Our colleague Annika Månsson is featured in an article on the present and future of Spunlace in the magazine Nonwovens Industry.
Spunlace in 2026: What is changing (and why does it matter)?
El Spunlace is a hydroentangled nonwoven technology undergoing a profound transformation in 2026. As Spunlace manufacturers, at Murtra Nonwovens we see three key trends: the market is maturing, competition is intensifying and, at the same time, real opportunities are emerging for those who know how to differentiate with performance, consistency and technical support.
Recently, our colleague Annika Månsson (Plant Manager and Technical Manager at our Swedish facility in Ystad) took part in the article “Spunlace Market Update” published by Nonwovens Industry. In that update, different players in the sector share their views on demand, installed capacity, sustainability trends and technology direction.
In this post, we want to go one step further and turn it into a practical question for manufacturers and converters: What should you demand from your Spunlace today so that your application performs better and is more competitive?
Sustainable Spunlace: from slogan to specification.
A clear signal from the market: sustainability is no longer just a message. Customers are increasingly demanding — and with greater urgency — requirements such as:
- TRANSPARENCY on recycled content and traceability.
- Expectations for SAFER CHEMISTRY (including PFAS-free where applicable).
- DOCUMENTATION ready for audits and compliance.
- SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS that do not sacrifice real performance.
IN SHORT:
Demonstrate it, Document it and Sustain it over time.
Technical Spunlace applications: beyond wipes and the medical sector.
- Spunlace nonwovens for automotive
- Spunlace for filtration
- Spunlace nonwovens for insulating and uses in the construction sector
Value is shifting towards applications where Spunlace ceases to be a “commodity” product and becomes material engineering.
More and more projects require the material to be fine-tuned for a specific target (dimensional stability, converting functionality, balance between softness and strength, absorption and wet performance, cleanliness / low particle shedding, touch and final aesthetics, consistency to keep the process stable, etc.).
In all of them, performance requirements and properties are highly specific and must be adapted to each particular project.
The great functional flexibility of Spunlace makes it the perfect material for this.
Murtra Nonwovens is a Spunlace manufacturer with its own R&D department; we take care of creating the nonwoven that best fits the customer’s technical requirements, and in that sense this material offers great versatility: we provide tailor‑made technical Spunlace.
Spunlace technology 2026: market trends.
Our plant manager in Ystad, Annika Månsson, highlights several trends that are shaping today’s Spunlace market:
- PRICE COMPETITIVENESS AND COST VOLATILITY: energy, logistics and raw material dynamics continue to influence the total cost delivered to the customer, keeping price pressure high.
- SPECIFICATIONS DRIVEN BY SUSTAINABILITY: customers are accelerating requests for concepts with plastic reduction / plastic-free designs, better end-of-life profiles and more robust documentation (traceability, recycled content declarations, etc.).
- “PFAS-FREE” EXPECTATIONS: regulatory and brand pressure to reduce or eliminate PFAS is translating into concrete product requirements and faster substitution cycles.
- NEXT-GENERATION EQUIPMENT AND AUTOMATION: suppliers and producers are investing in advanced hydroentangling concepts, efficiency improvements and new line configurations to optimise performance and sustainability.
At Murtra Nonwovens we have a guiding principle: sustainability requirements must be met without compromising performance and without increasing cost, so innovation has to be practical, not just greenwashing.
In addition, our technical and sales team operates with a solution mindset rather than a “single standard product” mindset: we are fully aware that the market is moving towards greater segmentation and customised performance profiles; therefore, we have strengthened our ability to translate performance targets into robust industrial parameters.
Three Murtra Nonwovens pillars supporting our Spunlace technology.
AGILITY AND CO DEVELOPMENT
Fast iteration cycles and close collaboration, transforming customer requirements into industrially robust solutions.
RELIABILITY AND CONSISTENCY
Stable production control and a quality approach that customers can rely on for continuous supply.
SUSTAINABILITY READY DEVELOPMENT
Active work on PFAS free directions and recycled content, aligned with the broader regulatory and brand driven momentum in the market.
Shaping the materials of the future together.
At Murtra Nonwovens we understand innovation as a joint journey with our customers, combining material science, process know how and real end use feedback to develop next generation nonwovens that balance performance, competitiveness and sustainability.
As part of our commitment to sustainability, Murtra Nonwovens has developed a new generation of PFAS free nonwovens created with Spunlace technology. With this, we are adapting to the growing regulatory pressure to limit or eliminate per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in order to create a new generation of materials that are safer and more responsible towards human health and the environment.
Our ambition is to be a partner that supports customers not only with fabric supply, but also with application know‑how and fast problem‑solving in an increasingly demanding market.