EDANA and INDA, the two global associations of the nonwovens industries announced today the full release of a new third edition of the Guidance Document for Assessing Flushability of Nonwoven Disposable Products. The guidelines, first developed in 2008 and last updated in 2009, define what is flushable and establish a “Do Not Flush” symbol for products not meeting the guidelines in order to prevent the disposal of products down the toilet which are unsuitable for this system.
The third edition, complete with detailed test methods, is a product of the continued efforts by the nonwovens industry to help reduce the amount of non-flushable materials thrown incorrectly in the wastewater stream. It also strives to educate consumers on the proper disposal route for nonwoven disposable products through better labeling.
The new third edition streamlines and improves on the previous two editions by adopting a straight-line approach to the assessment of a product. This approach requires a yes/no answer to each of the technical questions, which need to be answered in the affirmative to establish flushability, eliminating some of the ambiguity in previous editions. The third edition also now directly addresses an additional wastewater infrastructure concern with the inclusion of a municipal sewage pump test and disintegration test.
The two associations have gathered feedback from stakeholders, including wastewater authorities, and industry, which have led to the changes in the current edition, and the updated Code of Practice with enhanced labeling requirements for products that do not meet the guidelines. For companies assessing nonwoven disposable products, all products are now subject to a much more straightforward process, with the number of tests in the technical assessment reduced from 23 to seven core tests. The revised protocol means a much more approachable testing process in the current edition, while keeping the rigorous assessment of products to ensure the continued health of our waterways.
“Over the last few years, the work undertaken by our two associations has resulted in a simpler, easy-to-follow assessment to determine if a product is flushable or not,” said Dave Rousse, INDA president. “We are taking a more rigorous approach where products must pass all seven tests to be labeled as flushable.”
Pierre Wiertz, EDANA general manager, added, “The third edition addresses two important concerns raised by wastewater operators with the addition of a municipal sewage pump test and a disintegration test. It also includes an updated Code of Practice which for the first time, includes minimum size requirements for the ‘Do Not Flush’ symbol.”
Companies who use the guidelines to assess flushability can ensure that under normal conditions, products that are best disposed of via the wastewater system will pass safely through the sewers and wastewater treatment system. They can also be sure products that do not meet the guidelines are properly labeled “Do Not Flush.”
Rousse added, “For those companies who are not using the guidelines and Code of Practice today, we strongly encourage them to get on board. Adopting the guidelines and Code of Practice is the right thing to do for our environment and will benefit local communities as well.”
Wiertz continued, “Because this new edition is simpler to use, less costly and easier to implement compared to previous versions, we are confident more and more companies globally will embrace the guidelines and Code of Practice. In doing so, we can best deliver our part of the solution towards reducing non-flushable material in the wastewater stream, educate consumers and thwart potentially harmful legislation.”
The third edition Guidance Document for Assessing the Flushability of Nonwoven Disposable Products, the Test Methods and other related material is available for download from the EDANA and INDA websites. Visit www.inda.org/issues-advocacy/flushability or www.edana.org/industry-initiatives/flushability.
About INDA
INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, serves hundreds of member companies in the nonwovens/engineered fabrics industry doing business globally. Since 1968, INDA networking events have helped members connect, innovate and develop their businesses. INDA educational courses, market data, test methods, consultancy and issue advocacy help members succeed by providing them the information they need to better plan and execute their business strategies.
About EDANA
EDANA serves more than 235 companies across 36 countries in the nonwovens and related industries, helping its members to design their future. The association’s mission is to create the foundation for sustainable growth of the nonwovens and related industries through active promotion, education and dialogue.
