A total of 610 exhibitors from 43 countries, 12,017 entries from over 100 nations networked, discussed business as INDEX 23, sprawled over 50,000 sq m of gross exhibition space, showcased the latest breakthroughs and innovative developments across nonwovens’ applications.
THE FOCUS: Visitors from around the globe gathered at Palexpo, Geneva from 18–21 April, for the triennial exhibition that explored:
- The future of sustainable nonwovens;
- Sustainable use of geosynthetics in mega projects in civil and environmental engineering;
- Nonwovens as essential for the mobility transition;
- Why nonwovens are indispensable in healthcare; and
- Energy efficiency in the current context for navigating the crisis.
The Event: The INDEX Lab, an exchange hub displaying samples from innovations and new developments, also showcased the winners and runners up from each of the five categories of the INDEX Innovation Award.
- Open to any EDANA member company or exhibitor at INDEX 23, the winners were announced on the first day of the exhibition during a dedicated ceremony at the EDANA stand.
- The ‘Nonwovens Journey’, an immersive experience was a look at the innovative role of nonwovens, as well as how innovation has progressed in time around both sustainability, and how nonwovens are used in everyday life, also allowed visitors to discover the versatility of nonwovens.
- A series of innovative product launches were showcased at the booths through the Exhibitor Product Presentations.
Event Highlights: A series of informative seminars covered a myriad of topics including medical nonwovens, sustainability, circular economy, geosynthetics, textiles, mobility, fair trade, gender equity, innovation, and market trends; country-specific briefings offering insights into the nonwovens market in various regions around the world; and a nonwovens tutorial intended as an induction to nonwovens for those new to the industry.
- These topics were all presented by leading industry experts and guest speakers, including among others, the World Trade Organization (WTO).
- Concern for the environment has in recent years become increasingly important, and once again remained a key topic at INDEX 23, with companies pushing to achieve further CO2 reductions and circularity across the supply chain.
Continuing on from its success during COVID-19, the INDEX 23 Mobile App and Virtual Platform was back. - This tool offered participants—both in Geneva and those following from home—the chance to watch presentations live and interact with speakers, exhibitors, and other participants.
- The event concluded with the announcement of the dates of the next edition which will take place in three years from now — 21–24 April 2026 at Palexpo, in Geneva.
