Cary, NC, Feb. 2, 2021 – INDA, the Association of the Nonwovens Fabrics Industry, is taking the lead to inform the nonwovens/engineered materials industry with three one-hour webinars on the toughest issues facing the North American Nonwovens Industry. These critical issues include: facemask performance standards, single use plastics (SUP) legislative policy issues, and industry impacts from recent capacity announcements in Spunbond/Spunmelt/”Spunlace” caused by COVID-19 demand for wipes, medical gowns, and facemask materials.

The one-hour webinars will be held at 11 am EDT on March 16th, 25th, and April 6th, and include subject matter experts in facemask standards, plastics legislation, and nonwoven supply/demand analysis. Topics include:

The New ASTM Performance Standard for General Public Facemasks and Resultant Design/Product Opportunities
Tuesday, March 16th, 11 am EDT
Presenters: Dave Rousse, President, INDA, and Jeff Stull, President, International Personnel Protection, Inc.

To conserve meltblown fiber for the healthcare sector while using other nonwoven media to provide protection to the general public, INDA worked with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) to develop a performance standard for general public facemasks.  Jeff Stull, Consultant to NIOSH and steward of the ASTM process, will discuss the purpose and development of the upcoming Standard, its two performance levels, and test methods.  Dave Rousse, President of INDA, will discuss design opportunities created for makers of facemask filter media and facemask designers.

Plastics Concerns and the Nonwovens Industry
Thursday, March 25th, 11 am EDT
Presenters:  Dave Rousse, President, INDA, Jessica Franken, Director of Government Affairs, INDA, and Tom Carlyle, Nonwovens Commercial Manager-Americas, Lenzing AG

Legislative initiatives on Single Use Plastics introduced in California, Canada and the U.S. Congress will be harmful to nonwovens, especially those that use viscose.  All businesses involved in nonwovens should know of these impending impacts on nonwoven products and the unintended consequences to their business.  Jessica Franken will review the current legislative status in states, Congress and Canada and INDA’s engagement with other plastic industry associations to address the challenges of the European Union’s approach should it be incorporated in North America.  Tom Carlyle of Lenzing will discuss the viscose/lyocell supply and interchangeability realities.