INDEX™26 officially concluded at Palexpo in Geneva after a successful four-day edition that reaffirmed the event’s status as one of the most influential global platforms for the nonwovens industry. Despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainty and economic pressures affecting international travel and budgets, the exhibition attracted strong participation from exhibitors, technical experts, and industry decision-makers worldwide.
Held across 50,000 square meters of exhibition space, INDEX™26 featured 625 exhibitors from 44 countries and recorded 11,452 visits during the event. The exhibition showcased the latest innovations in nonwoven materials, sustainable manufacturing technologies, smart textiles, and high-performance industrial applications, reflecting the industry’s rapid transformation toward circularity and advanced material solutions.Organized in Geneva, the exhibition highlighted the growing integration of environmental responsibility with technical excellence across the global nonwovens value chain. Industry leaders demonstrated how sustainability is becoming a core performance benchmark, with increasing emphasis on carbon footprint reduction, recyclable product design, and resource-efficient manufacturing technologies.
A major focus throughout the exhibition was circular design innovation. Companies introduced advanced nonwoven materials designed to replace complex multi-layer product structures with recyclable single-material alternatives. Exhibitors also showcased next-generation protective textiles capable of meeting evolving safety standards without the use of PFAS chemicals, reflecting rising global demand for safer and more sustainable material solutions.The event also highlighted advancements in automated production technologies aimed at improving manufacturing efficiency, increasing throughput, and producing finer and more durable fibers for hygiene, medical, filtration, automotive, and industrial applications.
Magali Fakhry Dufresne, Director of INDEX™26, noted that despite the challenging geopolitical environment, the global nonwovens industry demonstrated a strong commitment to in-person collaboration and innovation exchange.She emphasized that INDEX™ continues to play a critical role as a meeting point for the global nonwovens community and as a platform where younger generations can discover emerging technologies and industry trends under one roof.The exhibition’s seminar program and technical presentations attracted strong attendance, offering insights into how companies are adapting to new market realities through innovation, agility, and sustainability-focused strategies.
Pieter Meijer, Chairman of the INDEX™ Advisory Board, stated that the event highlighted how businesses are increasingly going beyond regulatory compliance to achieve competitive advantage while responding to global market disruptions and sustainability challenges.Beyond the exhibition halls, INDEX™26 introduced several immersive and networking-focused experiences designed to strengthen industry collaboration. One of the notable additions was the “Women’s Networking Breakfast,” aimed at supporting mentoring initiatives and strengthening future leadership networks within the nonwovens sector.
Visitors also responded positively to the new immersive showcase titled “Nonwovens: In Every Layer of Life,” which demonstrated the critical role nonwoven materials play in modern healthcare, hygiene, transportation, filtration, construction, and everyday consumer products.Industry leaders emphasized that innovation in the nonwovens sector is increasingly being driven by global collaboration between machinery manufacturers, material scientists, and chemical technology developers. The convergence of smart manufacturing, lightweight materials, automation, and sustainable chemistry is expected to accelerate the transition toward a more efficient and circular manufacturing ecosystem.
Murat Dogru, General Manager of EDANA, stated that the exhibition demonstrated how automated machinery, smart chemistry, and lightweight technologies are shaping the future of sustainable nonwoven production.As the industry looks ahead, organizers confirmed that the next edition, INDEX™29, will take place from May 15–18, 2029, in Geneva, where global stakeholders are expected to gather once again to showcase the latest developments shaping the future of nonwovens manufacturing and sustainable materials innovation.
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