What is Nonwoven?

A nonwoven is a sheet made of fibers or filaments that is bonded by physical and/or chemical means, without weaving or knitting. Because the fabric is built directly from fiber rather than yarn, the yarn-making stage is skipped (INDA definition, NPTEL). Uses named by EDANA include hygiene products, wet wipes, medical supplies, filters and construction materials.

Nonwoven definition and names

According to the ISO 9092 definition quoted by EDANA, a nonwoven is a predominantly planar, engineered fibrous structure that has been given a designed level of structural integrity by physical and/or chemical means other than weaving, knitting or paper making. The 2019 revision moved the definition away from the word “textile” towards the idea of an “engineered material” (Textile World, 2019). The current edition of the standard is EN ISO 9092:2026; the definition quoted by EDANA is used here.

In Turkish the same product group goes by three names: “dokusuz yüzey” in academic writing, “nonwoven” in trade language, and “dokunmamış mensucat” in the Turkish Customs Tariff, as the name of heading 56.03 (GİB ruling, 2016). Knowing all three helps when you read Turkish quotations, technical sheets and customs documents.

How is it made?

EDANA describes production in three stages; converting steps such as cutting, folding, sewing and heat sealing come after these.

1. Web forming: Fibers or filaments are formed into a sheet (dry-laid, wet-laid or polymer-laid).
2. Bonding: The sheet is consolidated by mechanical, thermal or chemical means.
3. Finishing: Properties are added or changed by mechanical or chemical treatments; for example, the product can be made conductive, flame retardant, water repellent or breathable.

Nonwoven types by method

The bonding method also shapes the product. In needle-punching, special needles pass through the web and entangle the fibers. In hydroentanglement (spunlace), fine high-pressure water jets interlock the fibers; pressure directly affects the strength of the web. In thermal bonding, thermoplastic fibers are fused with controlled heat; in calendering this is done with heat and high pressure between rollers. In chemical bonding, a liquid binder is applied to the web; water-based binders are the most common (EDANA).

SMS is a composite structure in which a meltblown layer is placed between two spunbond layers: the spunbond layers give the structure strength, and the meltblown layer acts as a barrier (US 11479017 B2).

Properties

EDANA describes nonwovens as materials designed for their end use, ranging from thin and light to strong and durable. Their properties are set by the choice of raw material, the web-forming and bonding method, and finishes such as printing, embossing and lamination. Among the properties EDANA lists are absorbency, breathability, liquid repellency, flame resistance, washability, sterilizability and durability; a product carries not all of these, only those suited to the job it was designed for.

An example of the effect of finishing: in spunbond fabrics used in hygiene, liquid uptake and rewet are important, so manufacturers apply hydrophilic chemicals (Dönmez et al., 2019).

Uses

According to EDANA’s statistics of 7 April 2026, nonwoven production in Greater Europe (EDANA’s statistical region) fell by about 2.2% in 2025 to 2,919,000 metric tons; hygiene remained the largest end use by volume. The figures are tonnage and do not reflect changes in weight per square meter.

In medical use, product performance is set by standards: EN 13795-1:2025 covers single-use and reusable surgical drapes and gowns and sets test methods and performance requirements; being a nonwoven does not by itself mean a product complies. For nonwoven masks, EDANA names the filter layer as a meltblown web; the filtration efficiency of a surgical mask depends on the material properties and design (Seid, 2022).

How it differs from similar terms

For a general comparison of woven, knitted and nonwoven fabrics, see the fabric types guide.

Specifying and testing

• Specification: Write the method (spunbond, SMS, needle-punched, etc.), the raw material, the weight (g/m²) and its tolerance, the width and the finish separately.
• Testing: Mass per unit area is measured to EN ISO 9073-1:2023, and tensile strength and elongation at break by the strip method to EN ISO 9073-3:2023 (the latter offers 25 mm and 50 mm sample width options). EN ISO 13934-1, written for woven fabric, is normally not applied to nonwovens.

Suppliers of nonwoven rolls can be found in the nonwoven manufacturers category.

Frequently asked questions

Is every nonwoven disposable?

No. EDANA defines nonwovens as materials designed for their purpose and lists washability and durability among their properties. Disposable hygiene products are common, but nonwovens are not limited to them.

What is the customs tariff heading of nonwovens?

As of the date of this entry (October 2026), it is heading 56.03 in Chapter 56 of the Turkish Customs Tariff: “Dokunmamış mensucat (emdirilmiş, sıvanmış, kaplanmış veya lamine edilmiş olsun olmasın)”, that is, nonwovens, whether or not impregnated, coated, covered or laminated (GİB ruling, 2016). In the HS-based tariff, subheadings are split by whether the product is made of man-made filaments and by weight (thresholds of 25, 70 and 150 g/m²); products completely embedded in plastics or rubber, or completely coated or covered on both sides with them, go to Chapter 39 or 40 (CBSA, 2023). The exact code depends on your product’s structure and coating; check the current tariff schedule and confirm with your customs broker.