Learn about market growth and opportunities, sustainability, innovations, technological developments and regulatory activities for the diaper, wet wipe, femcare and incontinence product categories.
Exchange through multiple networking opportunities with all players from middle-to senior management in the Hygiene Products supply chain.
For the very first time, OUTLOOK™ this year will welcome an exhibition! Spaces are limited, so don't hesitate to secure your spot!
Special thanks to our sponsor:
"OUTLOOK has been fantastic! Meeting the industry, finding out about some of the key themes about sustainability and the development of new products going forward, but also about legislation and how that can affect future products as well. But for us, one of the major things is the networking opportunity. Meeting all people from all walks of the global supply chain.”
Ross Ward, New Business Development Manager at Nonwovens Innovation & Research Institute - 2023
“OUTLOOK is always a good event, even this year it was impressive the amount of people that attended. My personal expectation when I come here is to see good people and I know that will happen. Also, the quality of the conference was impressive”
Alessandro D’Andrea, Strategic Marketing & Business Development Manager at Curt G Joa - 2023
“OUTLOOK™ is a very exceptional conference because it leaves enough room for networking. A lot of people come here specifically to talk to people, as it’s a good mix between excellent panel discussions and networking opportunities. There are not many conferences out there that have that opportunity. I learned a lot and spoke to people that I only knew through email"
Dr Taryn Kirsch, Senior Toxicologist at Procter & Gamble - 2022
Confirmed speakers:
Stakeholders are invited to present their experiences and perspectives on working with new materials and using them in absorbent hygiene products to improve the sustainability profile of the end products. Presenters will be selected from across the entire value chain (from raw material producer to converter) to provide a holistic overview of the topic, after which speakers will debate the merits of using new materials in an interactive panel discussion.
Topics of discussion:
Confirmed speakers:
This high-level session will focus on key regulatory and industry-specific concerns related to product safety and environmental sustainability, such as:
Speakers will discuss how the supply chain is addressing current challenges and opportunities, how collaboration within the industry can improve operational efficiency, adapt more effectively to regulatory changes, and enhance overall market performance.
Insightful and forward-looking session that delves into the rapidly growing market of washable absorbent underwear and adult inco products. As societal demographics shift and sustainability becomes an increasingly crucial factor, these products are poised for significant market expansion. This session will provide a comprehensive overview of the current market landscape, emerging trends, and innovative product developments driving growth in these categories. Experts will share their insights on market dynamics, consumer behaviour and technological advancements.
The session seeks to review and bridge the popularity of wipes amongst consumers, public services and business (the segment has been growing rapidly over the past 20 years) on the one hand and the increasingly critical views from (the same?) consumers, legislators, NGOs, some water companies, the media and others on this product category.
How to reconcile the needs of consumers and customers for the functionality of wet wipes with the need for sustainability, environmental protection and a water and sewerage system that works smoothly and efficiently?
In 1995, I co-founded Living Tomorrow, "the House of the Future," a pioneering platform where corporations, governments, and academic institutions converge to showcase future possibilities to millions. This unique initiative has led to the creation of Living Tomorrow Vision 2030, a €30 million innovation campus that opened early this year in Brussels. Featuring demo zones, collaborative spaces, and a futuristic hotel, it's a landmark project backed by over 70 organizations, aimed at exploring smart homes, mobility, industry, cities, infrastructure, and health.
Additionally, in 2007, I established TomorrowLab within Living Tomorrow to guide organizations towards embracing the future through strategic innovation and scenario planning. Together, these initiatives employ 75 individuals dedicated to forging a forward-looking world.
Beyond my entrepreneurial ventures, I serve as a Professor of Future Foresight and Scenario Planning at the University of Ghent, where I impart the principles of anticipating and shaping future trends to the next generation of leaders. This role complements my work at Living Tomorrow and TomorrowLab, bridging academic insight with practical innovation.
Ozlem is a highly experienced professional with over 20 years of experience in Quality and Regulatory in Textiles, Medical Devices, and FMCG sectors. She holds a Chemical Engineering degree from Osmangazi University, Türkiye and a master's degree in Chemical Technologies.
Ozlem joined Kimberly-Clark in 2014 and currently serves as a Senior Regulatory Affairs Product Manager and Subject Matter Expert for medical devices. She played a crucial role in the company's transition to the EU Medical Device Regulation and has previously worked for several medical device companies.
Ozlem is also a board member of KTSD (Turkish Cosmetics and Cleaning Products Association), where she provides her expertise on medical devices and general product safety regulations.
Bernhard Awolin is a seasoned expert with a diploma in physics, specializing in medical measurement technology and physiology from the University of Kiel. His professional journey commenced in product development for feminine hygiene products at Johnson & Johnson in Germany and Canada.
Expanding his expertise, he delved into diaper development and honed his skills in key account management within the private label business at Intigena GmbH & Co. KG. At imeco GmbH & Co. KG, Bernhard served as R&D and sales director for 3 years before assuming the role of CEO for 7 years. Notably, he significantly expanded the business for wet wipes, particularly in the realm of disinfecting wipes.
Since 2021, Bernhard has been an independent consultant for the nonwoven industry and a tutor at EDANA for Absorbent Hygiene Products. His primary focus lies in assisting companies in developing and marketing high-performing and sustainable new products made out of nonwovens.
Per is a Consultant at Euromonitor International with a focus on the Tissue and hygiene industry. Based in London, he has more than 5 years of experience in the industry. He advises clients on key trends, market movements and new developments, delivering an understanding of the product categories as well as country specific insights.
Per also participates in conferences and writes tissue related articles in various trade press as well as develop content that is published by Euromonitor International.
Thomas Broch graduated with a Master in Chemistry, and a Minor in History both from the University of Aarhus, Denmark. Starting in R&D he has worked at Fibertex Personal Care in various positions since 2001, and currently holds the position of Sustainability & Regulatory Affairs Director.
He is listed as inventor on 15 patent families and has made a number of presentations at international conferences over the last 20 years (including at previous OUTLOOK's) on diverse technical, regulatory and sustainability topics.
Sarah is Clore Professor of Gerontology at the University of Oxford, a Fellow at University College, and Director of the Oxford Institute of Population Ageing. Sarah was appointed a CBE for services to Demography in 2018.
Sarah served on the Prime Minister’s Council for Science and Technology, which advises the UK Prime Minister on the scientific evidence for strategic policies and frameworks and was the Director of the Royal Institution of Great Britain. Currently Sarah is Vice-Chair of the UK Research Integrity Office, a Trustee of Health Data Research UK, a Governor of the Pensions Policy Institute, and a Patron of CHASE Africa.
Sarah chaired the UK government’s Foresight Review on Ageing Populations (2014-2016) and the Evaluation Board of the UN Active Ageing Index, and advised on the Industrial Strategy Healthy Ageing Challenge. She served on the Advisory Board, English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA).
Sarah is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and of the Royal Anthropology Institute and holds a Royal Society for Public Health Arts and Health Research Award for her research.
Sarah has a background in anthropology and population studies and her early research focused on migration and the social implications of demographic change, using a mixed methods approach. Her current research on demographic change addresses two broad questions: the implications of falling fertility and increasing life expectancy, and the interaction of population change with the environment.
In terms of falling fertility and increasing life expectancy, Harper’s major research achievements have concerned the role of life course factors in healthy ageing, by exploring how social and economic drivers influence health and well-being, with a particular emphasis on life transitions. In the area of well being and later life she has explored the impact of work-life balance on health in later life within Europe.
A second research contribution is the analysis of eldercare in China, considering the impact of the changing dynamics of the family on physical and mental health of older adults in both rural and urban areas. This has revealed how cultural perceptions of gendered care impact upon subjective well-being, while morbidity and mortality rates are lower under modern gender dynamics.
A third strong research area has been on fertility. Combining anthropological and quantitative analysis of the DHS, her research has revealed that Ideal Family Size is remaining high in sub-Sahara despite education of girls.
Sarah’s work on population and environment has recently addressed population change in Vietnam and Myanmar and the impact of this on agricultural production, population growth and food security, and the connection between environmental awareness and fertility. Sarah served on the Scientific Advisory Board of Natural England, on the Royal Society’s Working Group on Population and Environment, and the Wellcome Trust Health Consequences of Population Change Panel. She was a member of the Royal Society Working Group on People and the Planet, and on Biodiversity.
Her recent books include How Population Change will Transform our World (Oxford University Press 2016/2019), Ageing Societies: risk and resilience (Routledge forthcoming), and Global Ageing (Elgar forthcoming). Sarah is working on her next book for Cambridge University Press on Population and Environmental Change. Sarah is the founding editor of the Journal of Population Ageing and editor of the Handbook of Ageing and Public Policy (Elgar 2014/revised 2024).
Following her doctoral work in population studies at Oxford, Sarah trained with the BBC as a News and Current Affairs Reporter and Producer, working in both TV and Radio for BBC News and BBC News Night. After leaving the BBC she took up a lectureship at the University of London, and subsequently moved to the USA where she was professor in public policy at the University of Chicago. On returning to the University of Oxford she founded the Oxford Institute of Population Ageing with funding from the US National Institutes of Health.
Throughout her academic career, Sarah has combined academic research with external professional commitments. She worked with the Office of the Prime Minister and Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) on the Government Ageing Strategy, with the Department of Children, Schools and Families, developing their Horizons Programme, and with the UK Government Office of Science for their Demography Review. and on the World Economic Forum, Global Agenda Council on Ageing Societies. She was Chair of HSBC’s Global Ageing Forum and is a former Trustee of Third Age Employment Network.
Internationally, Sarah represented the UK on the European Science Academies’ Demographic Change in Europe Panel, served on the Council of Advisors of Population Europe, as a member of the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) of the Vienna Institute of Demography at the Austrian Academy of Sciences and on the Advisory Board of the World Demographic Association. Sarah represents Oxford on the Ageing and Demography Collaboration of the International Association of Research Universities.
Sarah was the first holder of the International Chair in Old Age Financial Security, at the University of Malaya (2009-10) and was an Advisor to the Malaysian Government, Advisor to the Singapore Government’s Third Age Council and as a Specialist Advisor for the European Commission Demographic Change Programme. She served as an International Advisor to the Swedish Academy, European Advisor to the MacArthur Foundation, Advisor on Ageing Issues to the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Lisbon and was Global Advisor on Ageing Issues for HSBC plc.
Alongside keynotes at academic conferences, Sarah has spoken at World Economic Forums in China and Australia, presented various TED and TED linked talks and presented her work at Nobel Prize Dialogues in Stockholm, Seoul, Tokyo and Madrid. Sarah was invited to give the Oxford-London Lecture on the subject of population change.
Alexander Heusch is Regulatory Affairs Manager at EDANA, having joined the organization in May 2023. He previously worked in the EU Cane Sugar Industry in the Indian Ocean, where he played a pivotal role in defending the industry's interests against imports from third countries.
Alexander holds a diverse educational background in EU law and Political Science, including a Master of Laws from the European Law School at the University of Maastricht, a Master's in Advanced European and International Studies from CIFE, and a Master of EU Law from Université Panthéon-Assas Paris II.
His main mission is to support the Members of EDANA in their management of regulatory affairs, by monitoring and alerting on the EU, domestic, and international regulatory environments, providing assistance in interpreting regulatory provisions likely to impact the nonwovens and related industries, and facilitating industry-wide actions at the EU level
With a truly international profile, Alexander is fluent in French, English, and Italian.
Dr Asta Partanen is a senior expert at nova-Institute, working in the Technology and Markets and Policy and Economics departments. She has a PhD in Forestry and Wood Science and is a recognised expert in the field of renewable fibres such as cellulose based and natural fibres and bio-based polymer fibres and their markets. The political framework and issues related to social acceptance, green premiums, standardisation and certification of sustainable products are her daily business.
She is currently leading several consulting projects focusing on renewable materials. As such, she conducts EU projects on promising biocircular use cases of renewable materials, leads customer research and investigates certification options for them. Her extensive market experience has led to excellent networks in innovative industries, enabling her to build bridges between application areas and engage innovators.
She is the content manager for the Cellulose Fibres Conference and finds the best innovations year after year supporting several Innovation Awards at nova-Institute. The Cellulose Fibres Conference 2025 will be organised by the nova Institute for the sixth time next March, for the first time including biosynthetics.
Jacques Prigneaux leads EDANA’s Market Analysis and Economic Affairs department and provides industry analyses to the nonwovens community.
He graduated with a Masters degree in Economics from the Catholic University of Louvain (Belgium) and he focused his researches in industrial economics and econometrics. He has been with EDANA since April 2007. Before that he worked for CIRFS, the association of European man-made fibres’ producers for ten years.
He is responsible for managing research, market analysis and statistical activities at EDANA.
Marta Roche Díez is the Sustainability and Technical Affairs Manager for EDANA, the leading global association advocating the benefits of nonwovens for society, a position she has held since January 2022.
Based in Brussels, Marta manages EDANA’s sustainability and technical affairs work across all nonwovens applications. This includes updating the Nonwovens Standard Procedures, as well as supporting the development of international standards – both ISO and CEN – including technical work as necessary. This work is key, as standards provide a reference point for the nonwovens industry and help to ensure fair trade.
Prior to joining EDANA, Marta spent four years in the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry, primarily dealing with homecare products. There she gained experience in product development, consumer understanding, and packaging technology. Having originally studied environmental science, Marta is currently finalizing a second master’s degree in Sustainability and CSR.
Gustaf Tobieson is Application Marketing Manager (AMM) - Consumer Products at Borealis and responsible for extrusion coating and fibres and meltblown.
Bart Waterschoot is the Director of Sustainability & Product Stewardship at Ontex, leading global initiatives to enhance sustainability and transparency across the product lifecycle. With over 25 years of experience in quality assurance and sustainability, he ensures regulatory compliance, manages environmental systems, and promotes supplier transparency. His role involves advocating for sustainable policies, conducting scientific risk assessments, and maintaining global regulatory adherence.
Bart holds a Master’s degree in engineering/science and is well-versed in management systems. He integrates sustainability into Ontex’s operations, reinforcing the company’s commitment to responsible stewardship. Bart’s extensive expertise in these areas positions him as a key figure in driving the company's sustainability agenda, ensuring that Ontex remains at the forefront of industry standards and practices globally.
His leadership and scientific approach have been instrumental in advancing Ontex’s sustainability objectives, making him a pivotal player in the organization's ongoing commitment to environmental and regulatory excellence.
You can book your room at the conference hotel. Preferential rates have been negotiated for our group. Note, that you need to book at least 2 nights. Book your hotel here
Delegate fees: Fees include entrance to the conference, lunches, coffee breaks, 2 evening receptions, and conference presentations in digital format. Fees exclude 22% ItalianVAT.
Networking fees: A company is entitled to buy one networking pass for each registered delegate. This pass gives access to the first keynote and first speaker on DAY 1, lunches, coffee breaks and 2 evening cocktails. Fee excludes 22% Italian VAT.
| Members | Non-members |
| Delegate fees: 1.750€ | Delegate fees: 2.250€ |
| Networking pass: 1.100€ | Networking pass: 1.600€ |
Discount: Benefit from a 15% discount by registering a minimum of 4 delegates. Registrations must be done simultaneously to benefit from the discount. Discounts do not apply to networking passes.
This year, OUTLOOK™ will feature an exhibition. Only 20 booths available!
Our exhibition offers a unique opportunity for you to showcase your brand's expertise and connect directly with delegates. Book your booth before it's too late.
The fees include a space with a desk, chair and backdrop which can be personalised and an electrical connection, as well as 1 delegate pass per company. Fees exclude the 21% Belgian VAT.
| Members | Non-members |
| 3.500€ | 4.300€ |
Discover the booths and the exhibition area:
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Our high-visibility sponsorships are powerful, cost-effective solutions for increasing your presence and standing out from the crowd.
Have a look at our sponsorship brochure and become an official sponsor.
EDANA has prebooked 17 meeting facilities, divided into 3 categories according to their level of quality (Standard, Premium, Deluxe).
Companies that have registered at least one delegate can book a meeting room to organise business meetings in a confidential space during the conference. Check out our brochure and book your meeting room
OUTLOOK™ 2023 took place on 18-20 October in Portugal, gathering almost 450 delegates from 193 companies and 32 countries across the nonwovens hygiene and personal care products value chain. Split into six sessions, the agenda featured 31 high-level speakers presenting on a broad range of topics including a market overview, sustainability, AI, start-ups, the next generation, diversity equity and inclusion, as well as consumer expectations.
For Ross Ward it was his first OUTLOOK “and it's been fantastic! Meeting the industry, finding out about some of the key themes about sustainability and the development of new products going forward, but also about legislation and how that can affect future products as well. But for us, one of the major things is the networking opportunity. [Meeting] all people from all walks of the global supply chain.”
Returning visitors also shared positive feedback on why they keep coming back. “OUTLOOK is always a good event, even this year it was impressive the amount of people [that attended]. My personal expectation when I come here is to see good people and [I know that] that will happen. Also, the quality of the conference was impressive,” shared Alessandro D’Andrea.
While, Rahui Bansai noted: “I'm a regular visitor. It has been a phenomenal show. We are fibre suppliers to the hygiene and the wipes industry, and this is the one platform where we can find all our customers and the value chain [in one place]. We meet our customers often, because we deal with them directly, but [being able to] meet the value chain, machinery suppliers, and the entire industry at one platform, I think only EDANA can do it, and that's why we love this show.”
To receive all pictures, please contact delphine.rens@edana.org
