EDANA

What EDANA does

EDANA is the international non-profit association (AISBL/IVZW under Belgian law, registered with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises under number 0411.532.101) serving the nonwovens and related industries. Founded in 1971 and headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, the association represents more than 250 member organizations spanning raw material suppliers, machinery and equipment manufacturers, nonwovens converters, and downstream brand owners across hygiene, filtration, medical, automotive, construction, and geosynthetics end-markets. Primary geographic focus is Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, with global reach extended through the Global Nonwovens Alliance (GNA), a strategic alliance with INDA formed in September 2024.

EDANA does not develop or sell physical or software products; it operates as a member-driven standards, advocacy, and events platform. Core service lines include the triennial INDEX exhibition at Palexpo Geneva — the world's leading nonwovens trade show (620 exhibitors from 44 countries, 12,000+ visitors from over 100 nations at the 2026 edition) — and a portfolio of recurring conferences: OUTLOOK (hygiene), FILTREX (filtration, with regional editions in India), EAGS (geosynthetics), INCONTROL (medical), and IMPERVIUS (bitumen). Adjacent revenue lines include the Nonwovens Standard Procedures (NWSP) developed in coordination with ISO and CEN technical committees, the Quality and Audit Programme (QAP), the Stewardship Programme for Absorbent Hygiene Products, a multi-format professional development catalogue (Nonwovens Fundamentals, Carding, Spunbond & Meltblown, Filtration, Sustainability, AHP), annual European Nonwovens statistics (members-only) plus the Worldwide Outlook 2023-2028 report, and EU regulatory monitoring/advocacy across SUPD, PPWR, and Ecodesign files.

The revenue model is a hybrid of recurring membership dues from 250+ enterprise members and event/training income, with membership pricing not publicly disclosed and varying by company size and service selection. Distribution is direct through enterprise membership enrollment and event participation. Murat Dogru serves as General Manager of EDANA and Chief Executive Officer of the Global Nonwovens Alliance following his appointment in July 2022, with Pierre Wiertz identified as general manager on EDANA's current team page — indicating either a role split or a recent transition. The association reported that nonwovens production in Greater Europe reached 2,919,000 tonnes in 2025, anchoring the size of the underlying industry it serves.

Name

EDANA

Legal name

EDANA AISBL

Website

https://edana.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

EDANA is the international non-profit association serving the nonwovens and related industries. Founded in 1971 and headquartered in Brussels, it represents 250+ member organizations across the value chain through events, standards, training, and regulatory advocacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: EDANA generates revenue through membership dues from 250+ member organizations across the nonwovens supply chain. Members receive exclusive market data, industry intelligence, and tailored services.
2. Events and training: Revenue from organizing conferences, seminars, workshops, and professional development courses including INDEX exhibitions, OUTLOOK conferences, FILTREX filtration events, and e-learning programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

EDANA is the international non-profit association serving the nonwovens and related industries. It provides membership-based services including industry events (INDEX triennial exhibition, OUTLOOK, FILTREX, EAGS, INCONTROL), professional development courses, regulatory advocacy, market intelligence publications, and harmonized Nonwovens Standard Procedures (NWSP) developed with ISO and CEN.

Product overview

EDANA is the international association representing nonwovens and related industries, serving as a global network with a particular focus on Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Founded in 1971, EDANA supports over 250 member organizations with a portfolio of services including industry events (INDEX triennial exhibition, OUTLOOK conference, FILTREX filtration summit), professional development courses (Nonwovens Introduction, Fundamentals e-learning, Carding, Spunbond & Meltblown, Filtration, Sustainability), the Quality and Audit Programme (QAP), the Stewardship Programme for Absorbent Hygiene Products, Nonwovens Standard Procedures, and market intelligence publications. EDANA also co-founded the Global Nonwovens Alliance (GNA) with INDA to coordinate global industry initiatives. The association advocates for free trade, fosters product stewardship, and cultivates innovation and sustainable business growth.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• INDEX: The world's leading nonwovens exhibition, held triennially in Geneva, Switzerland.
• OUTLOOK
• FILTREX
• EAGS
• INCONTROL
• IMPERVIUS
• Global Nonwovens Alliance (GNA)

Products and services

• INDEX Exhibition

Quantifiable outcome

• Nonwovens production in Greater Europe reached 2,919,000 tonnes in 2025, with EDANA tracking and reporting industry performance
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• INDA (International Association of Nonwovens and Related Industries)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024In September 2024, EDANA and INDA announced a Letter of Intent to explore a strategic alliance, creating the Global Nonwovens Alliance (GNA). This alliance aims to leverage combined expertise to address global challenges and drive new opportunities. Both organizations remain independent legal entities while collaborating on global industry topics, coordinating advocacy, sharing market intelligence, and organizing joint events.
• PalexpocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPalexpo is the venue partner for INDEX exhibitions held in Geneva. INDEX is owned by EDANA and organized in collaboration with Palexpo. Palexpo provides the exhibition infrastructure for the world's premier nonwovens gathering.
• BCH (BCH Group)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCH is EDANA's partner for FILTREX India events, a leading filtration industry conference in the Indian subcontinent. Together they organize filtration events that bring together producers, filter makers, and suppliers across India.
• ISO (International Organisation for Standardization)coreOthersEDANA participates in ISO technical committees including TC38/WG9 for nonwovens terminology, TC93/SC13/WG6 for personal protective clothing, TC173/SC3/WG2 for incontinence products, and ISO/TC61/SC14/WG2 for biodegradability standards.
• CEN (European Committee for Standardization)coreOthersEDANA works with CEN on European standards including TC189 for geosynthetics and TC205/WG14 for barrier properties of surgical gowns and drapes. Contributes to development of harmonized European standards for the nonwovens industry.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• INDA (Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry): North American nonwovens trade association and EDANA's GNA partner. Operates with the same membership/events/standards model, runs the IDEA nonwovens exhibition in North America, and serves a directly overlapping member base across raw materials, converters, and brand owners.
• Textile Exchange: Global non-profit driving sustainable fiber and materials adoption across the textiles value chain. Closely comparable to EDANA as a membership-driven association producing standards, market intelligence, and conference programs for materials suppliers and converters.

Broad incumbents

• Plastics Europe: Pan-European trade association representing plastics producers with similar Brussels-based advocacy, member-funded model, and EU regulatory engagement. Relevant as an upstream materials association whose policy positions intersect with EDANA's nonwovens membership.
• ITMF (International Textile Manufacturers Federation): Global federation of textile manufacturers founded in 1904, with comparable membership dues, annual conferences, and industry statistics offerings. Overlaps with EDANA on the textile/fiber side of the nonwovens value chain.
• EURATEX (European Apparel and Textile Confederation): EU-level confederation representing the European textile and apparel industry with a similar Brussels-headquartered advocacy, membership dues, and standards-influence model. Adjacent because several EDANA members also participate in EURATEX platforms.
• CEFIC (European Chemical Industry Council): Brussels-based trade association representing large European chemical producers including several EDANA member companies (BASF, etc.). Similar EU advocacy and sustainability-program structure; CEFIC's policy positions frequently intersect EDANA's on raw-material regulation.

Emerging players

• The Nonwovens Institute (NWI): North Carolina State University-hosted consortium focused on nonwovens research, education, and workforce development. Comparable in mission around nonwovens education and training, but operates as an academic/R&D consortium rather than a member-funded trade association.

Others

• A.I.S.E. (International Association for Soaps, Detergents and Maintenance Products): European trade association for the cleaning and hygiene products industry. Comparable association model and adjacent end-market overlap through EDANA's absorbent hygiene products and wet wipes stewardship programmes.
• ISSA (International Sanitary Supply Association): Global association for the cleaning, sanitation, and hygiene industry with similar member-driven conferences, training, and certification programs. Adjacent because several ISSA members overlap with EDANA's absorbent hygiene and wipes value chain.

Regional players

• EDANA's sister regional association — China Industrial Textiles Association (CNITA): China's national association for industrial textiles including nonwovens, representing a major producing geography where EDANA has only limited footprint. Comparable in role but serves a different regional member base and operates under Chinese policy frameworks.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/edana
• Xx.com/edananonwovens
• Facebookfacebook.com/EDANAnonwovens

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about EDANA