Always open to partnerships to advance industry
INDA, a global association of the nonwoven fabrics industry, has been serving hundreds of member companies since 1968. INDA provides technical training at various levels, furnishes market statistics and data to enhance decision-making, organises events to connect people of similar interests, and works on regulatory and legislative issues. As the organisation celebrates its 50th anniversary this year,
Dave Rousse, association president, spoke to
Paulami Chatterjee and
Hiral Oza about the initiatives INDA is currently involved with, and the upcoming WOW conference to be held from June 24-27, 2019 in Atlanta, United States.
What are the things to watch out for in the nonwovens market in future?
An important service we provide as an association is issue management. So, when an issue comes up that's going to dramatically affect any segment of our industry, we try to coalesce the opinions of affected members and use outside resources as needed to get a fair hearing for our side of the story. We've done that on the important issue of flushability as it impacts disposable wipes. We guided the development and publication of edition four of the guidelines for assessing the flushability of disposable nonwoven products (GD4) to help wipe manufacturers assess whether their products should be flushed into the wastewater stream, which includes a code of practice for proper labelling of wipes, as well as the "Do Not Flush" symbol for non-flushable wipes. It's not over yet, but we think we've turned the corner on that one. And we've got a new challenge coming up as the awareness of plastics in the environment grows and the concerns that brings to our industry. We have many member companies that are looking for us to help guide the process of developing a responsible position on this challenge going forward. I think this is going to be very important for our industry.
What is the main function of INDA? How has it evolved through the years? How many member companies do you have? How does INDA help its members?
INDA was formed in 1968 to advance the growth and interests of the young nonwoven fabrics industry at the time. Initially formed as the International Nonwoven Disposables Association (INDA, for short) in the early 1970s, we supported the establishment of the European Disposables and Nonwovens Association (EDANA) in Europe and welcomed durable nonwovens into the fold, but the name INDA had taken hold; so, we continue to use it without attaching meaning to the letters. Our role now is to help our industry and our members be successful. INDA helps its 366 members succeed by providing the information they need to better plan and execute their business strategies. We provide technical training at various levels, market statistics and data to enhance decision-making, management of issues impacting market sectors, events to connect people of similar interests, and involvement in relevant government regulatory and legislative issues.
Which are the major industries where nonwovens find their application?
We measure volumes by tonnes and by square metres; so, rankings can vary depending on the measure. The hygiene sector, consisting of baby care, femcare and incontinence care, consumes the most square metres and a lot of tonnes. The wipes sector and the filtration sector have both been fast growing markets in the last several years, with filtration gaining strength. In the last five years, the transportation sector, consisting primarily of cars and trucks, has shown a lot of growth as nonwovens displace other materials to achieve thermal management, acoustical management performance with lighter weight and less volume, and because this market has been robust since the major downturn of 2008-10.
INDA delivers its services locally with a global presence. We have members of INDA that are headquartered in Europe and other regions, but they have local operations and therefore they want to take advantage of INDA's local delivery of services. When I travel around the world, INDA is a very respected leader in the nonwovens and engineered materials industry. We're respected for some of the programmes that we've brought to the industry. The educational platforms, the standards development, and the events that we manage. And we're more than willing to share our knowledge and best practices with others trying to do the same in their areas.
We're delighted to be celebrating our 50th anniversary this year. For an association to stay relevant for this length of time, you've got to be continuously adaptive to the environment, which in our case, is also continually changing. Nonwovens are very versatile platforms for materials that solve problems. And new problems are always coming up that require material science solutions. So, we're in a very vibrant industry that adjusts to the times and the association must adjust to the times as well.
I love change. The idea of versatility, nimbleness, reading the signals, understanding what the needs are, checking the needs with members, making sure we're on the right path, these are essential elements to keeping the association relevant to the needs of our industry. Today, INDA's ever growing 366 member companies come from the entire nonwovens' value chain: suppliers, manufacturers, converters, machinery and equipment manufacturers, consultants, academics, and others.
How does INDA encourage innovation in the nonwovens industry?
As an association, we have the standing to provide industry recognition to innovations and individual service so important to our industry's vibrancy. We do this through our Innovation Awards programmes attached to our conferences, and our IDEA event. We also try at our events to provide some thought leadership in the sectors that we address. So, our conferences are peppered with industry experts looking down the road, articulating unmet needs, trying to interpret the signals, and presenting innovative thoughts, developmental concepts, and trends that event participants should keep in mind as they develop their products. This has been very important in the success of our conferences. The content is serious and the networking continues the discussions. And we try to inject a little fun as well.
What is the agenda to take the nonwovens industry to the next level?
Never sit still because the market we are in is very dynamic. So, we need to be continuously alert to new demands, new unmet needs, and new ways to meet those needs. Nonwovens are engineered materials that provide solutions to material science challenges. There will always be new challenges to be met, and nonwovens are successful because they are a very versatile, nimble platform that is receptive to new materials, new processes, and new technologies. Our job is to make it easy for resources to connect to facilitate the new developments and to execute well the management of the services and activities that deliver these connections. We are celebrating our 50th anniversary as the trade association leading the world of nonwovens. We need to stay sharp for the next 50 years.
What are the major reports/materials INDA provides to its members? What do the reports cover?
One of the most valuable reports we develop is the member-only report on the North American supply/demand balance. This is a full survey of industry producers, be the market suppliers or producers for internal consumption, getting their capacity and production for an accurate read of the supply/demand balance so important in considering capacity investments. Additionally, we produce Outlook reports providing our best forecast for where the industry will be in five years, by sector. We do North America and, with EDANA, a separate Worldwide Outlook for the Nonwovens Industry, both breaking it down into sectors and, the latter, by geography. These reports provide reliable and actionable data. We also produce the Global Nonwoven Wipes Industry Outlook and, with EDANA, the Nonwovens Standard Procedures and Test Methods. INDA also publishes proceedings of conferences' presentations. Attendees can access proceedings with no additional charge as a registered attendee.
Beyond those publicly available Outlook reports and the member-only supply report, we produce for members only the quarterly INDA Market Pulse providing members with an exclusive overview of the current state and direction of the North American nonwovens industry, including economic viewpoints. The publication provides a consensus outlook of economic, energy, and end-use market forecasts. The INDA Price Trends Summary is another INDA member benefit that provides a monthly summary of price analysis for roll goods, staple fibres and polymers.
What are the conferences that INDA organises on a monthly/quarterly/yearly basis?
The largest exhibition INDA organises is IDEA-the world's pre-eminent event for nonwovens and engineered fabrics and it is held on a triennial basis. IDEA connects the industry's innovative game-changers across the entire dynamic nonwovens and engineered fabrics supply chain. IDEA was recently held at the newly renovated Miami Beach Convention Center, in Miami Beach, Florida, March 25-28, 2019. The event welcomed 6,500+ participants and 509 exhibiting companies from 75 countries to make business connections, listen to world-class speakers, develop essential skills by attending optional training workshops, and recognise IDEA Achievement Awards.
INDA also organises the annual World of Wipes (WOW) International Conference (to be held June 24-27, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia); Hygienix - the premier event for absorbent hygiene and personal care markets, (scheduled for November 11-14, 2019 in Houston, Texas), RISE - the conference for research, innovation and science for engineered fabrics (September 24-25, 2019 in Raleigh, North Carolina), and, co-organised with EDANA, Outlook Plus Latin America in São Paulo, Brazil, this May 7-9 with a focus for two days on Hygiene and a third day (the Plus day) on filtration and medical.
The 13th edition of WOW is focused on new ideas in wipes for a sustainable world. The conference is expected to attract 400+ industry peers from 22 countries and discover how to apply new ideas in the critical topics that are driving new wipes products and markets.
Over 500 absorbent hygiene and personal care professionals from over 24 countries and throughout the supply chain participated in INDA's fourth edition of Hygienix in 2018. Last year's conference revealed opportunities in a retail shift, design advancements, incontinence management, skin health, upcycling and haptics. The three-day conference delivered programme content, an educational short course, networking, awards, and an opening welcome reception.
What is the global demand for wipes? What is the annual growth rate?
Globally, the wipes market is driven by the strength of the economy (impacting both consumer wipes and industrial/institutional wipes markets), the number of baby births (impacting baby wipes), and the constant introduction of new products. In the emerging and developing markets, disposable income is a key factor, as wipes are not an item of necessity, but one of convenience. In mature markets, the wipes market continues its strong growth, not only through increased usage and penetration, but through constant product innovation and new applications. Anything that is a liquid or a cream has the potential to be incorporated into a wipe, which provides for plenty of new market opportunities. Globally, the nonwoven wipes market is forecast to expand, in tonnes, 5.6 per cent annually through 2021.
What type of wipes are in demand-spunlace, airlaid, wetlaid, spunlaid technology and others?
The wipes industry is experiencing growth across all the nonwoven technologies, as each technology meets different requirements for different categories within the expanding wipes segment. For example, through the last three years in North America eight lines making material for wipes have been added: 2 drylaid thermal bond lines, 2 wetlaid lines, 1 drylaid hydroentangle line, 1 airlaid short fibre line, 1 meltblown line, and 1 spunbond line.
How is INDA's Academic Outreach Initiative going on?
INDA's Academic Outreach Initiative is successful and growing. Once again, the Academic Outreach Initiative is hitting some of the nation's top college campuses this fall to promote in demand STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) jobs in the growing nonwovens/ engineered materials industry as part of its member outreach efforts.
The Academic Outreach Initiative was developed to help our members recruit rising college graduates into our industry by promoting the industry, not a job. Nonwovens and engineered fabrics should be a very attractive field for a young person. If you're intellectually curious, if you have any ability to work with science, if you can work with people and you try to look down the road and understand the needs that humans will have going forward, then this is a good platform for a recent grad to get into. It is technology based. It's global in nature. And the products we make solve real world problems.
In 2017-18, INDA engaged with more than 2,000 college students at 18 career fairs at a dozen universities. Member companies were provided 40-plus quality resumes for each career fair attended.
Is INDA collaborating with some new partners in future to broaden its operations?
INDA is always open to new partnerships to advance the industry. We recently acquired two publications to extend our reach and voice in two important areas. We have International Filtration News to expand our reach into this important sector, and International Fiber Journal to elevate the role material science will play in developing more sustainable approaches to the single use disposables so prevalent in our industry. We also divested the Journal of Engineered Fibers & Fabrics as it no longer served our needs. We have to stay fresh and adjust to the changing times, and these moves enable that. With our new media businesses, we intend to provide some thought leadership, expose new developments, relate them to the challenges going forward, and to expand INDA's presence and service in important areas.
Where is the application strong-personal care, household, industrial, commercial?
Historically, in mature markets two-thirds of the use has been consumer wipes, with the remaining third being in industrial and institutional applications. In developing and emerging markets, the majority of wipes tend to be consumer wipes, especially as personal care and home care disposable wipe applications are just beginning to emerge. In the emerging and developing markets, personal care is strongest, given the large percentage of baby wipes within the category. INDA estimates that more than three-quarters of the wipes consumption in South America is pre-moistened baby wipes. In mature markets, there continues to be an explosion in the types of wipes available to the consumer. The fundamental drivers for home care wipes vary by application, though convenience and timesaving are common to all. Today, there is a wipe on the market for almost every area of the home, yet new wipes in the household category continue to be introduced and increased product capabilities have allowed consumers to see added benefits with the use of wipes.
The aging boomer population will be a growth opportunity for household wipes given the convenience and ease of use. Personal care wipes, in the mature markets, is driven by strong growth in moist toilet tissue and cosmetic/facial cleaners. While cosmetic/facial cleaner wipes were once niche products, wipes offering even more specific tasks have been entering the market. There is a trend toward more specialty wipes in skincare. Consumers are looking for convenient and portable wipe products to complement their existing skin care products; wipes such as anti-aging solutions, serum delivery, wrinkle relaxation, and sheet or face masks that offer hydration, antiageing, brightening and lifting.
In North America, industrial and institutional wipes are forecast to grow at a slightly higher rate than that of consumer wipes. The main drivers of the segment are continued gains in the healthcare segment as concerns of cross contamination and healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) result in heightened demand for disinfecting wipes and an increase in manufacturing activity, as nonwovens increase share with task specific wipes, such as non-linting or abrasive characteristics. Further, the convenience that wipes can offer-the standardised quantity of disinfectant per wipe which makes it possible for facilities to use them effectively and reduce waste-is driving growth. End-use segments, such as healthcare facilities, food service, and schools and universities, will continue to emphasise the importance of clean surfaces and hands in order to minimise germs and illness at their facilities.
Which are the top markets for wet tissues and wipes? Where is the consumption growing?
Production in the wipes market is relatively similar in North America, Greater Europe, and Asia. While all the three regions experienced strong growth due to strong demand in their regions, Asia's growth rate is the highest and is now the largest wipes substrate producing region. The material is not all consumed in Asia, but some is shipped to other regions as either rolled goods or converted products.
What is the theme for this year's WOW conference in June 2019?
Innovation and sustainability will be highlighted at this year's WOW conference in Atlanta. We have a great slate of speakers, and we will again highlight the World of Wipes Innovation Award with presentations from the three finalists and voting by the attendees for the winner. We will also have market/statistical information and a keynote from Kimberly-Clark's chief sustainability officer. An event not to be missed.
What are the biggest challenges that the wipes industry encounters?
We continue to be challenged in the flushable wipes area by legislative and regulatory efforts to effectively ban the product. New legislative efforts in California, continued activities in DC, and expected challenges in New York City will need attention. We are also seeing increased need to coalesce industry positioning on the greater issue of plastics in the environment, with several in the wipes supply chain having a strong vested interest in this area. These two issues will require a great deal of effort to effectively steer to an acceptable position.
What new innovations in terms of materials and technologies do you foresee in the wipes industry?
There is an increased level of interest in the sheet mask category of the wipes sector as the North American market picks up on this popular product category in Asia. We also see interesting innovations in packaging of wipes as more attention is being paid to end-of-life and recyclability issues. On the industrial side, the food service area is seeing great new innovations in quaternary compound handling improvements in raw materials, substrates, and treatments.
What sustainability issues is the industry gearing to tackle?
Our industry recognises the need to move from a "linear economy" toward a more "circular economy" through recycling, reclaiming and reuse. We believe advancements in material science will be a great help in this area and are seeing interesting new developments in bio-based polymers and polymer combinations to advance in this area. Again, driven by increasing concern about single use plastics and their persistence in the environment. INDA's conferences will provide cutting edge content on this growing topic.
