ELEVATING STANDARDS: A Deep Dive into EDANA’s Quality and Audit Programme

By Marines Lagemaat, Scientific & Technical Affairs Director, EDANA

Discussion of the Origin and Impact of the Quality and Audit Programme (QAP) and How It’s Reshaping Supply Chains in the Hygiene Products Sector.

In early 2018, EDANA and its member companies identified a critical challenge within the hygiene products supply chain: a lack of standardized quality audits. Converters routinely conducted their own audits, often using multiple, slightly different quality standards. This situation created a significant burden for suppliers, who were forced to undergo multiple, overlapping assessments that were fundamentally similar. The solution, which was both straightforward and transformative, was the creation of a voluntary, harmonized standard. This new initiative, the Quality and Audit Programme (QAP), was designed to verify and enforce consistent quality requirements across the industry.

QAP consists of a two-part, voluntary initiative structured to enhance quality and efficiency.

The first part establishes a baseline quality standard, outlining the essential requirements for a supplier’s quality management system in the hygiene industry. This framework was developed through a collaborative effort between EDANA and a diverse group of its members.

The second part is a structured audit system designed to improve efficiency and transparency. Audits are performed by accredited, third-party auditors – currently in partnership with the British Standards Institution (BSI). It ensures a consistent and dependable evaluation process, eliminating the need for suppliers to endure multiple, redundant audits. Furthermore, audit findings are kept confidential and are the property of the supplier. The supplier can then securely share these results with selected converters through a cloud-based platform, fostering greater trust and collaboration across the supply chain. By participating, suppliers demonstrate a strong commitment to quality, while converters gain access to a reliable, consistent assessment of their partners.

In the hygiene industry, consistently proving quality is paramount. The EDANA QAP provides a clear and effective solution. It sets a harmonized benchmark tailored to the sector’s unique requirements, and qualified, independent auditors rigorously evaluate suppliers. This provides external stakeholders with confidence in product quality, while internal teams benefit from a recognized standard that streamlines their processes. Suppliers gain efficiency by following a single, consistent audit protocol, rather than navigating multiple, specialized requirements. Converters, in turn, benefit from a structured, third-party audit that provides a reliable assessment of their partners.

The program’s primary goal is to ensure a consistent evaluation across the supply chain. However, continuous refinements to auditor training and standard implementation are ongoing to enhance alignment and effectiveness further. Notably, the QAP provides companies with the flexibility to exceed EDANA’s standards, thereby encouraging ongoing improvement. It is a tool for the industry, not a mandatory requirement, and suppliers and converters are free to apply additional requirements to their own quality systems.

Partnering with BSI

Since its launch in 2022, the program has grown steadily, incorporating key learnings to enhance auditor harmonization, standardize content, and expand its global reach. Efforts are also underway to refine the number of available auditors, further strengthening consistency across evaluations.

To develop the QAP, EDANA sought a well-established leader in standardization and auditing. BSI, with its robust reputation for drafting standards, was the ideal partner. BSI’s auditors, who conduct the assessments, undergo rigorous onboarding and continuous professional development. BSI’s competency code system is specifically designed to ensure auditors have the necessary expertise for specific industries, products, and specialized skills. As the program progresses, ongoing efforts are focused on further harmonizing auditor training and oversight to enhance consistency across different regions. In the future, the program may open to other qualified auditing organizations with the right capabilities.

In addition, the program includes a training course for auditees, or suppliers. This is not a general quality management course, but rather a targeted training focused on the “EDANA harmonized quality assurance standard” for the hygiene industry. The course explores the key requirements and benefits of implementing the EDANA scheme, enabling suppliers to manage conformity and drive continual improvement within their organization. By achieving conformity with this internationally recognized standard –designed specifically for the absorbent hygiene products (AHP) and personal care wipes industry – companies can attract and retain customers more effectively.

Program Participation

Suppliers and converters both play a vital role in the EDANA QAP, demonstrating their commitment to quality and meeting stringent customer requirements. Suppliers can showcase their dedication to quality by participating in the QAP, while converters can partner with suppliers to ensure product quality.

To register, interested parties can submit a form via the EDANA website to connect with BSI, which expertly manages the audit schedule. BSI arranges audits with suppliers and notifies linked converters, enabling them to provide valuable input.

BSI carefully manages access to audit reports and non-conformities (NCs), with suppliers having full access to their data and the ability to decide which converters can view their reports. This ensures a secure and controlled flow of information.

QAP audits are efficient and focused, lasting three days regardless of site size, with an emphasis on evaluating the quality system rather than physical scale. Following each audit, the auditor provides a preliminary verbal report, followed by a formal written report on the BSI Connect Portal, which includes NCs, a rating sheet, and a summary statement.

Transparency and confidentiality are prioritized. Audited suppliers own their findings and can selectively share them with chosen converters. Audit reports maintain confidentiality, omitting details that could reveal specific supplier-converter relationships.

In February 2024, the EDANA QAP Expert Panel and BSI revised the rating system to address discrepancies between the overall scores and the perceived audit outcome. While the QAP has no minimum score, the rating system provides valuable feedback. The new system, with a 0-100% rating, better reflects audit results. EDANA oversees the QAP through the QAP Expert Panel, ensuring smooth operation and relevant deliverables, such as reports and corrective actions for the industry.

The Path Forward

While the QAP has made significant progress, continued improvements are necessary, particularly in ensuring more consistent auditor evaluations, refining technical oversight, and expanding the program’s reach. As the program continues to evolve, potential future refinements may align with BSI’s upcoming commitments, such as finalizing auditor coverage in key regions and appointing a technical leader for audit oversight.

While regulatory pressures have played a role in driving quality standards across industries, the EDANA QAP stands as a testament to the nonwovens industry’s proactive and voluntary commitment to product safety and consumer trust.

This program, developed in parallel with the EDANA Stewardship Programme for absorbent hygiene products, demonstrates a collective dedication to responsible product stewardship and continuous improvement. While primarily designed for the AHP and wipes sectors, it offers potential applications for sub-suppliers and other areas within the hygiene industry.

The QAP’s benefits extend beyond regulatory compliance, building confidence among stakeholders and consumers while driving advancements in product safety and efficiency. By harmonizing standards and streamlining auditing processes, the QAP unlocks valuable efficiencies and promotes a collaborative approach to quality assurance.

Despite the significant progress, the journey toward achieving the QAP’s full potential is ongoing. EDANA recognizes the challenges ahead, including expanding the program’s global reach, overcoming language barriers, and ensuring a sufficient pool of qualified auditors.

The commitment to the QAP remains steadfast, celebrating the achievements made while acknowledging the work that lies ahead. The QAP stands as a testament to the industry’s unwavering dedication to product stewardship, consumer safety, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.

For further details contact: marines.lagemaat@edana.org or Ralf Veltram ralf.veltram@bsigroup.com

Marines Lagemaat is the Scientific and Regulatory Affairs Director for EDANA, the international Association representing the nonwoven and related industries, a position he has held since September 2014.

Based in Brussels, Marines is responsible for managing internal and external activities related to scientific and technical affairs, supporting the nonwoven industry in all its applications, including personal and household hygiene, medical protection, filtration, automotive, and construction. In this role, he’s involved in the development and implementation of standards and their related test methods that serve as a reference for the industry and for fair trade. Marines also manages various training and education programmes designed to provide technical and application-oriented support.

Prior to EDANA, Marines spent 18 years in the FMCG industry, primarily dealing with personal and homecare products for brand owners. He has wide experience in quality assurance, product development, operations management and packaging technology.