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EDANA Marks 25 Years Of OUTLOOK Conference In Cascais Shaping Global Nonwovens

• By  Textile Excellence
• September 01, 2026

The global nonwovens and absorbent hygiene manufacturing sector is navigating major regulatory transitions and evolving consumer preferences. Leading international nonwovens association EDANA announced that the twenty fifth edition of its premier OUTLOOK conference will take place from September 22 to 24 2026 at the Hotel Miragem in Cascais Portugal. The landmark event marks twenty-five years since the conference first convened in Monaco in 2001. The conference originally concentrated on infant diapers and feminine hygiene before broadening its scope across adult incontinence, functional wipes, stringent chemical safety norms, and environmental stewardship.

Absorbent hygiene, personal care, and wipes businesses are currently managing intense operational restructuring. Emerging European directives regarding packaging waste, single use items, and extended producer responsibility are requiring manufacturers to rethink long standing material choices while maintaining high product safety and affordability. Murat Dogru, General Manager of EDANA and Chief Executive Officer of the Global Nonwovens Alliance, highlighted the unique role of the convention. Dogru stated, "OUTLOOK has never aimed to be the biggest or the loudest event on the calendar; it has aimed to be the most valuable". He noted that face to face technical interactions and robust regulatory debates enable executives to build resilient strategic roadmaps.

Macroeconomic dynamics and geopolitical vulnerabilities will open the three-day programme. Henry Curr, Economics Editor at The Economist, will present the opening plenary keynote analyzing public debt, artificial intelligence disruption in labour markets, and green protectionism. Industry analysts will then evaluate polyolefin raw material supply chains, volatile pricing movements, and the expanding market presence of prominent Chinese hygiene manufacturers entering Europe. Senior legal specialists will deliberate on international product safety guidelines, examining regulatory convergence and divergence among the European Union, the United States, and China.

Consumer insights and circular economy architectures will take centre stage during the second day. Prominent retail futurist Theresa Schleicher will examine consumer behavioural shifts and retail transformations. Senior leaders from global industry giants including Essity, Kimberly Clark Corporation, and Procter and Gamble will analyse how sustainability and transparency redefine consumer value. Technical sessions will address the operational advantages and drawbacks of plastic free wipes, comparing pulp and viscose spunlace performance under European policies. Furthermore, enterprise leaders will demonstrate closed loop diaper recycling initiatives, establishing that circularity can succeed as an economically viable industrial model.

More than 500 senior decision makers, machine manufacturers, raw material converters, and brand retailers will attend the conference in Portugal. The gathering features a specialized exhibition of 20 material and technology pioneers alongside dedicated private meeting facilities. Companies enrolling four or more delegates together receive a 15% registration reduction. Indian nonwovens manufacturers, technical textile developers, and hygiene converters monitor these evolving regulatory standards closely to optimize synthetic fibre procurement, expand medical textile production, and capture high value export opportunities worldwide.

Murat Dogru, General Manager of EDANA and Chief Executive Officer of the Global Nonwovens Alliance, highlighted the unique role of the convention. Dogru stated, "OUTLOOK has never aimed to be the biggest or the loudest event on the calendar; it has aimed to be the most valuable". He noted that face to face technical interactions and robust regulatory debates enable executives to build resilient strategic roadmaps.