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Two international industry associations representing companies involved in the global manufacture of hygiene products containing nonwoven textiles have combined forces to launch guidelines for manufacturers to use in determining if their products are suitable for disposal via the wastewater system.
The Guidance Document on the Flushability of Nonwoven Consumer Products, published by INDA and EDANA, represents the first ever initiative to provide companies with a comprehensive framework for testing products to determine their flushability.
It reflects the industry’s commitment to responsible use and disposal of the products it makes and distributes, said EDANA.
“To date there has been no consistent approach for assessing what constitutes a ‘flushable’ nonwoven consumer product. This lack of consistency can lead to confusion and a higher risk that products which were never intended to be flushable are disposed via the wastewater system,” said Pierre Wiertz, General Manager of EDANA.
The document is the culmination of a three year programme of work sponsored by the two industry associations.
Pilot testing of the approach took place over a 12-month period, so that the test methods could be trialled in independent laboratories and could be further refined.
A peer review was also undertaken to ensure that the Guidance Document reflected the best available knowledge and thinking on the subject. The peer review panel endorsed the document as a sound first step.
