Shaping together the circular economy for nonwovens

Maria Teresa Ambrosi has been covering the position of Senior Consultant Nonwovens and Roll Goods for the German technical consultancy Schlegel und Partner since 2020. She has been working for Schlegel und Partner for 4 years, managing as a project leader and participating as a team member to more than 40 international projects most of which around the topic of nonwovens and other roll goods, filtration and sustainability. Maria Teresa Ambrosi holds a MSc. in Business Management from the Bocconi University in Milan and from the University of Cologne.

Maria Teresa Ambrosi will give a presentation on: 

Market point of view on sustainable raw materials for the nonwovens industry: Reality check of existing alternatives, current applications and hands-on opinions of the market. 

Hugo Christiaen started his career 40 years ago and entered the nonwovens industry 35 years ago in 1987 with the company Libeltex in Belgium, at that time belonging to The Vita Group. Since 2012 Libeltex was acquired by the TWE Group with HQ in Emsdetten, Germany.

Hugo is a Master of industrial engineering and is currently director CSR for the TWE Group.

Hugo Christiaen will give a presentation on: 

A new circular product portfolio using post-consumer textiles as feedstock in a cradle to cradle concept

With a Master’s Degree in Government Relations and Advocacy, Pierre started his career as an association management and advocacy professional, advising and managing associations in sectors ranging from batteries and flame retardants to exhibition logistics. Pierre then joined EDANA, the international Association representing the nonwoven and related industries, where he spent 9 years developing and managing sustainability and advocacy initiatives, most recently as External Relations and Sustainability Director.

Pierre currently supports ExxonMobil’s advanced plastics recycling program, with a focus on creating an enabling regulatory framework and developing global capabilities to market certified circular polymers. 

Pierre Conrath will give a presentation on: 

Enabling advanced recycling solutions for plastics

Inna Knelsen will give a presentation on: 

Credible sustainability certification of nonwovens

Katharina Obergruber will give a presentation on:

Going beyond circular limitations - A closed cycle

Karthik Ramaratnam will give a presentation on: 

Developing sustainable solutions for the nonwovens market: approach to improve the end-of-life of nonwoven products by using bio-assimilation technology

Frantisek Riha-Scott will give a presentation on: 

How nonwovens may be the surprising solution that reduces landfill and saves the planet

Gil Stevens is the External Relations and Sustainability Director for EDANA, the international Association representing the nonwoven and related industries, a position he has held since March 2018.

With a Master’s Degree in Product Development and in Environmental Science, Gil started his career as product engineer in the building industry. Pursuing his passion for sustainability, Gil joined the Cradle to Cradle Platform in 2012, where he has been guiding companies in different sectors, such as textiles, cleaning agents, building, office equipment towards the integration of C2C and preparing them for a circular economy. As sustainability coach at Sustenuto, Gil supported organisations in developing and implementing a sustainability strategy. At the beverage group Spadel, Gil’s responsibilities included the coordination of local CSR representatives at the various European sites and external CSR communication. During his career, Gil also concluded an Executive MBA programme at the Antwerp Management School.

Gil currently has responsibility for managing sustainability and maintaining external relations for EDANA. He manages several of the association’s Working Groups including the Circular Economy WG, Sustainability WG, Construction WG and the Communication & Advocacy SG. 

Miriam Weber will give a presentation on 

How does your biodegradable plastic behave in the environment?