{"id":181741,"date":"2026-09-30T07:32:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-30T05:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/?p=181741"},"modified":"2026-09-24T12:19:23","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T10:19:23","slug":"confitex-technology-wins-index-award-and-hygienix-innovation-award-for-world-first-washable-nonwoven-absorbent-hygiene-products","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/confitex-technology-wins-index-award-and-hygienix-innovation-award-for-world-first-washable-nonwoven-absorbent-hygiene-products\/","title":{"rendered":"Confitex Technology wins INDEX Award and Hygienix Innovation Award for world-first washable nonwoven absorbent hygiene products"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
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\u00a9 Confitex<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Reusable absorbent hygiene manufacturer Confitex Technology has won the industry\u2019s two top innovation awards, validating washable alternatives to single-use period and incontinence pads and liners \u2013 and signalling a more sustainable future for personal hygiene.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Confitex Technology has cracked a challenge the global hygiene industry said couldn\u2019t be done \u2013 creating sanitary pads that look, feel and perform like disposables, but can be washed and reused. Two international awards in six months say they\u2019re onto something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Confitex Technology won the global nonwoven industry\u2019s highest honour, an INDEX Award<\/a>, at the INDEX26 expo in Geneva in May \u2013 for proving that the materials used in single-use absorbent hygiene products (AHPs) can be stabilised so they survive the washing machine and dryer. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s Confitex Technology\u2019s second major international award in six months for the same breakthrough technology \u2013 hot on the heels of winning the 2025 Hygienix Innovation Award<\/a> in the US last November. No other company has ever won both awards, let alone within six months of one another.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u00a9 Confitex<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Every year, billions of single-use personal hygiene products \u2013 things like pads, liners, incontinence guards and bed pads \u2013 are used once and thrown away, making up about ten percent of global landfill. The nonwoven materials they\u2019re made from have never been washable \u2013 until now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Confitex Technology<\/a>\u00a0Founder and CEO Frantisek Riha-Scott<\/strong> says the implications are huge. \u201cWhat Confitex Technology has done is unlock an entirely new product category \u2013 washable, reusable absorbent hygiene products that perform as well as, or better than, disposables, at a price point that works for mainstream consumers and mass-market retailers.\u201d He emphasises that this is not a niche sustainability proposition. \u201cIt\u2019s the beginning of a consumer category shift comparable to the move from single-use plastic bags to reusables.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Why the time is right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Confitex Technology Executive Director Lisa Voyle says washable nonwoven pads and liners are ideally placed to meet growing demand for reusable sanitary products, particularly within the EU, where incoming environmental mandates are driving change. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The French government recently announced subsidies for reusable period products at population scale, and the EU\u2019s incoming Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations will load new costs onto single-use hygiene manufacturers. Investors and retailers are actively looking to futureproof their portfolios with reusable alternatives to plastic-based single-use AHPs, which have been identified as a major source of environmental pollution in the EU\u2019s Single-Use Plastics Directive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The INDEX Award jury \u2013 a panel of global industry experts convened by Brussels-based industry body EDANA<\/strong> \u2013 highlighted the huge market opportunity in their comments about Confitex Technology\u2019s winning innovation: \u201cBy making absorbent nonwovens fully laundry-compatible, the technology enables nonwoven suppliers to enter the rapidly growing reusable market, historically dominated by textile products. At the same time, the product delivers improved absorbency, leak protection and ease of care for users, while supporting sustainability goals through reusability and the use of predominantly natural-based fibres.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Confitex Technology\u2019s Lisa Voyle<\/strong> says the potential environmental impact of transitioning even a fraction of single-use AHPs to Confitex Technology washable nonwoven alternatives is enormous. \u201cReusable products currently make up less than 15 percent of the global AHP market, largely because of historical performance, accessibility and pricing constraints. We are partnering with global retailers and leading FMCG players in personal hygiene to build the category for mainstream adoption.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

She says the shift from single-use plastic bags to reusable ones didn\u2019t happen because consumers decided they suddenly cared more about the environment. It happened because the reusable alternative became more convenient, affordable and normal, and because regulation fast-tracked the change. She believes reusable pads, liners and other hygiene products are following the same arc \u2013 and Confitex Technology is at the cutting edge of that transition.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u00a9 Confitex<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The science that makes single-use reusable <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Nonwoven materials \u2013 the engineered fabrics used in everything from surgical gowns to nappies \u2013 have traditionally been designed to be used once then discarded. The bonded fibres that make them soft and comfortable fall apart in water. Frantisek Riha-Scott and his innovation team at Confitex Technology have spent years creating the revolutionary technology needed to solve the problem. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThe nonwoven materials that are used to make single-use pads, liners, shields, guards and bed pads were previously not thought to be washable,\u201d he<\/strong> says. \u201cNow we have figured out how to stabilise them so they can be\u00a0machine washed, tumble dried and reused over and over again<\/a>, we have the potential to make a huge dent on global waste. Importantly, we can create our reusable sanitary pads cost-effectively at scale without compromising on performance.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Confitex Technology\u2019s award-winning machine-washable and dryer-safe reusable pads are up to 90 percent bio-based and contain none of the petroleum-based superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) that are a staple of disposables. Yet independent laboratory testing confirms that they offer better working absorbency and leakproofing than equivalent single-use products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Confitex Technology story \u2013 hiding in plain sight<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Confitex Technology first attracted international attention in 2015, when its runway show at New Zealand Fashion Week was lauded by international media as the world\u2019s first range of fashion-forward incontinence underwear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, Confitex Technology has flown under the radar of mainstream attention while building the IP and manufacturing infrastructure needed to produce reusable period and incontinence products at scale at its automated facilities in Asia and Europe. Today, Confitex Technology manufactures high-performance textile-based period underwear and incontinence underwear, and nonwoven-based reusable period pads and liners, reusable incontinence pads and liners, reusable incontinence shields and guards, and reusable bed pads, underpads, chair pads, car seat covers, baby changing mats and mattress protectors for some of the world\u2019s biggest private-label retailers, brands and distributors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Confitex Technology\u2019s industry-disruptive innovations are protected by more than 60 granted patents across key global markets. \u201cWe\u2019ve spent years proving that our technology works and building a supply chain to deliver it at scale,\u201d says Confitex Technology Founder and CEO Frantisek Riha-Scott.<\/strong> \u201cThese awards are validation that we\u2019ve got it right. Now we want people to know about it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

About the awards <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Presented only once every three years, the INDEX Awards<\/a> are administered by Brussels-based nonwovens industry body EDANA and widely considered the industry\u2019s highest accolade. Five category winners were announced at the INDEX26 expo in Geneva in May, with Confitex Technology\u2019s washable nonwoven bed pads taking top honours in the Durable Applications category. Other nominees included DuPont, Bostik and fellow New Zealand innovation company Woolchemy.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just one Hygienix Innovation Award<\/a> is presented annually by US-based industry body INDA to honour a breakthrough technology advancing the absorbent hygiene industry. In 2025 Confitex Technology took the honour with its washable nonwoven reusable period pads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winning both awards within a six-month period cements Confitex Technology\u2019s reputation as the global technology leader in reusable absorbent personal hygiene products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the market<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The global absorbent hygiene products (AHPs) market was valued at<\/a> about USD 123.5 billion in 2025, and is growing at a CAGR of 3.9%, partly driven by demand for adult incontinence products as global populations age. Reusable products currently make up<\/a> less than 15 percent or USD 20 billion of that, but are growing at a much higher CAGR of 6.89%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AHPs are estimated to contribute billions of units of non-biodegradable landfill waste annually, with almost all single-use period pads and liners, incontinence pads and shields, adult incontinence briefs and nappies incorporating petroleum-derived SAPs, plastic-based nonwoven layers and synthetic adhesives that resist decomposition for centuries. Regulatory pressure, consumer environmental consciousness and growing ESG reporting requirements on hygiene manufacturers are creating strong demand for sustainable product innovation across all AHP categories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About Confitex Technology<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Confitex Technology is a New Zealand-based manufacturer of washable absorbent hygiene products including reusable period pads and liners, incontinence products, maternity products, pet products, baby products and bed pads. The company manufactures on behalf of private-label retailers, brands and distributors worldwide from automated facilities in Asia and Europe. Confitex Technology\u2019s innovations are protected by more than 60 granted patents and its manufacturing operations hold ISO 13485, CE Mark and FDA MDSAP certifications. confitextechnology.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

About washable nonwovens<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Confitex Technology\u2019s award-winning washable nonwoven absorbent hygiene products (AHPs) herald the creation of an entirely new product category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • Mimics the familiar look and feel of single-use pads<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Independently lab-tested absorbency matches or exceeds single-use equivalents<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Lasts at least 30 washes without deterioration in performance<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Machine washable and tumble dryer-safe<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Soft and comfortable<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Fully customisable absorbency, shape, size, materials and print<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Organic, recycled and biodegradable materials available<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Patented leakproof frame technology locks in leaks<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Verified free of PFAS, SAPs and disperse dyes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
    <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Reusable absorbent hygiene manufacturer Confitex Technology has won the industry\u2019s two top innovation awards, validating washable alternatives to single-use period and incontinence pads and liners \u2013 and signalling a more sustainable future for personal hygiene. Confitex Technology has cracked a challenge the global hygiene industry said couldn\u2019t be done \u2013 creating sanitary pads that look, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":59,"featured_media":181760,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","nova_meta_subtitle":"Confitex Technology has become the first company to win both of the nonwovens industry\u2019s top honors, the INDEX Award and the Hygienix Innovation Award","footnotes":""},"categories":[5572],"tags":[10416,21640,17034,5528],"supplier":[28632,11257,5585,9149,9424],"class_list":["post-181741","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bio-based","tag-circulareconomy","tag-hygieneproducts","tag-nonwovens","tag-sustainability","supplier-confitex-technology","supplier-edana","supplier-european-union","supplier-french-government","supplier-inda"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/181741","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/59"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=181741"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/181741\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":181775,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/181741\/revisions\/181775"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/181760"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=181741"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=181741"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=181741"},{"taxonomy":"supplier","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/supplier?post=181741"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}