Kimberly-Clark claims WOW Innovation Award

INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, wrapped up its 15th annual World of Wipes® International Conference, July 12-15, with a presentation of the World of Wipes Innovation Award® to Kimberly-Clark Corporation and the highest attendance record in six years.

This year’s WOW conference welcomed 475 enthusiastic professionals from 14 countries to its in-person WOW conference to advance their wipes business. Held in Atlanta, Georgia, the conference was notable as the first in-person conference in the nonwovens and engineered fabrics industry in 500 days due to the pandemic.

“The enthusiasm emanating from the World of Wipes® conference confirms the industry’s desire to return to person-to-person contact and experience high-quality program content. We are pleased to deliver both—as critical face-to-face interactions and informed discussion of key issues are the core of meaningful business,” said Dave Rousse, INDA President.

Highlights included the announcement of Kimberly-Clark Scott® 24-Hour Sanitizing Wipes as the winner of this year’s World of Wipes Innovation Award®. The annual award recognizes the product that most expands the use of nonwovens and demonstrates creativity, novelty, uniqueness, and technical sophistication within the entire nonwovens wipes value chain.

The pre-saturated wipes disinfect and maintain surface sanitization for 24 hours, killing 99.9 percent of bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes and Community-Associated Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Bacteria.

The patented formulation is found to be effective by the United States Environmental Protection Agency for disinfecting on hard, non-porous surfaces against several strains of bacteria and viruses, including SARS-COV-2 when used as directed. (It is not approved in California for use against SARS-CoV-2.)

Other highlights included the presentation of the 2021 INDA Lifetime Technical Achievement Award to John Poccia.

“John is a stellar technical professional and contributor to our industry. His 40-plus year technical career includes a broad range of advancements in material science synthesizing superabsorbent polymers, and end-products of feminine hygiene, wipes, wound management and skincare at Johnson & Johnson Company. His efforts have advanced the nonwovens industry and INDA,” said Rousse.