Tara Olivo, Associate Editor04.04.24
The market for geotextiles and agrotextiles is trending upward. The global geotextiles market size itself is expected to reach $11.82 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 6.6% from 2023 to 2030, according to a recent report by Grand View Research. Geotextiles are in high demand due to their range of applications including road construction, erosion control, and drainage systems.
Meanwhile, the global agrotextile market size is expected to reach $6.98 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 4.7% during the forecast period, according to another report from the research firm. The growing population’s increasing need for agricultural productivity is expected to significantly boost product demand. Additionally, a rise in the demand for organic foods has also helped in the adoption of processes and technologies that enhance crop yields without the application of supplements. This has increased the usage of materials such as agrotextiles worldwide.
In the U.S., the geosynthetic and agrotextile markets grew 4.6% in tonnage from 2017 to 2022, according to the latest North American Nonwovens Industry Outlook report by INDA. The association predicts that these markets will continue to grow in the next five years, with a combined growth of 3.1%.
Mark Snider, chief market & industry analyst at INDA, says that nonwovens are generally cheaper and faster to produce compared to other materials.
Nonwovens also have a sustainability advantage. In recent years, Snider and INDA have worked with civil engineering firms and the government to promote the use of nonwovens, such as heavy spunbond materials, in road and railroad underlayments. For this application, geotextiles provide a separation layer between the aggregate and the sub grade soil and/or concrete/asphalt, to prevent migration of fines and thus indefinitely preserve the original aggregate structural thickness. Nonwoven underlayments keep gravel and fines in place, which keeps water from penetrating and breaking the road apart. “In many cases, you can double or triple the life of the road just by putting one layer of nonwoven in that road,” Snider says.
Additionally, if a geomembrane of any kind is used in between underlayment layers of a road, it will reduce the amount of concrete or asphalt required for the road construction, so there’s a huge benefit in terms of sustainability, he adds.
Snider predicts significant growth would result if nonwoven geotextiles were used for road underlayments but convincing the U.S. government and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to use them has been challenging.
“From my perspective, it’s a win-win if we can get some of the civil engineering folks to step up to the plate and use nonwoven geotextiles because the proof is there. They really do improve the life of the road and offer a considerable benefit from a sustainability perspective,” he says.
The company has invested $45 million in the past two years to expand capacity and develop new products for the international market. Today, GreenPro’s exports reach over 40 countries worldwide.
Currently, GreenPro can produce seven-layer co-extruded blown films, various spunbond and needlepunch nonwoven fabrics, as well as woven fabric based on raffia and monofilament.
A GreenPro nonwoven crop cover.
GreenPro’s spunbond nonwoven fabrics are welded ultrasonically to increase the width and cover larger areas with ease. They are used to protect the crops from excess heat or frost. Meanwhile, GreenPro needlepunch nonwoven capped fabrics protect silage/hay bales from rain and excess moisture to maintain the silage quality throughout the season.
According to Jophy Thomas Joseph, business head—Agriculture & Horticulture at GreenPro, nonwovens are ideal for agricultural applications due to their breathability qualities. Nonwovens can also behave in a hydrophobic or hydrophilic way, which helps to maintain a micro-climate for the crops.
“The world is going through global warming as we know it leading to unseasonal rains, heat strokes, cold waves, etc. The crops cannot survive in these conditions and are in need of protection against threats across the year and for this, protected cultivation is becoming more relevant over the years,” he says.
One obstacle, according to Joseph, is that new entrants are producing agricultural protection products without meeting the criteria of international standards. Thus, growers are facing challenges in preventing insect and trip attacks, which can lead to entire crop loss. “Growers must be careful who they choose to work with for their protection needs,” he says.
According to Naue, global warming is causing glaciers to melt at record speeds. This alarming development is a concern not only for environmentalists but also for the winter sports and tourism industry, which seeks to prevent further melting of glaciers and ski slopes.
Naue GlacierProtect is an insulating and reflective nonwoven made from 100% biodegradable, mechanically bonded nonwoven Secutex Green, Naue’s nonwoven made exclusively from renewable raw materials. Its properties sustainably delay the melting of snow deposits and glacier surfaces. Due to the certified biodegradability under the influence of all relevant environmental conditions, the residues of the product do not harm the environment. Naue GlacierProtect is UV-resistant. This makes the nonwoven ideal for outdoor use in mountainous regions.
Due to its thickness and high reflectivity, Naue GlacierProtect is well suited as a top layer in snow farming. This involves storing and covering old snow in snow depots over the summer. With the help of snow farming, skiing operations in mountainous regions are to be secured in the long term by adding stored snow to the basic snowmaking system. Naue GlacierProtect consists of natural raw materials and is therefore naturally very resistant to solar radiation.
With Naue GlacierProtect, sensitive glacier areas can be protected from further melting, thus significantly delaying glacier melt. A test in the Austrian Alps showed a reduction in the melting of about 4m in three summer months of 2022. Supports of cable cars or ski lifts founded in ice can be protected from excessive solar radiation with Naue GlacierProtect, significantly extending the life of these infrastructure facilities.
Additionally, snow areas, which winter sports enthusiasts heavily use, can be protected in an environmentally friendly way with Naue GlacierProtect. These can be, for example, areas near ski huts as well as entry and exit areas at ski lifts. Naue GlacierProtect can be rolled out on the snow. If the nonwoven fabric freezes to the snow, the risk of the cover lifting off due to wind suction is reduced. Any abrasion or residue from Naue GlacierProtect, for example, from fibers freezing in the snow, is converted into natural substances in nature and metabolized by naturally occurring microorganisms.
Naue GlacierProtect significantly protects sensitive glacier areas from further thawing and considerably slows down glacier and snow melting. A test in the Austrian Alps showed a reduction in melting of about 4 meters over the three summer months of 2022 (test fields Stubai Glacier).
According to the company, ski slope operators, hoteliers, and tourism associations are looking for ways to slow down glacier melting – such as with glacier coverings. These are usually made of films or nonwoven fabrics that protect the snow from sunlight and keep it from melting. The problem is that many of these coverings are made of plastic, according to Helge Hoyme, product manager of Naue. “Abrasion from used nonwoven fabrics, damage to the covering, or improper disposal can lead to pollution of the landscape and even the thaw water. Plastic particles enter the drinking water cycle and reach the seas through streams and rivers.”
Due to the low biological activity in glacier protection applications and snow farming, repeated use can be assumed. However, if the degree of pollution is too high and the reflectivity is too strongly impaired, the nonwoven fabric should be replaced with a new one. The already used and therefore stressed nonwoven can be composted, thermally recycled or covered with soil. “Unlike traditional glacier coverings, GlacierProtect is 100% biodegradable and, if unintentionally left in the environment, is completely converted into biomass, CO2 and water,” Hoyme says.
The CO2 released corresponds to the amount of CO2 previously bound from the environment during the plant growth phase. The nonwoven fabric also reflects 75% of solar energy, therefore reliably reducing the thawing of ice and snow.
With the new line, Freudenberg is now able to serve customers in diverse technical markets with finished and semi-finished products. This investment in China also significantly increases Enka Solutions’ production capacity and will play a fundamental role in the development of the Enka business with customers in the APAC region.
The new production line in Changzhou complements the manufacturing operations in Obernburg, Germany, and Asheville, NC. With a global manufacturing presence on three different continents—Europe, Asia and America, Freudenberg can now serve markets locally and deliver Enka Solutions products faster and more efficiently. This will not only help to better meet customer needs, but also reduce the company’s environmental footprint by increasing local production.
Meanwhile, the global agrotextile market size is expected to reach $6.98 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 4.7% during the forecast period, according to another report from the research firm. The growing population’s increasing need for agricultural productivity is expected to significantly boost product demand. Additionally, a rise in the demand for organic foods has also helped in the adoption of processes and technologies that enhance crop yields without the application of supplements. This has increased the usage of materials such as agrotextiles worldwide.
In the U.S., the geosynthetic and agrotextile markets grew 4.6% in tonnage from 2017 to 2022, according to the latest North American Nonwovens Industry Outlook report by INDA. The association predicts that these markets will continue to grow in the next five years, with a combined growth of 3.1%.
Mark Snider, chief market & industry analyst at INDA, says that nonwovens are generally cheaper and faster to produce compared to other materials.
Nonwovens also have a sustainability advantage. In recent years, Snider and INDA have worked with civil engineering firms and the government to promote the use of nonwovens, such as heavy spunbond materials, in road and railroad underlayments. For this application, geotextiles provide a separation layer between the aggregate and the sub grade soil and/or concrete/asphalt, to prevent migration of fines and thus indefinitely preserve the original aggregate structural thickness. Nonwoven underlayments keep gravel and fines in place, which keeps water from penetrating and breaking the road apart. “In many cases, you can double or triple the life of the road just by putting one layer of nonwoven in that road,” Snider says.
Additionally, if a geomembrane of any kind is used in between underlayment layers of a road, it will reduce the amount of concrete or asphalt required for the road construction, so there’s a huge benefit in terms of sustainability, he adds.
Snider predicts significant growth would result if nonwoven geotextiles were used for road underlayments but convincing the U.S. government and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to use them has been challenging.
“From my perspective, it’s a win-win if we can get some of the civil engineering folks to step up to the plate and use nonwoven geotextiles because the proof is there. They really do improve the life of the road and offer a considerable benefit from a sustainability perspective,” he says.
GreenPro Invests and Expands in Agrotextiles
GreenPro, a subsidiary of Rishi FIBC Solutions Pvt. Ltd. and KT Exports India Pvt. Ltd., has continued to grow since it started manufacturing agricultural fabrics in 2010, beginning with ground covers/weed mats. Since then, the company has expanded to produce over 20 different products for agricultural use.The company has invested $45 million in the past two years to expand capacity and develop new products for the international market. Today, GreenPro’s exports reach over 40 countries worldwide.
Currently, GreenPro can produce seven-layer co-extruded blown films, various spunbond and needlepunch nonwoven fabrics, as well as woven fabric based on raffia and monofilament.
A GreenPro nonwoven crop cover.
GreenPro’s spunbond nonwoven fabrics are welded ultrasonically to increase the width and cover larger areas with ease. They are used to protect the crops from excess heat or frost. Meanwhile, GreenPro needlepunch nonwoven capped fabrics protect silage/hay bales from rain and excess moisture to maintain the silage quality throughout the season.
According to Jophy Thomas Joseph, business head—Agriculture & Horticulture at GreenPro, nonwovens are ideal for agricultural applications due to their breathability qualities. Nonwovens can also behave in a hydrophobic or hydrophilic way, which helps to maintain a micro-climate for the crops.
“The world is going through global warming as we know it leading to unseasonal rains, heat strokes, cold waves, etc. The crops cannot survive in these conditions and are in need of protection against threats across the year and for this, protected cultivation is becoming more relevant over the years,” he says.
One obstacle, according to Joseph, is that new entrants are producing agricultural protection products without meeting the criteria of international standards. Thus, growers are facing challenges in preventing insect and trip attacks, which can lead to entire crop loss. “Growers must be careful who they choose to work with for their protection needs,” he says.
Naue Makes Geotextiles for Glacier Protection, Slope and Snow Management
German manufacturer Naue’s multifunctional geotextiles are used for separation, filtration and protection applications. One of the company’s latest geotextile innovations provides sustainable glacier protection, slope and snow management.According to Naue, global warming is causing glaciers to melt at record speeds. This alarming development is a concern not only for environmentalists but also for the winter sports and tourism industry, which seeks to prevent further melting of glaciers and ski slopes.
Naue GlacierProtect is an insulating and reflective nonwoven made from 100% biodegradable, mechanically bonded nonwoven Secutex Green, Naue’s nonwoven made exclusively from renewable raw materials. Its properties sustainably delay the melting of snow deposits and glacier surfaces. Due to the certified biodegradability under the influence of all relevant environmental conditions, the residues of the product do not harm the environment. Naue GlacierProtect is UV-resistant. This makes the nonwoven ideal for outdoor use in mountainous regions.
Due to its thickness and high reflectivity, Naue GlacierProtect is well suited as a top layer in snow farming. This involves storing and covering old snow in snow depots over the summer. With the help of snow farming, skiing operations in mountainous regions are to be secured in the long term by adding stored snow to the basic snowmaking system. Naue GlacierProtect consists of natural raw materials and is therefore naturally very resistant to solar radiation.
With Naue GlacierProtect, sensitive glacier areas can be protected from further melting, thus significantly delaying glacier melt. A test in the Austrian Alps showed a reduction in the melting of about 4m in three summer months of 2022. Supports of cable cars or ski lifts founded in ice can be protected from excessive solar radiation with Naue GlacierProtect, significantly extending the life of these infrastructure facilities.
Additionally, snow areas, which winter sports enthusiasts heavily use, can be protected in an environmentally friendly way with Naue GlacierProtect. These can be, for example, areas near ski huts as well as entry and exit areas at ski lifts. Naue GlacierProtect can be rolled out on the snow. If the nonwoven fabric freezes to the snow, the risk of the cover lifting off due to wind suction is reduced. Any abrasion or residue from Naue GlacierProtect, for example, from fibers freezing in the snow, is converted into natural substances in nature and metabolized by naturally occurring microorganisms.
Naue GlacierProtect significantly protects sensitive glacier areas from further thawing and considerably slows down glacier and snow melting. A test in the Austrian Alps showed a reduction in melting of about 4 meters over the three summer months of 2022 (test fields Stubai Glacier).
According to the company, ski slope operators, hoteliers, and tourism associations are looking for ways to slow down glacier melting – such as with glacier coverings. These are usually made of films or nonwoven fabrics that protect the snow from sunlight and keep it from melting. The problem is that many of these coverings are made of plastic, according to Helge Hoyme, product manager of Naue. “Abrasion from used nonwoven fabrics, damage to the covering, or improper disposal can lead to pollution of the landscape and even the thaw water. Plastic particles enter the drinking water cycle and reach the seas through streams and rivers.”
Due to the low biological activity in glacier protection applications and snow farming, repeated use can be assumed. However, if the degree of pollution is too high and the reflectivity is too strongly impaired, the nonwoven fabric should be replaced with a new one. The already used and therefore stressed nonwoven can be composted, thermally recycled or covered with soil. “Unlike traditional glacier coverings, GlacierProtect is 100% biodegradable and, if unintentionally left in the environment, is completely converted into biomass, CO2 and water,” Hoyme says.
The CO2 released corresponds to the amount of CO2 previously bound from the environment during the plant growth phase. The nonwoven fabric also reflects 75% of solar energy, therefore reliably reducing the thawing of ice and snow.
Freudenberg Opens Geosynthetics Line in China
Last year, Freudenberg Performance Materials began operating a new geosynthetics production line in Changzhou, China. The new line enables Freudenberg to supply customers in the APAC region with Enka Solutions made in China for building, industrial and civil engineering applications. Freudenberg acquired the Enka brand when it purchased 100% of the shares in Low & Bonar PLC, London, U.K., in 2020.With the new line, Freudenberg is now able to serve customers in diverse technical markets with finished and semi-finished products. This investment in China also significantly increases Enka Solutions’ production capacity and will play a fundamental role in the development of the Enka business with customers in the APAC region.
The new production line in Changzhou complements the manufacturing operations in Obernburg, Germany, and Asheville, NC. With a global manufacturing presence on three different continents—Europe, Asia and America, Freudenberg can now serve markets locally and deliver Enka Solutions products faster and more efficiently. This will not only help to better meet customer needs, but also reduce the company’s environmental footprint by increasing local production.
