attached to hygiene by Bostik

After successfully airing and sharing 57 episodes of ‘Attached to Hygiene’, the podcast will be taking a production break. When the show that is designed to enable you to grow your knowledge and influence in absorbent hygiene returns, expect fresh content and valuable insights from experts at Bostik, throughout the industry, and a new host.

Over the last few years, consumers have become increasingly interested in the safety of products. But they are not alone in their concern. Our industry strives to provide products that can be used with confidence. Governmental bodies create laws and directives to help ensure shoppers are protected from bad actors.

Daily management of incontinence can be complicated. Many sufferers rely on absorbent hygiene products to cope with their condition. Although their experiences vary widely, some needs (leak protection, discretion, and affordability, etc.) are fairly common. How well these are met can make or break the product users’ trust in a brand forever.

This episode is sponsored by Cotton Incorporated and their free B2B Resource CottonWorks.com.

This episode is sponsored by Cotton Incorporated and their free B2B Resource CottonWorks.com.

This episode is sponsored by Cotton Incorporated and their free B2B Resource CottonWorks.com.

As manufacturers and consumers both know, there are many benefits to reusable absorbent hygiene products. But there are also drawbacks. In the second half of this two-part ‘Attached to Hygiene’ episode, reusable article inventor Frantisek Riha-Scott speaks on the challenges. The Founder of Confitex delves further into the topic of reusable, single-use, and hybrid products with host Jack Hughes.

Most absorbent hygiene products today are disposable. With this comes convenience, cleanliness, and affordability. But it also brings negative impacts on the environment.

Since launching in May 2021, ‘Attached to Hygiene’ has enabled listeners like you to grow your knowledge and influence in the absorbent hygiene industry. Each guest (more than 60 to date) has brought their own perspective and valuable information to you.

The baby diaper market is dynamic and rife with competition; new products and features appear regularly. Keeping up to date on current and emerging trends isn’t easy, but it can give you the competitive edge you need. Fortunately, podcast guest Sharon Vinderine has valuable insights for the North American market. As CEO and Founder of Parent Tested Parent Approved, she sees some of the newest offerings, even before they hit the shelves. In this episode of ‘Attached to Hygiene’, Sharon and host Jack Hughes discuss the latest trends and her expectations for what comes next for absorbent baby products.

Getting product feedback from your consumers can be tough, especially if you’re new to a market or launching a product. Parents can feel equally overwhelmed by the expanding field of options. According to mother, CEO, and company founder Sharon Vinderine, that’s exactly why Parent Tested Parent Approved (PTPA) exists. Sharon recently spoke with host Jack Hughes about how—and why—consumer testing has become vital for brands and consumers alike. In the first of two ‘Attached to Hygiene’ episodes, Sharon walks Jack through PTPA’s goals and methods for evaluating household products.

New absorbent hygiene products enter the market every day, and their creators hope the items are successful. However, sometimes products flounder or fail. There are many reasons for this: Assumptions about consumer expectations or preferences were wrong. The consumer’s needs change by the time the product reaches the market. The item may be priced too high or too low. That’s why it’s crucial for manufacturers to incorporate consumer feedback from inception to launch. But how is this done? Kudos CEO Amrita Saigal—who recently made a deal with Gwyneth Paltrow and Mark Cuban on Shark Tank to invest in her diaper business - explores this question and others with host Jack Hughes.

It’s no secret that sustainability is a matter of growing importance in the absorbent hygiene industry. Even so, there are many perspectives to consider. That’s why Bostik has created a pair of podcasts specifically on the topic. ‘Transition(s)’ features outside perspectives on various markets that we serve. ‘Bostik Talks’ shares related, insider information on what Bostik is doing. In this episode of ‘Attached to Hygiene’, host Jack Hughes brings you one of each!

This episode is sponsored by Cotton Incorporated and their B2B focused website, CottonWorks.

This episode is sponsored by Cotton Incorporated and their B2B focused website, CottonWorks.

This episode is sponsored by Cotton Incorporated and their B2B focused website, CottonWorks.

We have good news for the many absorbent hygiene professionals who missed EDANA’s OUTLOOK 2022 Europe conference in Malta. For this episode of ‘Attached to Hygiene’, host Jack Hughes talks briefly with 11 of the event’s speakers to get an overview of their presentations. You can also take our survey to choose which speeches you want to hear more about from the presenters.

Guest Raymond Chimhandamba returns to ‘Attached to Hygiene’ to share his expertise in the African absorbent hygiene market with host Jack Hughes and podcast listeners. Over the course of just five years, this promising market is expected to grow by 40%. Its rapid expansion offers many opportunities for manufacturers who have the ability to navigate Africa’s distinctive challenges. In this episode, Raymond and Jack turn their attention to the top five consumer needs of convenience, comfort, confidence, cost, and consistency. Also considered are sustainability and Africa’s informal economy, as well as the industry’s reaction to both.

In 2021, ‘Attached to Hygiene’ examined trends in the EMEA region—Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. For the next two episodes, we will focus specifically on Africa, one of the world’s rapidly expanding markets. Over the course of just five years, absorbent hygiene sales on the continent are expected to grow by about 40%. For the last decade, Raymond Chimhandamba has worked in several areas of the industry. Examples include manufacturing supply, distribution, and article production. Now, he joins host Jack Hughes to share his professional insights with our listeners.

Guest Chirag Virani, co-founder of India-based Sparkle Eco Innovations, returns for part two of his discussion with Jack Hughes about period care products in India. In this episode, Jack and Chirag consider the challenges manufacturers may face in this promising market. Key among them are menstrual inequity and the stigma of discussing menstruation. Also discussed are efforts to increase sustainability as well as gender bias in an industry focused on women’s health.

Today, India accounts for only about 5% of the 90 billion period care products sold across the globe. However, this is expected to nearly double in the next few years. Experts estimate that by 2026, the menstrual health market will grow 11% globally, with nearly half of that increase occurring within India’s borders. To find out why, host Jack Hughes welcomes Chirag Virani, co-founder of India-based Sparkle Eco Innovations. Prior to launching his sustainability-focused absorbent hygiene company, Chirag carefully researched the Indian market. In this episode of ‘Attached to Hygiene’, he shares what he learned, including the reasons behind India’s rapid growth as a period care market.

In this bonus episode of ‘Attached to Hygiene’, host Jack Hughes continues his conversation with Augusto Quiroz. As commercial director for the Americas region, Augusto relates information on three topics regarding Latin America (LATAM) that didn’t fit into our two recent episodes on the Americas.

Take our listener survey to get access to 5 documents on CSR and Sustainability in the Absorbent Hygiene Industry.

Take our listener survey to get access to 5 documents on CSR and Sustainability in the Absorbent Hygiene Industry.

This episode is sponsored by Cotton Incorporated and their B2B focused website, CottonWorksTM.

Due to an enthusiastic response from early podcast listeners, we’re reairing ‘Attached to Hygiene’ episode 11: The Hygiene Market in 2035. This popular episode features Nick Carter, Vice President, Nonwovens Marketing at Avgol Nonwovens; DeeAnn Nelson, NA-R&D and Innovation Manager at Avgol; and Darius Deak, Global R&D Director for Bostik. Along with host Jack Hughes, they make predictions about the future of the nonwovens industry.

For individuals experiencing incontinence, situations and the products used to address them differ from person to person. Anatomy, medical conditions, preferences, and life responsibilities all contribute to how one individual’s needs will vary from the other. In this episode of ‘Attached to Hygiene’, host Jack Hughes is again joined by Alan Cottenden, Emeritus Professor of Incontinence Technology at University College London. Jack and Alan chat with three North American consumers—Paul, Beth, and Twila—about their experiences with incontinence. How do the three manage day-to-day circumstances with the condition? What products do they use, and how? And what changes and innovations do they hope to see?

The first half of this two-part episode of ‘Attached to Hygiene’ presented a high-level overview of absorbent hygiene in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region. Topics included market size, growth potential, demographics, and user habits. In part two of this interview, Rockey Ye, Business Director for Bostik's APAC region, and Tina Li, Bostik's Technical Service Manager, delve deeper into how these factors impact manufacturers, suppliers, and consumers. They explore areas such as supply chain challenges, major industry trends, and profitability. The experts also share insights on the top five consumer needs of comfort, confidence, consistency, cost, and convenience, sometimes called the five Cs.

Incontinence is a serious matter for those who have to deal with it on a daily basis. Many sufferers seek out absorbent hygiene products to cope with their condition. And for most consumers, how their needs (leak protection, discretion, affordability, etc.) are met can make or break their trust in a brand forever. So how can producers better serve the consumer? One simple approach is to talk to product users. In this episode of ‘Attached to Hygiene’, host Jack Hughes and guest moderator Alan Cottenden speak with a user panel from Europe. As Emeritus Professor of Incontinence Technology at University College London, Alan has extensive expertise with Incontinence products and user experience. Panellists Tonneke, Chris, and Rebecca share how current market products meet their needs and what more they wish for from the market as they manage their incontinence.

The absorbent hygiene market varies by region, and each has its own history, cultures, customs, and languages. However, there are distinctions between and even within countries. As an article producer, you need to keep these factors in mind when it comes to consumer preferences and expectations. In this episode of ‘Attached to Hygiene’, Rockey Ye, Business Director for Bostik's Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, and Tina Li, Bostik's Strategic Market and Technical Service Manager, share their knowledge of absorbent hygiene in the APAC region. Topics include market size, growth potential, demographics, user habits, and the influence of local and international brands.

Concerns around sustainability. A more educated consumer base. Challenges of a pandemic! No doubt the absorbent hygiene market is evolving. In this episode of ‘Attached to Hygiene’, Natalia Richer, Global AHP Consultant at Diaper Testing International, and Heidi Beatty, Crown Abbey CEO, share their insights on trends in absorbent hygiene:

This episode is sponsored by Cotton Incorporated and their B2B focused website, CottonWorks.

Individuals who menstruate have full lives, and their product of choice has to keep up with the demands of their lifestyle. A pad that isn't sticking is the last thing they want to worry about. In this episode of ‘Attached to Hygiene’, experts Jill Scheu, Chemist and Group Leader, and Luke Burkholder, Technical Account Manager, explore the number one issue that most menstrual health product users have with pads: stay-in-place performance. Consumer feedback is clear. About half of product users reported experiencing stay-in-place performance issues 50% of the time. If current methods are not meeting consumer expectations, then it’s time for a different approach to how pads are being tested for the market.

Take our listener survey to receive our new CSR Whitepaper.

Take our listener survey to receive our new CSR Whitepaper.

To gain the trust of menstrual product consumers, we need to truly understand their needs. This starts by examining whether current products answer the consumers' concerns on safety, usability, and environmental impact of the menstrual health market. In this episode of ‘Attached to Hygiene,’ Jan O'Regan, outgoing Director of Strategic Initiatives at Cotton Incorporated, explains the different segments in the menstrual health market. She and host Jack Hughes also discuss trends such as transparency and how Cotton Incorporated is tackling innovation in its quest to become more sustainable.

In this episode of ‘Attached to Hygiene’, Jan O'Regan, outgoing Director of Nonwovens Marketing for Cotton Incorporated, helps us view the full scope of the menstrual health market. Today’s topic: the cultural, religious, and commercial factors that play a role in how women make their feminine hygiene choices. Listen as Jan and host, Jack Hughes, have a conversation about a variety of related subjects. Included in the discussion: What do consumers expect from the brands they purchase? Why are certain brands leading the way? What are the biggest opportunities for market growth?

Roughly half of the world’s population experiences menstruation at some point in their lives. As it affects so many individuals, you'd think we as a society would have a greater understanding of menstrual health. But that's the thing. While it is a common, natural process, there's still so much we can learn. This episode of ‘Attached to Hygiene’ is the first in a series aimed at helping the industry design better products for her. Joining host Jack Hughes to discuss menstrual health and the specifics of the cycle is Danielle Keiser, Managing Partner of Impact at Madami and Founder of Menstrual Health Hub .

In the single-use disposable hygiene industry, sustainability presents unique challenges, but the benefits can be equally great. Each change manufacturers make is multiplied by every article sold, so even incremental shifts really add up. What are industry players doing to meet sustainability goals? What should they be doing? What is the role of the consumer … or the government? In part 4 of our series on sustainability in Disposable Hygiene, Christophe Morel, Bostik’s Global Marketing Manager for Market Insights and Sustainable Innovation, joins host Jack Hughes to discuss how to improve end-of-life solutions for single-use products.

According to current estimates, some 6-7 billion disposable hygiene articles are produced annually worldwide. Where available, they have been shown to benefit women, children, and other segments of society. But what will it take to bring disposable hygiene into a more circular economy? In part 3 of this episode of ‘Attached to Hygiene’, Christophe Morel, Bostik's Global Technical Marketing Manager, joins host Jack Hughes to consider the possibilities.

In one way or another, today’s disposable hygiene products benefit almost everyone … babies, parents, women, older adults, and more. Protecting the planet for future generations is a goal that an increasing number of companies and consumers are embracing. So, what can we as an industry do to help?

In this encore podcast, Jack is joined by Christophe to offer a fresh take on the consumer's need for confidence, and how it drives disposable hygiene market trends.

The movement towards more sustainable products—important to consumers and manufacturers alike—has created multiple challenges and opportunities for disposable hygiene manufacturers today. Even when addressed with transparency, information from producers can quickly garner skepticism, distrust, and a bad reputation overall. In Part 1 of this episode of "Attached to Hygiene," host Jack Hughes is joined by Bostik's Global Market Marketing Manager, Market Insights and Sustainable Innovation, Christophe Morel, and Bostik's R&D Engineer, Laurianne Libralesso, to discuss how Bostik views and defines sustainability in the scope of disposable hygiene adhesives.

Aside from medical care, individuals that suffer from incontinence also struggle with an array of other issues that compound their condition. Addressing these sub-factors is key to empowering patients to tackle the condition to the best of their abilities. In Part 2 of this episode of "Attached to Hygiene," host Jack Hughes continues speaking with NorthShore Care Supplies Director of Marketing and Communications, Vicki Wolpoff, and NorthShore Owner and Founder, Adam Greenberg to discuss the secondary struggles that come with incontinence, the benefits of incorporating fashion and variety into adult care products, and how fundamental education is in ending the confusion around incontinence.

To deal with medical conditions efficiently, we need to understand their causes, effects, and who they are affecting. Most importantly, we must also break down the stigma that comes with them. If there's stigma, having the right conversation can be challenging, let alone finding the proper approach. In Part 1 of this episode of "Attached to Hygiene," host Jack Hughes is joined by Bostik's Global Marketing Director, Diane Toonen, NorthShore Care Supplies' Director of Marketing and Communications, Vicki Wolpoff, and NorthShore Owner and Founder, Adam Greenberg to give us an intro to incontinence and how it is affecting people in the US.

When looking at brand and product growth, one factor that quickly drives the curve is trends. However, these trends differ in every market and region. Bostik, being a key player in the disposable hygiene sector, checks on how these trends look on the ground and how they affect planning and production. In Part 2 of this episode of “Attached to Hygiene,” host Jack Hughes and Bostik’s Global NW Operations Director, Seif Shaarawy, together with Bostik’s Europe Sales Director, Pietro Landone, continue the discussion on growth and market response with a focus on how commoditisation, trends, and basic consumer needs come into play as market driving forces.

As industry leaders in disposable hygiene adhesives, it’s crucial to monitor the growth of Bostik’s three main market segments through the lenses of population, birth rates, emerging consumer preferences, and trends. In developing regions around the globe that are highly populated, that means there is a lot to consider. In Part 1 of this episode of “Attached to Hygiene,” host Jack Hughes and Bostik’s Global Operations Director, Seif Shaarawy, together with Bostik’s European Sales Director, Pietro Landone, discuss the different expectations for growth and the factors that shape it in the EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) markets.

How will the nonwovens industry look in 2035? From a declining birth rate to unexpected world events to regulations, “business as usual” may be substantially different in just over a decade. In this episode of “Attached to Hygiene,” host Jack Hughes delves into predictions with three long-time players in the industry: Nick Carter, Vice President, Nonwovens Marketing at Avgol Nonwovens; DeeAnn Nelson, NA-R&D and Innovation Manager at Avgol; and Darius Deak, Global R&D Director for Bostik. Together they use their decades of experience to make informed projections for the disposable hygiene market.

Of the five senses, smell is tied most strongly to memory and emotion. For this reason, odour in disposable hygiene products is a serious consideration. Whether before, during, or after use, adult incontinence and feminine hygiene consumers prefer articles that have a pleasant, or at least neutral, scent. But it’s not as simple as it sounds. Learn more about the science behind odour and the effect it has on consumers when you listen to this episode of “Attached To Hygiene.” Host Jack Hughes talks to Bostik odour expert and R&D engineer Laurianne Libralesso about the many interesting factors that come into play with odour in absorbent articles.

How do you achieve the right level of softness in your disposable hygiene products? It’s a question many manufacturers of baby diapers, feminine pads, and adult incontinence products have. Not only is softness key to keeping consumers comfortable and coming back to buy your products again, the use of soft substrates also needs to be cost effective for your business.

Two long-time adhesives industry insiders bring their unique perspective to this episode of “Attached to Hygiene.” In a conversation that is as passionate as it is educational, Alan Ramspeck of Nordson Adhesives Dispensing Systems and Russ Stuczynski from Bostik share the many benefits of adhesives as a bonding solution for hygiene articles. Along with host Jack Hughes, they discuss why adhesives are not what some call a “necessary evil” but rather an option that brings many distinct advantages to disposable hygiene manufacturers.

Many variables impact the cost of producing disposable hygiene articles and setting the selling price. It can be challenging to put all the logistics together, set a price that consumers will actually pay, keep your business profitable, and never let competitors’ products and their pricing strategies out of your sights. In this episode of “Attached to Hygiene,” host Jack Hughes and Bostik’s Global Product Line Manager Mike Schumacher uncover some interesting aspects of costs, price points to reach business goals, and keeping consumers satisfied.

It’s no secret that disposable hygiene consumers value convenience, but did you know there are many factors involved? Get the latest insights on why convenience is a need that can’t be overlooked in the marketplace when you listen to this episode of “Attached to Hygiene.” Be prepared to grow your knowledge as host Jack Hughes interviews Tina LI, Strategic Market and Technical Service Manager for Bostik Nonwovens in Asia, on this influential need driving market trends. With a unique global perspective, Tina gives an insider view of the various components of conveniencein purchasing, use, and disposal.

In this episode of “Attached to Hygiene,” Jack Hughes interviews Diane Toonen, Bostik’s Global Strategic Marketing Director, about the consumer need for consistency in their disposable hygiene products. With 30 years of experience in the industry, Diane gives an enlightening perspective on how this need drives market trends in baby care, fem care, and adult incontinence. Listen as she explains why consistency is so vital to satisfaction and success, and factors manufacturers can take into consideration to better meet this consumer need.

Get a fresh take on the consumer need for confidence and how it drives disposable hygiene market trends! In this informative episode of “Attached to Hygiene,” Jack Hughes and Christophe Morel, Bostik Nonwovens Global Marketing Manager for Market Insights and Sustainable Innovation, explore the need for confidence—and how to deliver it—from every angle.

Various trends emerging in disposable hygiene products today are bringing comfort to the forefront in conversations. In this episode of “Attached to Hygiene,” Jack Hughes shares his conversation with Christophe Morel on this very topic. Christophe is Global Marketing Manager for Market Insights and Sustainable Innovation for Bostik’s Global Nonwovens Division dedicated to manufacturing adhesives for baby care, adult incontinence, and feminine hygiene products. With nearly 30 years in the field, Christophe discusses how article producers can help reach their business goals while keeping consumers comfortably satisfied.

In this episode of “Attached to Hygiene,” Jack Hughes discusses market trends and dynamics attached to the world of disposable hygiene with Paul Andrews. Paul is Global Marketing Manager of Bostik’s Global Nonwovens Division dedicated to manufacturing adhesives for baby care, adult incontinence, and feminine hygiene products. With more than two decades of experience in this field, Paul shares insights on how the markets have evolved.

Welcome to “Attached to Hygiene,” Bostik’s all-new podcast! In the ever-evolving industry of disposable hygiene, market knowledge can help your business stay relevant and competitive. With this in mind, we are inviting expert members of our team and connections worldwide to enlighten you and broaden your view of the marketplace.