Big ideas come from many sources, but great big ideas come to life when strategic partners leverage collaboration in its highest form, including face-to-face networking, sharing of business intelligence, and mutually beneficial strategic planning. This opportunity mindset is what INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, hopes to inspire as it hosts the most significant event in its portfolio – the IDEA®25 Show to be held April 29-May 1 in Miami Beach, Florida, USA.
Adjacent to the IDEA®25 Show is INDA’s FiltXPO® Show, with 110 exhibitors and its own programming track, and shares the IDEA expo floor. This show allows the filtration and separations industry to connect with peers and visit new and existing nonwovens suppliers, making this one event INDA’s finest and largest collection of collaborative attendees and exhibitors in North America.
IDEA®25 Show is tracking to be the largest in their history with over 500 exhibitors and an expected 6,500 visitors. Companies such as Aplix, BASF, Cotton, Everra, ExxonMobil, H.B. Fuller, Kimberly-
Clark, Magnera, PFG, and Welspun have much to share on their sustainability efforts to support the industry. A complete list of exhibitors with booth location is found at https://inda.expocad.com/events/ifx25/index.html. FiltXPO exhibitors are also listed.
Program of Discovery
INDA has compiled a robust program anchored in sustainability and circularity for attendees to be inspired and educated by top experts from the industry. The full schedule of events is at https://idea
show.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/IDEA25-Conference-Schedule-Mar-13.pdf. The following are highlights.
Attendees are welcomed on April 29 by Matt O’Sickey, Ph.D., Director of Technology & Education, INDA, who sets the stage for two full days of programming, introducing an overview on “Navigating the Shifting Winds of Sustainability Regulations: U.S. and EU Perspectives on Compliance & Innovation.” Wes Fisher, Director of Government Affairs, INDA, speaks on the “U.S. Sustainability Policy – Near and Long Term,” focused on how policies around single-use plastics, chemicals, recycling, and dozens of other sustainability topics are being rolled out globally, as well as a five-year forecast for potential regulatory action in the U.S.
Bringing the EU perspective, Heidi van den Hul, Principal, FabriCreation, discusses “ESPR & Nonwoven Products: Regulatory Impact on Product Design, Manufacturing & Disposal,” exploring the evolving regulatory landscape in the European Union and its impact on disposable products, with a focus on nonwovens. As recent EU regulations transform the nonwoven sector, van den Hul forecasts the future landscape of nonwoven products in Europe and the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead, including the implementation of Digital Product Passports by 2027.
In the “Leveraging Data & Technology for Sustainable Material Decisions,” speaker Madyson Partenheimer, Global Business Sustainability Manager at Magnera, delves into the critical factors that shape a robust sustainability strategy. She will demonstrate how to build a compelling sustainability story that resonates with customers and consumers and accelerates progress toward a more sustainable future.
David Brabham, senior director of customer Engagement, Sustainability, and Stewardship at GP Cellulose, shares how forest and biodiversity loss are major concerns and issues that should be considered when evaluating raw materials. GP Cellulose utilizes the ForestLogic™ technology platform as an example of how technology solutions are rapidly emerging to meet the demand for increased transparency, enhanced reporting, and protection of the planet’s most special places.
“Innovative & Sustainable Materials: Greener Products Start with Greener Nonwovens” and sessions on integrating “Hemp Fibers in Nonwovens” round out the first day before the networking commences at the Welcome Reception in the Miami Beach Convention Center, Lincoln Road Ballroom.
Day two sessions offer more detail on innovative ideas launched into the marketplace in sessions on “Cradle to Grave Bioplastics – Starting and Ending Green.” In Creating Sustainable Nonwovens with Thermally Processable Polyvinyl Alcohol and a Water-soluble, Environmentally Friendly, and High-performance Polymer, Jack Eaton, Product Manager – Nonwovens, AquaPak Polymers Ltd, reveals how Aquapak technology now allows for the production of staple fibers and spun melt nonwovens via melt extrusion, using existing machinery, achieved without polymer modification, maintaining full product functionality and end-of-life biodegradation.
In a segment on “Design for Sustainability – Don’t Overlook the Impacts of Equipment and Process,” presenter Akhlak Mahmood, Ph.D., Product Innovation Manager, Matmerize, discusses AI-Driven Polymer Informatics for Sustainable Innovation. Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the polymer and nonwoven industries by enabling the development of sustainable materials. This presentation explores AI’s pivotal role in creating polymers with tailored properties to meet diverse industrial needs.
New Generation Innovative Compact Filter for Nonwovens & Soft Disposables presenter Saravanan Palani, General Manager & Director of Sales, Luwa America, Inc., shares that with increased machine speeds, meaning higher dust levels, stringent government regulations in the nonwovens & hygiene process, compactness, etc., Luwa’s Swiss R&D team working over the years with the industry giants, came up with an innovative, high-performance filter that would replace the Traditional RDF – it’s the latest Multicell Filter (MCV). It has multiple linear V-shaped filters with specialized media elements for the best cleaning efficiency.
A series of case studies and discussions on the “Cradle to Next Life – Shifting Away from the ‘To the Grave’ Mentality” focus attendees on circular solutions and closes out the educational portion of the IDEA®25 Show.
Awards Presentations
INDA does not miss an opportunity to reward innovation with industry recognition voted on by its peers. Read about 2025 IDEA innovators at https://ideashow.org/2025-awards-finalists/. The from each category winners will be announced at the show.
Plan for Productivity
All in all, attendees will want to plan their time ahead of arriving in Miami to maximize time spent on site in order get the most from the robust line-up of sustainability sessions and the vibrant exposition that will surely inspire industry change.
