UKFT visited INDEX from 19 -22 May 2026 in Geneva, the world’s leading exhibition for nonwovens and a key meeting point for the international nonwovens value chain. Held every three years and organised by EDANA, the event brought together more than 600 exhibitors from around the world and provided a focused snapshot of current market dynamics, new technologies and the regulatory pressures shaping the sector. For UKFT, the visit offered a valuable opportunity to assess how the market is evolving, to reconnect with UK exhibitors and international stakeholders and to gather insight into the themes currently driving business decisions across the industry.

Across the exhibition, several themes stood out. Sustainability and regulatory change were central to discussions, with exhibitors and industry representatives highlighting the growing impact of the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive and the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation on product development, material selection and long-term investment decisions. There was also a clear emphasis on circularity and innovation, reflecting the wider direction of travel for the sector. While hygiene remains a major driver of activity within nonwovens, the show also demonstrated the breadth of application areas now shaping the market, including filtration, medical, automotive and geotextiles.

A number of conversations at the show reflected a mixed market environment. While INDEX remains an important global platform, several exhibitors commented that the four-day format can leave visitor traffic spread thinly, particularly in the opening stages of the event. At the same time, the overall quality of the exhibition and the international reach of the audience reinforced its value as a place to take the temperature of the global nonwovens market and maintain key commercial relationships.

Regional shifts were also evident. Industry contacts pointed to continued growth in Asia, particularly in China and India, while parts of the European market are facing more challenging conditions. This changing balance was reflected in the global profile of exhibitors and in wider discussion around competitiveness, scale and the future structure of the sector. Several attendees also noted a perception that the exhibition is seeing a stronger Asian presence over time, underlining the increasingly global and geographically diverse nature of the nonwovens market.

Supply chain resilience and input costs also featured heavily in discussion. Businesses pointed to ongoing geopolitical uncertainty and disruption affecting raw materials, shipping and production costs, particularly for plastics and chemicals. These pressures continue to shape pricing, investment and sourcing decisions across the value chain.

Seven UK companies were represented at the exhibition: Airtech Nonwovens, Don & Low, Garnett Wire, NIRI, Nonwovenn, Spooner and Tatham. Their presence highlighted the continued strength of UK capability across specialist machinery, technical textiles and nonwovens manufacturing and provided a useful opportunity for UKFT to connect with businesses active in this important international market.

For further information on nonwovens, please contact info@ukft.org.

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