges”.
Visit to the European Commission
The third day of EDANA’s Sustainability Forum 2024 concluded with an insightful visit to the European Commission, offering attendees a unique opportunity to engage directly with policymakers and gain firsthand insights into the EU’s sustainability agenda. Hosted at the Charlemagne Building, discussions centered on pivotal elements of the EU Green Deal, including the establishment of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), the scope and implementation of the Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD), and the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation.
Featuring presentations from prominent EU officials like Vicenzo Gente and Werner Bosmans, attendees delved into how these regulations are shaping sustainability strategies across industries. Bridging policy and practice emerged as essential, reinforcing the forum’s dedication to aligning industry actions with current EU regulatory frameworks. The session offered a strong conclusion to the event, reinforcing a shared commitment to a sustainable future in collaboration with EU leaders and regulatory bodies.
EDANA’s Commitment to a Greener Future
The Sustainability Forum 2024 underscored EDANA’s commitment to driving sustainable practices across the nonwovens industry. As companies, policymakers, and stakeholders join forces to combat environmental challenges, EDANA is positioned to support and accelerate these efforts.
