When did EDANA first become aware that Covid-19 might become a problem and what was your initial response?
Being understandably ‘close to the coalface’ on this topic we were engaged very early on, actively tracking supply chain issues and the challenges for authorities since March. EDANA was drawn into an instantaneous role as an advisor and facilitator to a wide range of public and private-sector players. Early in the pandemic, government and European Union officials who previously knew little about facemasks and nothing at all about the nonwoven fabrics that go into them needed to get up to speed overnight.
EDANA was proactive in flagging the issues, writing to the European Commission, requesting its support in working with Member States to ensure that all production facilities where these products are manufactured are kept fully operational in the interest of public health. EDANA has been recognized by the European Commission as the voice of industry on all issues relevant to the nonwoven-based face masks supply chain.
Over the last five months, EDANA has also been liaising with partner associations including MedTech Europe, ESF, and EURATEX to ensure sufficient supplies of essential public health equipment.
EDANA was also busy from the off working to see how supply could match up with demand. One of its first steps was to conduct a survey, subsequently updated, of meltblown lines with appropriate charging equipment, and meltblown manufacturers who might be able to adapt their machines to make the facemask grade, as well as surveying facemask operations requiring meltblown.
Overall, you could group our activities under three headings:
- counselling national government and EU officials on industry issues and challenges and relaying the supply chain concerns to authorities
- dealing with practical issues related to major roadblocks including a scarcity of meltblown capacity in the Union and the need for appropriate testing and standards
- and contributing to the emerging discussion about how to maintain adequate long-term surge capacity for future crises
What subsequent actions have been put in place specifically by nonwovens manufacturers?
EU production of face masks, essential for tackling the coronavirus crisis, is set to increase 20-fold by November this year compared to pre-crisis times. This means that EU-based producers will be able to make the equivalent of 1.5 billion three-layer masks a month. These figures show how EDANA’s members in the nonwovens sector have responded in record time to the unprecedented challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic and the call by EU and national authorities to ramp up production of face masks to protect public health.”
To meet the ongoing challenges EDANA and our members convened a new sector group representing face mask converters, nonwoven suppliers, testing laboratories and equipment manufacturers to work together to develop an independent and self-sufficient supply chain for medical face masks and personal protective masks in the EU. The group works to ensure adherence to applicable European Standards and to encourage responsible product stewardship throughout the life cycle of face-masks from raw material sourcing to end-of-life solutions. During the OUTLOOK session the output of the meetings held by this group will be presented.
What about the issue of the disposal of these products? There will be so many, could they be an environmental hazard?
Indeed, this unprecedented spike in demand for masks and other PPE equipment has meant billions of these products placed on the market with the resulting implications for refuse collection and yes, unfortunately, litter. The ability for recycling of face masks/respirators and ideas for circular economy concepts is a key point in one of the presentations at OUTLOOK which will include a number of presentations from expert actors covering much of what we’ve discussed above.
