News & Events – LIFE+CELSTAB

May 23-24, 2018 LIFE+ CELSTAB at EDANA International Nonwovens Symposium – May 23-24, 2018 – Rome (Italy)

EDANA International Nonwovens Symposium is attracting top professionals from across the nonwoven and related industries, to learn about the latest industry developments and network with the peers. The symposium focused on the following topics; • Nonwoven industry trends • Product, process & material innovation • Hygiene and personal care wipes markets • Industrial, technical & automotive nonwovens • Sustainability Presentation Title: Environmental sustainability analysis of material reduction and supply chain optimization of menstrual pads (EU Life+ project Celstab LIFE13 ENV/DE/001131) LIFE+ CELSTAB presented the Life Cycle Assessment results for the various menstrual pad design options and analysis of the main drivers for the calculated benefits for reduced resource use and emissions. LCA shows that production of the raw materials for menstrual pads is the single most important driver for all relevant environmental indicators. The LIFE program is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action and a project was started in 2014 to reduce material use in menstrual pads. Objectives were to achieve reductions on material use and waste prevention (both in the range of 15-25%) and greenhouse gas emissions (10-15%). Current design options achieve the material use and waste prevention reduction goals and exceed the goal on greenhouse gas emissions. This is achieved by redesigning the pad’s raw materials and optimizing the supply chain, while not compromising on performance and consumer acceptance.

March 7, 2018 LIFE+ CELSTAB presented at the EU Commissions Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises “EASME” visit of P&G Brussels Innovation Center – March 7, 2018 - Brussels

“BIC hosted a large and high level delegation (20 people) of the EU commission’s Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME) visited P&G’s Brussels Innovation Center. EASME is the EU’s financial instrument supporting various EU projects and some of P&G’s innovation projects are funded directly or indirectly through these programs. Focus was on sustainability and Eco-innovation. The 5 hours visit was worked in close collaboration with R&D and aimed at further building P&G’s sustainability equity towards EU policy officers as well as deepen our relationships. We showcased a few EU funded projects in the context of sustainability (diaper recycling, femcare innovations and packaging developments), and renewed our messages on SUD safety and safety understanding.” The feedback we received on P&G’s sustainability programs, ecolabels and waste at the end of the visit could not be bigger and a clear indicating of success. We also set the grounds for further EU funding on innovation in the (near) future as well as help on EU policy developments.

September 20-22, 2016 LIFE+ CELSTAB at SETAC (Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry) Europe 22nd LCA Case Study Symposium – Sept. 20-22, 2016 – Montpellier (France)

Overarching theme of the symposium: ‘Life Cycle Innovation for the transition to a sustainable society’ LIFE+ CELSTAB participated one of the most important international meeting of the sustainability organized by ‘Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry’, which took place this year in Montpellier, France where scientists of every area had a chance to meet and discuss their research. Presentation Title: Environmental sustainability benefits from the use of a new multilayer structure in menstrual pads. LIFE+ CELSTAB presented the initial LCA results for the various menstrual pad design options and analysis of the main drivers for the calculated benefits for reduced resource use and emissions. Menstrual pads are single use products. While creating improved hygiene and comfort, they use resources and generate consumer waste. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies on this product suggest that the sourcing and production of the raw materials used in a menstrual pad may account for up to 80% of the most relevant indicators. Therefore, in order to reduce environmental impacts, producers of menstrual pads need to collaborate with their suppliers to optimize resource uses along the supply chain. An EU Life+ CELSTAB project has been started to ‘eco-design’ a new multilayer material concept and technology with the objective to meet consumer product, quality and industrial-scale production process requirements (absorbency, dryness, comfort, etc.) while saving 15-25% on materials and waste prevention and targeting a 10-15% saving on global warming.