Seizing Opportunities for Change

World of Wipes® Focuses on Turning Innovation into Action

The best and brightest of the wipes niche are invited to join at the World of Wipes ® International Conference (WOW), in Atlanta, July 17-20, 2023. When looking for sustainability solutions for filtration and textiles, there is much to learn from producers of wipes, still in high consumer demand and still in the hotseat of sustainability. The event presented by INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, spotlights current insights and future trends driving this surging $11 billion industry forward. It attracts more than 400 professionals and a host of tabletop exhibiting companies.

“I’m very excited to see the program evolve to meet the changing dynamics of the industry,” says WOW Committee Chair Jonathan M. Layer, Director of Commercial Business Development and Marketing, Fibertex Nonwovens. “I’m especially confident that adding new sessions, such as the CEO Panel and Energy Inputs, will provide unique added value and perspective.”

Transformative Thinking

This year, new to WOW are pre-conference webinars, providing a new place to connect, converse and to gain content. Details can be found at www.worldofwipes. org/preconference-webinars.html.

Another new aspect are the WOW LIGHTNING TALKS – “supersized elevator speeches” from industry suppliers. This is an opportunity for exhibitors to present their latest innovations just ahead of the popular networking reception.

WOW’s featured WIPES ACADEMY provides an educational deep dive into operational excellence, presented by Instructor Heidi Beatty, CEO, and Paul Davies, Ph.D., Senior Consultant, Crown Abbey, LLC. It is directed at raw material and packaging suppliers, brand and private label wipe converters, retail buyers, research and development professionals, marketing and product managers, and rising entrepreneurs.

Shining a light on excellence in innovation, the World of Wipes Innovation Award® recognizes companies from within the value chain that utilize nonwoven fabric/technology in a way that expands the usage of nonwovens, in categories such as raw materials, roll goods, converting, packaging, active ingredients, binders, additives and end-use products.

Market intelligence is what brings most to WOW. Over 30 speakers are expected to share their expertise and insight over the two and a half days of the main event. Attendees are encouraged to lean in and learn from their peers who are moving the needle towards a sustainable future and supporting cross-industry collaboration.

Sustaining Programming

The new CEO Panel promises a look at priorities and predictions, moderated by Chris Astley, Consultant. Discussion topics will touch on inflationary impacts, surging wages, re-shoring, as well as domestic and international drivers to supply/ demand balance. The panelists are Steve Gallo, CEO, Diamond Wipes; Markus Müller, Sales Director, Reifenhäuser Reicofil GmbH & Co. KG; R.J. Rudolph, Group www.worldofwipes.org

Director - CMS-RT, Rockline Industries; Jodi Russell, Vice President R&D, Cleaning Innovation, Packaging & Sustainability, The Clorox Company; and, Robert Weilminster, EVP & General Manager, US & Canada – Health, Hygiene, and Specialties Division, Berry Global.

A series of power-sessions weave together one urgent industry issue – “Plastic Policy: Closing the ‘Intentional’ Gap.” Moderated by Olivia Reiber, Key Accounts Manager, Wipes & Specialties, Berry Global, she leads the analytical presentations from Matt Seaholm, CEO, Plastics Industry Association, Murat Dogru, General Manager, EDANA, and a representative from Kimberly-Clark Corp.

“The Nonwoven Wipes Supply Chain Response to ‘Plastics Free’” with presenter Phil Mango, President, Philip Mango Consulting, considers the European Union’s Single Use Plastics Directive and its explicit inclusion of disposable wipes in 2019, which calls for an accelerated response from the industry.

Rounding out the first day are three discussions on sustainability manufacturing practices, reducing CO2 footprint while targeting CO2 neutrality by 2035 and utilizing technologies for sustainable products.

Consumer-centric talks start day two, with a “Give the People What They Want!” theme. Moderated by Jonathan Layer, Director of Commercial Business Development and Marketing, Fibertex Nonwovens, presenters include Suzanne Shelton, President & CEO, Shelton Group; Sam Nebel, Co-Founder, Goodwipes; and Paul Salama, Ph.D., CTO & Head of Innovation, Sharon Laboratories.

The final half-day on day three explores the flushability factor with five industry experts presenting aspects of the issue from fiber innovation, legislative issues, and standards development.