With the global nonwovens industry continuing to evolve, EDANA, the international association for the nonwovens and related industries, is set to host the 18th edition of Outlook, the annual conference for nonwoven personal care and hygiene products.
The three-day event, which this year heads to Athens, Greece, will see a host of insightful presentations delivered by nonwovens experts from industry and academia.
A host of speakers have already been confirmed for this year’s conference, including keynote speakers Robert Ward, editorial director, The Economist EIU, and Daria Krivonos, CEO, Copenhagen Institute for Future Studies (CIFS). Ward will share The Economist’s insights on the world economy, while Krivonos will deliver her presentation, Crumbling Pillars.
Also confirmed to speak in Athens are Kanav Gupta, business development manager, Business Co-ordination House (Absorbent hygiene in India – Echoing with newer sounds – A market for everyone); Vincenzo D’Achiolli, director of Product Marketing, Berry Global (The challenges and opportunities of sustainability in hygiene); and Ryan McDonald, applications scientist, Croda (Proven skin protection and friction reduction delivered from a nonwoven for hygiene products), among others.
As ever, the event will also feature a number of networking opportunities designed to bring together delegates from a range of different backgrounds in the nonwovens industry to share ideas and discuss the conference’s presentations. Outlook 2019 is already set to welcome delegates from companies including A.Celli Nonwovens, Andritz, Berry Global, Lenzing, Oerlikon and Reifenhäuser Reicofil, among others.
Last year’s event saw a record-breaking 510 industry stakeholders gather in Dubrovnik, Croatia, for what EDANA says was its most successful Outlook to date. The conference explored new product developments, market trends, performance and safety testing and sustainability initiatives. The conference also featured an interactive workshop on building stakeholder trust in absorbent hygiene products.
Moderated by Dirk Le Roy, managing director, Susenuto, the session looked to allay fears regarding chemical contaminants found in products such as baby diapers and feminine hygiene products at levels close to detection limits.
Industry growth
The nonwovens industry is continuing to expand across the world with a host of challenges and opportunities offering chances for growth. According to market analyst Smither Pira, the global market for nonwovens is expected to reach a value of US$57.4bn by the year 2022.
The report, titled The Future of Global Nonwovens, states that the market was worth US$42.3bn in 2017 and is anticipated to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.3% over the forecast period.
It is suggested in the paper that while growth is set to continue, it is rising at a slower rate than some regions may expect. The continued but slight growth projected for the 2017-2022 forecast period reflects the continued expectations for slower than historical growth in China (and Asia), Brazil (and South America), and also some regions in Europe.
For more information on Outlook 2019, including the full list of confirmed speakers, visit: www.edana.org
