Nonwovens and consumer products companies will once again be competing for the annual Visionary Award, recognizing nonwovens innovation in consumer products. INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, which sponsors the annual award, will be accepting nominations through September 1. Now in its seventh year, the award recognizes consumer end products that use nonwoven fabrics or employ nonwovens technology during their manufacturing process. The 2008 Visionary Award will be presented at the Vision 2008 Consumer Products Conference, scheduled for February 5-7 at the Renaissance Worthington Hotel in Fort Worth, Texas.
   
To qualify for a Visionary Award, the consumer end product must  contain a nonwoven fabric or use a nonwovens technology during its manufacturing process; have been introduced to the trade or to consumers in 2006-07 and have not been selected as a finalist in any previous Visionary Award competition. Companies can nominate their own products. While any number of products can be nominated, only one product per company will be selected as a finalist.
   
Products will be judged on their novel use of nonwoven technology, as well as on their consumer and trade acceptance. Eligible consumer product categories include disposable diapers, feminine hygiene products, adult incontinence products, household wipes and home filters, among others. The nominees will then be reviewed by an INDA selection committee and five finalists will be selected to make presentations at Vision 2008. Conference attendees will then vote on the recipient of the award, which will be announced on the final day of the conference.
   
Last January at Vision 2007, Tyco Healthcare Retail Group received the award for its swim pants. Other previous winners include Chicopee’s Disaster Relief Blanket, Fiberweb’s Resolution print media and Church & Dwight’s Brillo Scrub ‘n’ Toss.
   
To nominate a product, email an explanation of the product to Michael Jacobsen, Visionary Awards coordinator, at [email protected]. Samples of the product should also be sent to Michael Jacobsen, INDA, 22 Paterson Avenue, Midland Park, NJ 07432.