1. Nonwovens definitions

The origins of nonwovens lie in the textile, paper, plastic and leather industries, which adapted their processes and raw materials to meet the needs of an emerging market. It was in the 1960s, with the emergence of the synthetic fiber and polymer industries, that the nonwovens industry really took off. Europe is the world's leading producer of nonwovens, with production rising from 40,000 tonnes in 1970 to 750,000 tonnes in 1997 and almost 2 million tonnes in 2011 . Historically, the nonwovens industry has been organized differently from the textile industry, aiming above all to produce large volumes quickly and cheaply. The main regions producing nonwovens are Europe,...