Geoff Fisher

Absorbent hygiene products continue to lead global consumption of disposable nonwovens, yet the healthcare and medical sector remains an essential market, underpinning steady growth and ongoing material innovation. Developments in polyolefin chemistry, biopolymers and closed-loop waste systems are creating promising options that point toward the increased use of sustainable medical nonwovens, while continuing to satisfy stringent infection control, regulatory and supply chain requirements.

Love it or hate it, elastane is an integral part of today’s fashion world. Consumers love it because it provides unrivaled levels of comfort and stretch; the recycling industry hates it because any material blended with elastane is difficult, if not impossible, to recycle. Elastane has revolutionized the clothing industry owing to its stretch and comfort.

Over the past decade, the rise of SUVs, electrification, and added safety/comfort features has steadily increased vehicle weight, reversing earlier trends toward lighter cars, which has implications for automotive textiles. New cars have become substantially heavier today than they were a decade ago. For example, between 2016 and 2023, the average curb weight of new vehicles in the UK rose from 1,553 kg to 1,947 kg—an increase of nearly 400 kg, according to test data published by Autocar.