Research from Poise brand revealed that 100% of women who are physically active with light bladder leakage (LBL) compromise their workouts due to LBL. From running or walking the dog to riding bikes or gardening, Poise brand is introducing a new way to give women the confidence to take on their day and activities they love, uninterrupted. New Poise Ultra Thin Active Collection pads and liners with wings are designed to stay in place, adapt to women's bodies and follow their lead – not the other way around.   The latest edition to Poise brand's already robust selection of incontinence pads and liners aligns with their mission to help the millions of women affected by Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) find the best solution for their lifestyle, keep doing the things they love and stay amazing without worrying about bladder leaks.   In a 2018 survey, 63% of women admitted to using products that aren't designed to address urinary incontinence, like sanitary napkins or period pads. "It's imperative that women are informed about the product solutions available to them. Period pads were not designed to absorb urine and fall short in providing women with quality protection," says Poise partner and women's health expert Dr. Jessica Shepherd, OBGYN.   Each woman's body is unique and has a different definition of comfort, and Poise brand is committed to offering a variety of solutions to accommodate each woman's LBL needs. Made for women on-the-go, Poise Ultra Thin Active Collection incorporates FlexLoc core technology for comfortable protection, which allows the pads and liners to instantly absorb while locking in wetness and odor. Other products include pads, Ultra Thin pads, liners and microliners in multiple sizes and absorbency levels. Poise also offers a pad-free solution called Impressa, an insertable device that works to help stop leaks for up to 12 hours.   "When we say 'ACTIVE,' we're not strictly referring to women who go to the gym. Active can mean a variety of things – from walking the aisle of your favorite store, running errands, playing with the kids or grandchildren and more. No matter how you define active in your daily life, Poise Ultra Thin Active Collection pads and liners with wings will be there to provide comfortable and reliable LBL protection," says Kristin DeRock, brand manager at Kimberly-Clark Corporation.   Available online and at retailers nationwide, Poise Ultra Thin Active Collection pads and liners are sold in three absorbencies: Light, Moderate & Maximum.

  Southeast Asia is one of the world’s fastest growing regions, with thriving consumer demand for daily necessities growing thanks to improving living standards. In value terms, the Southeast Asia market is expected to grow at twice the rate of the global market to 2023. This will mostly be driven by macroeconomic factors such as income growth, urbanization, and increasing literacy levels. With rapid economic development and rising education levels, consumers in developing Southeast Asian countries have greater purchasing power and health awareness to incorporate modern disposable hygiene products into their daily lives.   The fact that consumers in Southeast Asia are demanding daily necessities has not escaped the notice of some of the world’s largest makers of consumer products who are looking to capitalize on rising incomes, growing urban centers and more educated consumers. Within the global hygiene market, companies are looking at the countries that make up Southeast Asia as well as India as the next big growth opportunities for their products.   Even though Unicharm is already the biggest maker and marketer of baby diapers, feminine hygiene items and adult incontinence products in Asia, the Japanese company never misses an opportunity to expand. Late last year, the company announced it would buy DSG International, a Thai-based maker of diapers and hygiene products, in a move designed to bolster the Japanese company’s lineup of low and mid-priced diapers in Southeast Asia while giving it manufacturing assets in new areas like Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. The company leads the adult diaper maker in Thailand and is the second largest (behind Unicharm) maker of baby diapers there.   Another company gaining new ground in Asia is Kao Corporation, which is hoping to follow up its Chinese success by launching its Merries diaper brand in India, which is a large and fast growing market for diapers. Procter & Gamble and Unicharm have been battling to lead the Indian diaper market in recent years, but if history repeats itself, Kao could soon be a major contender. The Japanese company was the first foreign diaper maker to understand the Chinese consumers’ taste for premium diapers, launching a high-end diaper there while most of the competition entered the market with a value product.   As markets for disposable products throughout Asia continue to rise, we will surely see more investment in the region—from both local players and multinational companies—and these will surely be seen throughout the entire value chain for nonwovens.

  The adult incontinence market continues to offer huge potential for product manufacturers. The rapidly aging population across the globe, coupled with rising rates of health conditions that can come with increased risks of urinary incontinence, are fueling growth in this market.   “Age is not the only contributing factor; obesity, PTSD, prostate surgeries, child birth and other factors increase the incidences of incontinence and usually require a different approach and a variety of product formats to manage the conditions,” says Svetlana Uduslivaia, head of Home & Tech Americas at Euromonitor International.   This wide range of incontinence sufferers has opened up opportunities for manufacturers to innovate in this space, and they are continuing to improve absorbency levels, odor control, skin friendliness and breathability in new products. These new developments in pads, disposable underwear, adult diapers and other products have allowed manufacturers to grow and reach new customers. Factors such as increasing awareness and understanding of various incontinence conditions, normalization and better access to products are contributing to this growth.   “Overall trends are somewhat similar to what has been happening in the past few years – product innovation with focus on discretion, comfort, and aesthetics; innovation and marketing aimed at a wider audience, as opposed to only focusing on elderly; younger women and men are in focus too,” Uduslivaia explains.

  Pampers has developed the world's first all-in-one connected care system, Lumi by Pampers, in partnership with Verily and Logitech. According to the brand's website, Lumi by Pampers will help parents monitor and track their baby 24/7. By combining a video monitor with an activity sensor, Lumi helps parents blend real-time data with their intuition seamlessly and offers insights tailored to their unique baby using the Lumi by Pampers app, according to the company.   A high-definition video monitor and an activity sensor that attaches to the diaper automatically track wet diapers and sleep, and baby’s feeding and other key milestones can be added through the app. With the all-in-one system, parents can monitor their baby’s unique patterns and see emerging routines.   Lumi by Pampers will reportedly offer diapers up to size four, and the first package will contain a 1080p wide angle HD video monitor, two activity sensors and two packs of specialized diapers with velcro-like patches on the front to attach the sensors. Lumi by Pampers is expected to launch in the fall.

  A walk through the feminine hygiene and baby diaper aisles is proof enough that natural products are enjoying gains in the nonwovens space. In the past few months, two major feminine hygiene brands—o.b. and Tampax were the latest companies to launch cotton products. o.b. organic, featuring 100% certified organic cotton tampons, offers a new choice for women who don’t want to sacrifice protection for sustainability. All o.b. organic tampons are free from chlorine, dyes, pesticides, fragrances and BPA.   “For decades, o.b. has strived to introduce sustainable, effective solutions for periods,” says Devon Driscoll, brand manager at Edgewell Personal Care. “With the launch of o.b. organic, we are excited to now offer women 100% certified organic cotton tampons along with an innovative plant-based applicator option. We at o.b. were committed to making an applicator that is in line with our commitment to sustainability.”   Meanwhile, Procter & Gamble’s Tampax and Always brands have launched a new organic tampon and Pure pads, which are both free of dyes, fragrances and chlorine bleaching. The tampons have a 100% cotton core and the Always Pure pads are made with a cotton top layer from sustainably sourced cotton.   Tampax Pure is the brand’s first 100% organic cotton core tampon.   “I have always been a Tampax user, and period protection is the focus of my Research & Development career. I’ve tried lots of tampons, researched them, talked about them, designed them – I’ve done it all. In speaking with thousands of tampon users in the last several years, it was clear that there was still a big unmet need in the natural menstrual category – an option that worked well,” says Amy Krajewski, section head Global Tampax Research & Development.   “Many people using current options are settling, and don’t even realize it because they go on autopilot with so many other decisions to make every day. When we set out to create Tampax Pure, we took our time to develop a tampon that is not only made with a 100% organic cotton core, but that also provides Tampax protection. Users can feel good about the ingredients, and trust that our product works.”

  Wipes And Beyond   As one of the largest markets for nonwovens in general, the wipes market continues to represent the largest segment for spunlace nonwovens where the technology is valued for its excellent lotion handling, softness, textile-like feel and absorbency. As the wipes segment continues to develop new markets and new uses for their products, demand will continue to drive spunlace growth.   “There are wipes for almost every discernible use in everyday life, from baby care to cosmetics, from car interior care to furniture polish to the cleaning of computer screens,” Weber says. “They are readily available at any time, even on the go. In our fast-paced society, this is a major convenience factor and a driver for further demand growth.”   However, the supply chain can be challenged in wipes. For many applications, supply already matches demand and new suppliers are regularly entering the market. Growth and further development are only achievable through differentiation. Visual differentiation is possible in print or embossed motifs. Enhanced functionality, innovative product structures or combinations of different properties can also set a product apart from the competition.   Therefore, spunlace manufacturers like Suominen continue to look outside of the wipes market for spunlace growth. Markets where spunlace is being valued include from technical applications where they nonwovens are applied as processing aids or cover nonwovens. The automotive industry is just one sector benefitting from the functionality of these materials.   “Our wide-spread portfolio and know-how of different manufacturing technologies made it easier to consider the spunlace technology for applications other than wipes,” says Lynda Kelly, senior vice president, Care. “As we are active in a variety of markets, we are also aware of requirements, trends and customer demands in these other segments. This enables us to ascertain whether spunlaced materials would make an adequate – or in the best case even superior – alternative for a specific application. Having different technologies at our disposal also enables us to combine material properties in order to further enhance functionality. To this end, we are also collaborating with our customers and partners, advancing their products as well as our own.”   As the largest maker of spunlace nonwovens globally, Suominen has spent the last few years investing in new technologies both to help this expansion in new markets but also to benefit its wipes business. Recent line upgrades, which promote its focus on value added prod.