EDANA successfully concluded its Sustainability & Policy Forum 2025 in Brussels last week, reinforcing dialogue between the nonwovens industry and European policymakers. The two-day forum took place from 9–10 December at the historic Residence Palace and addressed the growing challenges of circularity and industrial competitiveness amid evolving EU environmental legislation.
Against a rapidly changing regulatory backdrop, the event brought together business leaders, sustainability professionals, and EU officials. Discussions focused on chemicals regulation, product design, waste legislation, and climate due diligence. Importantly, the Forum encouraged the industry to move beyond reactive compliance toward shared, strategic thinking.
A Platform for Strategic and Forward-Looking Dialogue
EDANA designed the Forum to promote open, high-level exchanges away from daily regulatory pressures.
“From EDANA’s side, the primary goal of the Sustainability & Policy Forum is to create a dedicated space where industry, policymakers, experts and stakeholders can step back from day-to-day regulatory pressure and engage in more strategic, forward-looking discussions,” said Murat Dogru, General Manager of EDANA.
He added that the strong participation, diverse viewpoints, and quality discussions—especially during advocacy workshops—confirmed the Forum’s value as a platform for constructive debate and co-development.
Keynote Highlights Global Sustainability Challenges
The Forum opened with a keynote address by Sandrine Dixson-Declève, Co-Founder and Chair of the Systems Transformation Hub. Speaking on “Social & Environmental Tipping Points,” she addressed current geopolitical realities and challenged participants to confront gaps in existing sustainability strategies. She stressed the urgent need to reintegrate human values into policy and economic decision-making to manage systemic challenges effectively.
Balancing Sustainability and Competitiveness
Following the keynote, attention shifted to leadership under regulatory pressure. Ulrika Kolsrud, President and CEO of Essity, led a key session on sustainability priorities amid regulatory simplification and competitiveness. Joined by Murat Dogru, she discussed how European industries can maintain ambitious sustainability goals while supporting investment and innovation.
The discussion highlighted that, while sustainability expectations continue to rise globally, legislation must remain proportionate. This balance, speakers agreed, is essential to safeguard the competitiveness of European industries.
From Compliance to Value Creation
Several sessions focused on transforming sustainability reporting into a strategic advantage. Krishna Manda (Lenzing) and Anna-Stina Reuter (Sphera) explained how reporting can drive resilience and business value. Pia Hildén (Suominen) encouraged companies to use the CSRD as a strategic management tool rather than a compliance exercise. Meanwhile, Ralf Weis (Freudenberg Performance Materials) emphasized the importance of delivering clear and relevant sustainability data to customers, particularly in durable nonwovens.
Advancing Circularity Through Collaboration
A panel featuring Lutz Walter (Textile ETP), Mireille Kong – Van Rekum (Indorama Ventures), and Christian-Yves Crépet (PETCORE Europe) examined the intersection of textiles and nonwovens. Panelists agreed that Europe cannot achieve circularity through isolated efforts. Instead, they called for shared infrastructure and aligned policy frameworks.
Exploring Technical and Policy Frontiers
The afternoon sessions addressed emerging technical challenges. Dominic Byrne (Plastics Europe) and Thorsten Bies (Schlegel und Partner) explored the future of chemical recycling policy and technology. In parallel, Tatiana Dias, PhD (DuPont), focused on healthcare applications. She advocated for legal recognition of mass balance methodologies to unlock circularity in medical packaging.
Day one concluded with a networking dinner at the Musée BELvue. The setting provided an informal environment for participants to connect and strengthen cross-industry relationships.
Advocacy and Direct Policy Engagement
On day two, the Forum shifted its focus to advocacy and policy implementation. Hugo Maria Schally, a former EU official, offered an insider’s view of the EU policy framework. He explained how product policies develop within DG Environment and outlined how industries can engage constructively without compromising safety or performance.
A highlight of the day was the interactive EU Advocacy Workshop. Participants worked in smaller groups to examine EDANA’s active policy files. These discussions covered topics such as the Waste Framework Directive and the Single-Use Plastics Directive.
One participant remarked,
“The advocacy workshop was an eye-opener. Instead of only receiving updates, we actively debated the legislative implications. It clearly showed where the industry needs a united voice.”
Direct Dialogue with the European Commission
The Forum concluded with a visit to the European Commission at the Albert Borschette Conference Centre. Participants met Commission representatives, including Vincenzo Gente (DG Environment) on the Waste Framework Directive and Ewa Malz (DG Environment) on environmental policy simplification.
Reflecting on the visit, another attendee noted,
“Hearing directly from those drafting Green Deal policies was invaluable. It clarified the process and showed that policymakers are open to technical realities when supported by credible data.”
Looking Ahead
The EDANA Sustainability & Policy Forum 2025 set a clear direction for the year ahead. As new legislative packages emerge, EDANA reaffirmed its commitment to helping members anticipate regulatory changes and align around credible, science-based approaches to climate action and circularity.