Excellence in the nonwovens and related industries Innovation, Creativity & Sustainability.

Nominees  INDEX™️2026 Awards    

1. Nonwoven roll goods:

• Lenzing – LENZING™ Dualwipe
  LENZING™ Dualwipe is a high-performance cleaning wipe crafted from regenerated cellulose using LENZING™ Nonwovens Technology. Its innovative dual-surface design integrates abrasion and absorbency in a single material, enabling efficient cleaning without relying on fossil-based synthetic materials, binders, or chemical additives. One side features a mechanically active surface for scrubbing away dirt, grease, and residues, while the other offers a soft, highly absorbent surface for liquid uptake and surface finishing. Designed for industrial, professional, and household applications, LENZING™ Dualwipe is compatible with existing converting and processing infrastructure, facilitating rapid adoption.
  
  
• Magnera Corporation - Next-Gen Fluid Barrier Technology
  Magnera’s proprietary fluid barrier technology represents a major advancement in protective medical textiles. Designed for demanding surgical and clinical environments, it delivers durable liquid repellency against water, oil, and other fluids without intentionally added PFAS, chemicals traditionally used for this function. Evidence of PFAS persistence in the environment and possible associated health risks has prompted global regulatory action and growing demand for alternatives. Through advanced material engineering, the technology maintains the high-performance healthcare professionals require while aligning with evolving global regulatory expectations. By eliminating legacy chemistries and ensuring consistent barrier performance, it provides a safer and more environmentally responsible alternative to conventional PFAS-based materials.
  
  
• Woolchemy - neweFlex™ ADL
  Woolchemy has developed neweFlex™ ADL, a plastic-free acquisition distribution layer containing neweFibre™ — Woolchemy's hygiene-grade wool fibre that meets strict regulatory standards for non-sterile hygiene products while preserving wool's natural functionality. Engineered as a plastic-free alternative to petroleum-based ADLs, neweFlex™ ADL is a blend between wool and plant-based fibres to deliver natural benefits including breathability, thermal regulation, and odour control — while being naturally compatible with skin. Wool is a keratin-based fibre — the same structural protein found naturally in human skin, making it an inherently gentle, renewable choice for disposable hygiene products such as diapers and sanitary pads.

2. Finished products made from, or incorporating nonwovens - Single-use application

• Corman - Organyc brand "Personalized Protection" Light Incontinence Pads 
  Corman’s new light incontinence pads deliver personalized protection through three key innovations. The Smart-Cotton™ cover with a citric acid buffer maintains an ideal skin pH of 5.5, reducing irritation. The patented Cotton-Balanced Absorbent Core channels liquid to superabsorbent polymers that lock in moisture and expand toward the body for superior leak protection. Natural odor control uses an organic ingredient to bind ammonia and slow odor formation, eliminating odor instead of masking it. Clinically proven, the pads address the three main concerns of light incontinence: leaks, odor, and skin irritation.

• Teknomelt Teknik Mensucat – Fibrasiv®
  Fibrasiv® Abrasive Spunlace is an application-driven nonwoven innovation developed to meet the growing demand for effective yet safe cleaning materials across multiple end-use sectors. The material functions by combining a soft, absorbent spunlace base with an integrated abrasive structure that enables controlled mechanical cleaning. This allows the removal of stubborn dirt, residues, and contaminants while minimizing the risk of surface damage.

2. Finished products made from, or incorporating nonwovens - Durable application

• Confitex Technology - Reusable Nonwoven Bed Pads
  This new Confitex technology has enabled the world’s first machine-washable and tumble-dryable nonwoven bed pads, opening a significant new application for nonwoven materials. Using a proprietary fibre-stabilisation bonding technique, the innovation allows absorbent nonwoven structures to withstand more than 30 machine wash and tumble-dry cycles while maintaining performance. The fully nonwoven construction combines a fast-wicking top sheet with a highly absorbent core capable of holding over two litres of liquid. In addition, a bonded frame structure prevents leakage across the entire surface, including the edges, addressing a common weakness of stitched textile bed pads.
  
  

• DuPont Personal Protection - DuPont™ Tychem® 6000 SFR
  DuPont™ Tychem® 6000 SFR garments represent a breakthrough in personal protective equipment, delivering unprecedented dual protection against chemical exposure and flash fire hazards. Designed to be worn over primary flame-resistant (FR) clothing, these garments use a lightweight, multi-layer fabric laminate to provide at least 30 minutes of barrier protection against more than 250 chemicals, including toxic industrial chemicals, and flammable organic solvents. By combining advanced chemical resistance with secondary flame protection, Tychem® 6000 SFR enables workers in oil & gas, chemical manufacturing, and emergency response to operate safely in high-risk environments without compromising comfort or mobility.
  
  

• Pelsan Tekstil - Metabreathe™
  Metabreathe™ is an advanced nonwoven-based thermal insulation composite designed to address a key challenge in cold chain logistics: combining high solar reflectance with breathability and recyclability. Unlike conventional covers that rely on glued aluminum foils or PET films, Metabreathe™ utilizes a proprietary process where reflective particles are precision-printed onto a high-performance breathable film, which is then integrated with a specially engineered nonwoven structural foundation. This unique composite approach preserves the fabric’s interstitial spaces and the film's microporosity, allowing air and moisture vapor to pass through while reflecting over 90% of solar radiation. Scientifically proven to keep cargo 12-15°C cooler during extreme ramp exposure, Metabreathe™ is currently trusted by global logistics leaders.
  
  
  
  

3.  Raw materials or components (e.g.polymer,fibre, binder, film, tape) of special relevance to the nonwovens and related converted products industry

• Bostik - Kizen™ Miles 9.0 Bostik’s latest innovation, Kizen™ Miles 9.0, is the first adhesive designed for disposable hygiene article construction, that offers the unique feature of debonding on demand: when exposed to a specific chemical key, combined with controlled temperature and mechanical stress, the adhesive allows clean, rapid separation of plastic components in minutes. This process keeps the adhesive material on the substrate, preventing contamination for cleaner, more efficient hygiene article recycling. But during the lifetime of the hygiene article, this new material, based on up to 75% renewable materials, delivers exceptional bonding across a wide range of substrates—including PP, PE, and PLA—while maintaining stable performance over time and under wet conditions.
  
  

• Fiberpartner – PolyPlant®
  PolyPlant® is a PLA-based fiber engineered to overcome the traditional mechanical, thermal, and processing limitations of conventional polylactic acid. Its proprietary formulation enhances crystallization behavior, molecular stability, and fiber morphology while maintaining full biogenic carbon content. Without relying on synthetic additives, PolyPlant® delivers high-performance PLA fibers that are compatible with existing industrial equipment, enabling manufacturers to adopt renewable materials without sacrificing efficiency or product quality.
  
  

• The Lycra Company - LYCRA® ADAPTIV fiber
  Building upon its proven performance in apparel, LYCRA® ADAPTIV fiber now elevates hygiene garments with hybrid elasticity that adjusts to the body at rest and in motion. This results in products that stay in place, have a second skin fit and are easier to put on and take off. LYCRA® ADAPTIV fiber represents a material-led innovation that has the potential to enable consistent, inclusive user experience across expanded size ranges— addressing an industry-wide challenge.
  
  
  
  

4. Innovation in machinery of special relevance to the nonwovens industry

• Kansan – KM Hydroentanglement Filtration System
  This innovation is a mechanical filtration system developed as an alternative to conventional chemical filtration units used in wetlaid and spunlace production lines. Instead of complex filtration systems, flotation units, and chemical additives, the system utilizes dedicated mechanical filtration equipment to enable the recovery and reuse of water and fibers directly within the production process. By eliminating the need for chemicals, the system provides a more sustainable, efficient, and process-integrated solution for water and fiber management in nonwoven production.
  
  

• Teknoweb Converting - OCEAN – Converting technology for high-performance, low-impact underpads
  OCEAN is IMA Teknoweb’s advanced converting system for absorbent underpads, combining new manufacturing technology with a revised product design to improve performance while using fewer materials. The system features a drumless core formation process that builds the absorbent core directly on a carrier web, ensuring even distribution of fluff and SAP and enabling ultra-thin, lightweight underpads. It also supports multilayer structures, including optimized 5-layer designs and a patent-pending 4-layer configuration with integrated leakage barriers. This approach allows production of thinner, lighter, and more efficient underpads without affecting quality or output.
  
  

• ZUIKO - Converting machine for recloseable baby diapers
  ZUIKO has developed a converting line to produce adjustable pull on pant diapers that address the challenge of achieving a secure fit around a baby’s waist and legs while maintaining softness and stretchability. The design of such a diaper combines the adjustability of open diapers with the stretch characteristics of pant diapers. Unlike conventional pant diapers, which are processed symmetrically, ZUIKO’s recloseable diapers are asymmetric, requiring a precise, glue-less attachment process during folding. Central to the production is ZUIKO’s patented “Stretch Re-pitch Drum™,” which regulates elastic tension and product spacing, allowing panel folding in line with the machine’s flow. This system enables the production of over 700 diapers per minute without the need for multiple folding units

  
  
  
  

Press release