EDANA’s Outlook 2024 personal care and nonwovens conference attracted a record 549 delegates from 212 companies and 37 countries to Rome from 24-26 September 2024.

“This year, Outlook has truly exceeded all expectations and I am incredibly proud of the success of this event – from the high-quality presentations to the buzzing energy in the exhibition hall,” said EDANA general manager Murat Dogru. “It’s events like this that remind us why we do what we do, serving our members and fostering innovation within our community. The overwhelmingly positive feedback I’ve received is an acknowledgment of the hard work of our team and the vibrant engagement of everyone involved.”

Structured across five key sessions, the conference featured 26 speakers covering a diverse array of critical topics impacting not only the nonwovens industry but society at large. These  included cutting-edge innovations and eco-design, evolving market dynamics, navigating new EU regulations, the future of absorbent hygiene products, sustainability, retail strategies and the challenges posed by China’s influence on European commerce.

Future readiness

The event’s first day opened with a compelling presentation by Joachim De Vos, managing partner and founder of Living Tomorrow and TomorrowLab. As an expert in strategic innovation and scenario planning, he shared valuable insights on guiding organisations towards future readiness, highlighting emerging success factors and emphasising how generative AI can be leveraged to develop scenarios for the nonwovens industry.

On the second day, James Kynge, the Europe-China correspondent for the Financial Times, delivered a keynote address, The China Challenge, charting China’s rapid rise as a global tech superpower and noting that the country produced more than half of the world’s robots last year. Kynge explored the far-reaching impact of this growth on European commerce, highlighting the challenges and outlining strategies for European companies.

On the final day of Outlook, Jack Stratten, director of Insider Trends, explored how retailers and brands are responding to unprecedented market saturation that leaves 64% of consumers feeling overwhelmed by choice. He discussed how massive retail platforms have driven product saturation, influencing both quality and variety and concluded that differentiation in this crowded landscape occurs by focusing on high-quality, curated selections.

Delegates also shared positive feedback on the event.

“The high level of interaction among participants and the quality of the lectures were outstanding,” said Mikael Staal Axelsen CEO of Fibertex Personal Care. “This gives me confidence that the industry is well-equipped to tackle future challenges.”

“This event serves as a compact version of INDEX for the hygiene sector, offering the opportunity to connect with the right people,” added Johan Berlin, managing director of Investkonsult Sweden. “Exhibiting here not only saves us weeks of travel, but also provides a highly convenient platform to meet with participants.”

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