The Sustainability & Policy Forum integrates the policy dimension as a key factor in developing effective sustainable solutions for the future of the nonwovens industry. It addresses key topics such as stakeholder expectations, circular economy, green claims, sustainability reporting, and corporate due diligence, and provides an opportunity to learn, share knowledge, and network on sustainability and policy issues.

The overall aim is to overcome challenges and collectively identify opportunities to accelerate the industry’s net-positive impact. Speakers represent a wide range of stakeholders from across the nonwovens value chain, but not only. These include companies, European regulators, and legislators.The event encourages constructive dialogue on both challenges and opportunities.

Attendees include professionals from nonwovens and related sectors with an interest in sustainability. They typically work in areas such as sustainability, R&D, packaging, branding, retail, CSR, NGOs, and raw material production.

Submit your paper

EDANA invites proposals from industry leaders, innovators, and researchers to contribute to the Sustainability & Policy Forum 2026 edition. We are looking for practical insights, forward-looking perspectives, and real-world case studies that showcase how the nonwovens industry is responding to sustainability challenges and opportunities.    Next-generation materials and product design Innovations in nonwoven materials, including bio-based inputs, alternative fibres, and design approaches that improves sustainability performance. Industrial decarbonization pathways Strategies and technologies enabling emissions reduction across manufacturing, including electrification, energy efficiency, and low-carbon production models. Circular solutions and end-of-life innovation Progress and challenges in recycling, waste management, circular business models, and infrastructure enabling circularity for nonwoven products. Sustainability communication and reporting Navigating evolving expectations around ESG reporting, environmental claims, transparency, and reputation management. From strategy to implementation: lessons from the field Case studies highlighting successes, challenges, and practical lessons learned from sustainability initiatives across the value chain.   How to apply : Please send your abstract in English to giovanna.merola@edana.org It should include a proposed title, 3-4 bullet points summarising the presentation and the full details of the speaker. Deadline: 30 April 2026

Location

Residence Palace - Brussels

The Sustainability and Policy Forum will take place in the Residence Palace, in Brussels, right in the heart of the European district.

The Residence Palace was built between 1922–1927 as a luxury Art Deco complex combining apartments and hotel-like amenities. Designed by Michel Polak, it was envisioned as a “small city within a city.” Requisitioned during WWII, it was later bought by the Belgian state in 1947 and repurposed for government offices. Major changes came in the 1960s with the rise of EU institutions, leading to renovations and new extensions. In 1988, parts of the building were demolished to make way for the EU’s Justus Lipsius building, the headquarters of the Council of the European Union, and in 2000, the Belgian government established an International Press Center at the back of the building, welcoming today numerous press conferences and other events.

How to reach the venue

Metro: Schuman station (line 1 or 5), exit Rue de la Loi/Residence Palace

Bus : Schuman (lines 12, 21, 22, 36, 60, 79)

Train: Schuman station

Car: Parking Loi, 85 Rue de la Loi OR Parking Thon, 120 Rue de Trèves - 1040 Bruxelles

Sustainability & Policy Forum 2025: Uniting the industry and EU policymakers to navigate the future of nonwovens

Against a backdrop of rapidly evolving environmental legislation, the EDANA Sustainability & Policy Forum 2025 took place in Brussels on 9 & 10 December 2025, marking a step forward in the dialogue between the nonwovens industry and European policymakers.

The Forum opened with keynote interventions by Sandrine Dixson-Declève and Ulrika Kolsrud, highlighting the need to rethink sustainability through a systemic lens while ensuring regulatory simplification to maintain European industrial competitiveness. On the second day, Hugo Schally provided an insider perspective on EU policymaking, explaining how product legislation is developed and how industry can engage effectively.

A central highlight was the interactive EU Advocacy Workshop, where participants actively debated key EU policy files, clarified legislative impacts, and identified priorities for a unified industry position. The event concluded with an exchange with the European Commission, enabling direct discussions with officials on the Waste Framework Directive and environmental policy simplification, and reinforcing constructive dialogue between industry and policymakers. 

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