Why all roads lead to Geneva in 2026
This article was originally published in the Sustainable Nonwovens Magazine (SNW), Issue Feb/Mar, 2026. Republished with permission. All rights reserved.
With preparations steadily advancing, Murat Dogru reflects on the broader significance of INDEX 2026 in today’s geopolitical climate.
In May 2026, the nonwovens world will once again converge to INDEX 2026, taking place from 19 to 22 May, in Geneva. The sector’s landmark event and a privileged moment when the entire value chain comes together in one place.
With preparations steadily advancing, Murat Dogru, chief executive officer of the Global Nonwovens Alliance (GNA) and general manager of EDANA, reflects on the broader significance of INDEX26 in today’s geopolitical climate.
At a time when tensions between governments and regions are reshaping trade flows, and industrial cooperation, he views the exhibition not simply as a marketplace, but as a vital meeting ground for dialogue and progress.
For Dogru, bringing the global nonwovens community together in one place has never been more important. Innovation does not happen in isolation; it thrives where engineers, producers, suppliers, and decision-makers can exchange perspectives, challenge assumptions, and build solutions collectively. In this context, INDEX becomes more than a trade show to attend — it is a necessity.
A place where the industry demonstrates leadership, showcases technological advancements, and reinforces its commitment to collaboration across borders.
By gathering in person, the sector sends a clear message: despite uncertainty, it continues to move forward together - driving performance, sustainability, and new applications through cooperation rather than division.
INDEX 2026 stands as both a reflection of the industry’s resilience and a catalyst for the partnerships that will shape its future. INDEX, owned by EDANA and organised in collaboration with Palexpo, Geneva, is the premier global gathering solely dedicated to nonwovens. Once every three years, the exhibition convenes the entire value chain - from raw materials to converters, machine builders to brand owners - under one roof. In a period of rapid technological change and intensifying sustainability imperatives, INDEX26 provides a structured environment to evaluate where the industry stands and where it is heading. From immersive experiences to expert seminars, from Awards that set innovation benchmarks to networking that builds long-term collaboration, the event captures the dynamics shaping nonwovens in 2026 and beyond.
Sustainability trends
The industry’s commitment to sustainability remains one of the overarching themes in the 2026 seminars and product displays.
Europe’s regulatory framework acts as a strong catalyst, encouraging companies to rethink design, manufacturing, and end-of-life considerations to combine high performance with a reduced environmental footprint.
For manufacturers, the priority is clear: ensure products remain safe and reliable while lowering the overall environmental impact. This ambition translates into more resource-efficient processes and smarter material choices, such as biobased material. Many of these forward-looking solutions will be on display at INDEX26, offering a practical demonstration of how sustainability and technological progress can advance hand in hand.
Pre-pandemic benchmarks
According to the 2024 EDANA Statistics Report, nonwovens production in Greater Europe increased by 2.6% in volume, reaching 2,976,400 tonnes. This recovery follows two consecutive years of decline and effectively returns the industry to its pre-pandemic production levels in terms of weight.
Interestingly, production by surface area grew faster (+2.9%), totalling 85.1 billion square metres. This has resulted in a notable shift in average grammage, which fell to 34.9 gsm compared to the 37.2 gsm recorded in 2019. While the hygiene market remains the predominant end-use segment - accounting for 27% of deliveries (797,300 tonnes) - the fastest-growing sectors in 2024 were found in building and roofing materials (+14.2%), food and beverage applications (+13%), and personal protective garments (+10%).
This diversification of interest is expected to define the floor dynamics at INDEX26, where visitors are increasingly seeking solutions beyond single-use hygiene.
Immersive visitor experience
INDEX is conceived to move beyond the boundaries of a traditional B2B trade fair, introducing multisensory elements that bring the full versatility of nonwovens to life. Rather than focusing solely on products and transactions, the event invites participants, exhibitors and visitors alike to experience the materials in context — to see, feel, and understand how deeply they are embedded in everyday applications.
At the heart of this experience lies ‘Nonwovens – Layers of Life’, an immersive journey that traces the essential role these materials play across daily life, from hygiene and healthcare to mobility, filtration, packaging, construction, and protection. Designed as a pause within the pace of the exhibition, it offers visitors a moment out of time - away from the buzz of the show floor, the intensity of booth discussions, and the constant flow of meetings.
In this space, the industry’s impact becomes tangible. It shows how nonwovens quietly shape modern living and why their continued development matters for the future.
Seminar
A cornerstone of this year’s show will be the rich seminar and tutorial programme - thoughtfully designed to deepen understanding of market dynamics, technological developments and the real-world applications that are shaping the nonwovens industry. Across three days, attendees will have the opportunity to step beyond the exhibition floor and engage with content that delivers practical insights and stimulates forward-thinking discussion.
The seminars begin with an essential session on Market Trends in Nonwovens – Insights Shaping the Future, offering a broad overview of the forces driving change across global value chains. From there, topics range from accessing public funding in different regions, to the success of the Quality and Audit Programme (QAP), to in-depth perspectives on sustainability - helping participants grasp not just what innovation looks like today, but where it is headed.
Specialised sessions will explore how nonwovens are powering developments in filtration, demonstrating how materials once confined to traditional markets are now critical in tackling air quality and industrial challenges. Other presentations will unpack the transformative role of geosynthetics in modern construction and reveal how nonwovens contribute to lightweight, quiet and sustainable mobility solutions - giving attendees a clear line of sight into application-led innovation.
Along these thematic seminars are nonwovens tutorials - open, free of charge, accessible sessions aimed at those new to the sector or anyone seeking to refresh foundational knowledge. These tutorials provide an ideal complement to the seminar series, ensuring that learning and insight gathering at INDEX is both broad and deep.
Together, this curated programme fosters the dissemination of ideas, encourages debate across specialties, and creates an environment where professionals can leave with new perspectives, practical knowledge and the inspiration to translate insights into action.
Recognising excellence
The INDEX Innovation Awards remain the highest accolade in the industry, celebrating breakthroughs in research, patents, and new project development. Open to all EDANA member companies and exhibitors, the awards cover five distinct categories:
- Nonwoven roll goods
- Finished products made from, or incorporating nonwovens in a single-use application / in a durable application
- Raw materials or components (e.g. polymer, fibre, binder, film, tape) of special relevance to the nonwovens and related converted products industry
- Innovation in machinery of special relevance to the nonwovens industry.
The winners will be announced during a dedicated ceremony on the opening day of the exhibition.
Award-winning innovations and nominated products will be displayed in the “Nonwovens Immersive space” at the centre of the exhibition.
Global
The stature of INDEX 2026 lies in its unmatched scale solely dedicated to nonwovens. Spanning 50,000 square metres, the event is expected to host over 600 exhibitors and attract 12,000+ entries from over 100 nations. By convening the entire value chain, INDEX 2026 serves as the definitive site for networking and the establishment of new business connections.
For professionals across all functions - from sustainability and innovation to sales and business development - the exhibition provides a valuable moment to benchmark their strategies, align priorities, and assess their position in light of the latest market trends and technological advances.
As Dogru concludes, the nonwovens industry is a “big family” that reunites every three years to debate, negotiate, and shape the future of a diverse and powerful sector.