Uniting Industry for Innovation, Growth, and Sustainability

Global Nonwovens Alliance

A powerful alliance of equals, driving innovation, shaping industry leadership, and securing a sustainable future for the global nonwovens sector.
Founding Members
AT A GLANCE

Strategic Rationale

In September 2024, INDA and EDANA announced the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) in Rome to explore a strategic alliance, with the aim of leveraging their combined expertise and resources to address global challenges and drive new opportunities in the nonwovens industry. This strategic alliance has given life to the Global Nonwovens Alliance (GNA).
EDANA is the international association and trusted voice of the nonwovens and related industries, with global reach and a focus on Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
INDA is the leading nonwovens association in the Americas, supporting global members and advancing the industry through events, intelligence, expertise, and advocacy.
PURPOSE & PRIORITIES

The Objectives of GNA

Enhance the valueof our programs and services, including representingand advancing the broader nonwovens industry.
Coordinate a robust educational program, integrated networking opportunities, and expanded industry insights.
Have a unified voice to strengthen advocacy efforts, enabling moreeffective representation of members interests at local, regional, andglobal levels.
Create operational synergies, driving efficiencies, optimizing resources, and diversifying the talent pool to better support members and industry initiatives.
To promote innovation, industry leadership, and long-term growth while ensuring the sustainability of the nonwovens sector.
During the coming months, INDA and EDANA will be refining thestructure and service offerings to ensure the GNA is ready for its officiallaunch.
Team

Board Members

This newly appointed Board unites leaders from North America and Europe to advance GNA’s core objectives: strengthening advocacy with a global voice, expanding education and networking opportunities, driving efficiencies, and promoting innovation and sustainability across the nonwovens sector.
Representatives of the INDA Board
GNA Chair
Mark A. Thornton
Vice President, The Procter & Gamble Company
GNA Board Member
Douglas Dowdel
Director Helix, Global Cellulose Fibers, International Paper
GNA Board Member
Jodi Russell
Vice President R&D, Cleaning Innovation, Packaging & Sustainability, The Clorox Company
GNA Board Member
Mike Clark
Division President, Hollingsworth & Vose Company
GNA Board Member
Jaren J. Edwards
Co-CEO and President, Everra
GNA Board Member
Paul Harmon
Chief Innovation and Marketing Officer, Magnera
Representatives of the EDANA Board
GNA Vice-Chair
Mikael Staal Axelsen
Group CEO, Fibertex Personal Care/Innowo Print
GNA Board Member
Anke Renz
Vice President Research & Development, Essity
GNA Board Member
Jörg Ortmeier
Chief Executive Officer, TWE Group GmbH
GNA Board Member
Thorsten Habeck
Business Director Dispersions for Fiber Bonding – Europe, Middle East & Africa, BASF SE
GNA Board Member
Giorgio Mantovani
CEO - Personal Care Corman
GNA Board Member
Ulrich Hornfeck
Member of Management Board, Sandler AG
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

INDA and EDANA are pursuing an alliance to enhance the value of our programs and services, including representing and advancing the broader nonwovens industry. By coordinating resources, the organizations aim to enhance member value through more robust educational programs, integrated networking opportunities, and expanded industry insights. A more coordinated and unified voice will strengthen advocacy efforts, enabling more effective representation of members' interests at local, regional, and global levels. Collaboration will create operational synergies, driving efficiencies, optimizing resources, and diversifying the talent pool to better support members and industry initiatives. Together we are committed to promoting innovation, industry leadership, and long-term growth while ensuring the sustainability of the nonwovens sector.

We envision a model where INDA and EDANA remain independent legal entities with autonomous operations, continuing to serve local markets while educating and advocating for industry interests regionally.  At the same time, the organizations will become founding members of a newly formed entity to collaborate on global industry topics and initiatives. This new entity will include governance representatives from both organizations who will focus on coordinating global strategies by aligning industry goals, sustainability initiatives, coordinating advocacy positions where appropriate, sharing market intelligence and best practices, harmonizing standards and certifications, and organizing joint and complementary events and educational programs. This structure ensures that both organizations can maintain their local focus while leveraging global collaboration to effectively support and advance the nonwovens industry.

No. Technically, INDA and EDANA will be the founding members of the envisioned entity. Companies that are members exclusively of either INDA or EDANA will retain membership in their respective organization.

The alliance’s increased coordination, visibility, and information sharing will bring significant benefits to the entire nonwovens industry, including regionally focused companies. By fostering collaboration and aligning global efforts, the alliance will generate collective advancements that create new opportunities, provide deeper industry insights, and drive progress. This unified approach ensures that businesses of all sizes and focuses can thrive, embodying the principle that a rising tide lifts all boats.

The goal of the alliance is to foster mutual learning and collaboration while respecting the unique cultural, governmental, and market-specific factors of each region. By sharing best practices and aligning on overarching goals, the alliance aims to provide a forum where global strategies can inform local actions without imposing a one-size-fits-all model. This "think globally, act locally" philosophy ensures that each region can tailor solutions to its specific needs while benefiting from the broader perspectives, insights, and lessons learned.

For the foreseeable future, all INDA and EDANA events will continue and evolve to meet the needs of the markets served. Over time, the alliance will explore opportunities to co-promote existing events and consider new events that provide additional value to our members and the industry. Each organization will maintain focus on the needs of its members while the collaboration aims to identify ways to enhance events and create innovative programs that address emerging industry needs.

We anticipate no changes to the dues structures of INDA or EDANA. Dues are determined by each organization based upon the needs for program and advocacy support within each region.

No. Each organization will continue to develop its program and service offering to meet the needs of its members. We do see benefits in sharing and coordinating program and operational practices to accelerate continuous improvement and coordinating our advocacy efforts so we speak with a more coordinated voice on the issues affecting the industry.

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