According to EDANA statistics, the output of nonwovens in Europe in 2016 was about 2.4 million tons, with an average annual growth rate of 3.23 from 2011 to 2016. Sanitary products are the largest application area of European nonwovens, accounting for about 31 per cent of the total, wiping 16 per cent, roof materials 9.5 per cent, geotechnical 6.3 per cent and cars 5.9 per cent.
Product management is an integral part of achieving a healthy, safe and environmentally friendly product life cycle. It is a shared responsibility, sustainable dialogue and working relationship between producers, suppliers and users across the supply chain that helps companies and their partners meet the growing demands for safe and environmentally sustainable products. EDANA's report focuses on its main practices in three areas: regulatory oversight, technical standards and sustainable development.
Regulatory supervision
The EU has no direct regulatory measures for personal care products made of nonwoven fabrics, except for the following two types of products: one is adult incontinence products, which are classified as a class of medical devices by the Medical Device Regulation 2017/745, that is, low-risk, non-implanted products; The second is personal care wipes, which belong to the emulsion carrier medium specified in the Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009.
Absorbent sanitary articles are regulated by the following EU regulatory provisions: General Product Safety Guide 2001/95/EC, REACH and Biocidal Products Act EU 2012/58. General product safety guidance 2001/95/EC, which requires that products must be safe for use under normal and reasonably predictable conditions, applies to all manufacturers and distributors in the European Union and exchanges information through a rapid warning mechanism. REACH, the EU Regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals, came into force in 2007, and similar regulations have been enacted in Turkey, China, Japan, the United States, Canada and Australia. The CLP (Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Chemicals) Act implements the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals.
In addition to complying with EU regulations, EDANA has also developed a series of self-regulatory and self-regulatory regulations for the industry. EDANA is a leader in the risk assessment of baby diaper exposure, has developed a voluntary code of conduct related to tampons, issued documents on product safety, VOC and chemical footprint tracking, issued guidelines for flushable products, and organized deep dialogue in the supply chain.
In the future, the nonwovens industry will face more regulations and more pressure from the public and the environment. From a positive point of view, it can bring better products and business environment to the entire supply chain. But the industry also needs to pay close attention to these regulatory measures, identify them, respond to threats, and avoid unpopular regulatory policies. The industry also needs to pay attention and deal with the pressure from the media.
Technical Standards
In terms of standards, EDANA and INDA have cooperated to develop standards for the global nonwoven industry. These standards are mainly for coils, and some are for raw materials and products. Methods standards fall into three main categories: filling technical gaps, such as testing for absorbency, abrasion resistance, permeability, tensile strength, etc.; addressing safety and regulatory concerns, such as testing for contaminants; and improving and replacing existing methods, such as the recent Mannequin test, which is used to measure the absorbency of adult incontinence products before leakage.
EDANA also has an internal validation methodology. The company or testing agency tests the product in accordance with internal methods, experts analyze the test results, and the conclusions are accepted by EDANA's expert committee. Of course, these internal method standards can also be recommended for translation into international standards if required.
sustainable development
Sustainable development refers to efforts to balance the potential competitive expectations of the present without affecting the development of people in the future. Society, environment and economy are traditionally the three pillars of sustainable development, and the EDANA sustainability model includes materials, partners and cycles.
In terms of the sustainable development of society, personal and health care products have become an indispensable part of modern life, providing good lifestyle and convenience, skin health and infection prevention. In terms of medical textiles, EN 13 795 and ANSI/AAMI PB70:2012 are used for the classification and reference of global surgical gowns and hole sheets; ISO 33 610 has become a global guide to prevent wet bacteria from penetrating.
Environmental sustainability focuses on environmental responsibility in manufacturing, supply chain and product development. EDANA members implement a program dedicated to improving energy efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and conserving natural resources. Over the past 20 years, diaper manufacturers have been working to reduce product weight and improve material performance, and are currently testing a new recyclable technology. EDANA has a non-woven product life cycle assessment method. In 2009, it issued a sustainable development program, and in 2005, 2007, 2011 and 2015, it issued a sustainable development report on sanitary materials and non-woven products.
The nonwovens industry is facing an increasingly complex global regulatory system, which has attracted more media attention. To meet these challenges, industry voluntary guidelines and supply chain dialogue are effective solutions. All stakeholders in the industry must participate in the process, and industry organizations will play a key role.
