Reusable absorbent hygiene manufacturer Confitex Technology has won the hygiene industry's two top innovation awards, validating washable alternatives to single-use period and incontinence pads and liners – and signaling a more sustainable future for personal hygiene.
AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Sept. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Confitex Technology has become the first company to win both of the global nonwovens industry's top awards – the INDEX Award, presented at the INDEX26 expo in Geneva in May 2026, and the Hygienix Innovation Award, presented in the US in November 2025. Its breakthrough washable nonwoven absorbent hygiene products prove that the nonwoven materials used in single-use pads, liners, incontinence guards and bed pads can be stabilised to survive machine washing and tumble drying, and excellent absorbency can be achieved without petroleum-based superabsorbent polymers (SAPs).
Confitex Technology Founder and CEO Frantisek Riha-Scott says the implications are huge. "What Confitex Technology has done is unlock an entirely new product category – washable, reusable absorbent hygiene products that perform as well as, or better than, disposables, at a price point that works for mainstream consumers and mass-market retailers. It's the beginning of a consumer category shift comparable to the move from single-use plastic bags to reusables."
The global absorbent hygiene products (AHP) market is valued at about USD 123.5 billion, with reusable products making up less than 15 percent but growing at a CAGR of 6.89%. EU regulatory pressure supports a move away from single-use plastic products, and the French government recently announced menstrual equity subsidies for reusable period underwear at population scale.
The INDEX Award jury – a panel of global industry experts convened by Brussels-based AHP industry body EDANA – highlighted the market opportunity: "By making absorbent nonwovens fully laundry-compatible, the technology enables nonwoven suppliers to enter the rapidly growing reusable market, historically dominated by textile products. At the same time, the product delivers improved absorbency, leak protection and ease of care for users, while supporting sustainability goals through reusability and the use of predominantly natural-based fibres."
Confitex Technology's award-winning nonwoven reusable pads are up to 90 percent bio-based, contain no SAPS, and have been independently lab-tested by Intertek to match or exceed the absorbency of single-use equivalents. All incoming bulk raw materials are tested for PFAS 'forever chemicals' and all Confitex Technology products meet OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification.
Confitex Technology Executive Director Lisa Voyle says the company is partnering with global retailers and leading FMCG players to build the washable nonwoven category for mainstream adoption across European and North American markets.
About the awards
The INDEX Awards are presented triennially by Brussels-based nonwovens association EDANA and considered the industry's highest accolade. The Hygienix Innovation Award is presented annually by US-based industry body INDA to honour breakthrough technologies advancing the AHP industry.
About Confitex Technology
Confitex Technology is the tech leader in reusable absorbent hygiene – designing and manufacturing washable absorbent hygiene products (including reusable period pads and liners, period underwear, incontinence underwear, incontinence products, maternity products, pet products, baby products and bed pads) on behalf of private-label retailers, brands and distributors worldwide from its own automated facilities in Asia and Europe. Confitex Technology's innovations are protected by over 60 granted patents and its operations hold ISO 13485, EU Medical Device CE Mark, MDSAP, OEKO-TEX STeP, Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI), Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) and FSC Chain of Custody (FSC CoC) certifications.
Read more at confitextechnology.com
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Confitex Technology wins INDEX Award and Hygienix Innovation Award for world-first washable nonwoven absorbent hygiene products
More than 20 KAPSARC leaders, researchers, and experts to contribute across the Congress's Executive, Technical, Synergy, and Special Programmes
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- KAPSARC participates as a National Partner in the 25th WPC Energy Congress in Riyadh, bringing its leaders and experts into discussions addressing some of the most important issues shaping the future of energy.
Taking place from 11 to 15 October 2026 under the theme "Pathways to an Energy Future for All," the Congress will be hosted in Saudi Arabia for the first time in its history. First held in London in 1933, the Congress will bring together government leaders, industry executives, policymakers, researchers, and innovators in Riyadh to examine the forces reshaping global energy systems, from security and investment to technology and sustainability.
KAPSARC's participation extends across the Congress's Executive, Technical, Synergy, and Special Programmes, alongside additional sessions and activities, reflecting the breadth of the Center's research and policy expertise. KAPSARC President Fahad Alajlan and Dr. Ghadah Alarifi, Dean of the KAPSARC School of Public Policy, are among KAPSARC's speakers in the Executive Programme.
Across the Congress, KAPSARC experts contribute research and policy perspectives on energy supply and demand, energy access, natural gas, ESG and governance, the Circular Carbon Economy, artificial intelligence, mobility, and lower-emission pathways for refining and petrochemicals.
Within the Special Programme, KAPSARC leads a Knowledge Sprint session titled "Generative AI for Evidence-Based Oil Markets," examining how generative AI can support oil-market analysis and policy research. The session explores AI-assisted data workflows, econometric and scenario analysis, responsible AI practices, and the translation of technical findings into decision-ready insights.
KAPSARC also participates in the World Café through a session on "Carbon Dioxide Removal Technologies," bringing together experts, policymakers, and practitioners to examine the prospects for scaling engineered carbon-removal solutions. The discussion covers direct air capture, bioenergy with carbon capture and storage, and biochar, alongside the economic, infrastructure, regulatory, carbon-market, and regional considerations influencing their deployment.
In the Synergy Programme, KAPSARC experts contribute to discussions on "Accelerating the Circular Carbon Economy Through Joint Action" and "AI Partnerships for Energy Innovation," bringing research-based perspectives to the intersection of energy, technology, and sustainability.
KAPSARC's dedicated pavilion provides another platform for knowledge exchange and engagement throughout the Congress. Structured around five thematic hubs, the pavilion brings together KAPSARC research, analytical tools, and expertise across the Oil Hub, Transportation Hub, Clean Energy Hub, AI Hub, and Collaboration Hub. Together, the hubs provide visitors with an integrated view of selected research areas and emerging issues shaping energy systems, while creating opportunities for engagement with policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, and other Congress participants.
The pavilion also features the KAPSARC School of Public Policy (KSPP) and the Saudi Energy Leaders Assembly (SELA), providing additional platforms for policy education, leadership development, and knowledge exchange.
Through its participation across the Congress's programmes and sessions, alongside its dedicated thematic pavilion, KAPSARC connects Saudi-based research and policy expertise with international discussions on energy security, investment, technology, and sustainability.
About KAPSARC
KAPSARC is an advisory think tank dedicated to advancing knowledge on energy, environmental and regional economic issues. As an accredited observer to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), KAPSARC actively contributes to global climate action. KAPSARC's mission is to advance Saudi Arabia's energy sector and inform global policies through evidence-based advice and applied research.
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KAPSARC TO JOIN 25TH WPC ENERGY CONGRESS IN RIYADH AS NATIONAL PARTNER
