In today’s global marketplace, where consumers are increasingly prioritizing health and wellness, Welspun stands as a trendsetter in the nonwovens industry, consistently leading with relevant innovations driven by consumer insight. Despite the headwinds posed by tariff pressures, the company has remained resilient; transforming challenges into an opportunity for innovation and strategic growth.

Under the leadership of Keyur Parekh, Welspun has evolved into a global force, delivering high-performance solutions that are revered as thought leadership benchmarks in the industry.

Nonwovens Industry: Please discuss supply and demand within the global spunlace market. How is Welspun uniquely positioned to serve its customers globally?
Keyur Parekh: The global spunlace market, valued at over $12 billion with a CAGR of 10.1%, has moved from a balanced supply-demand situation to a period of significant oversupply. While this oversupply environment puts pressure on competitiveness, the long-term outlook remains healthy as growth will continue to be fuelled by sustainable, plastic-free biodegradable wipes, hygiene and medical applications. And hence, the winners will be those who can offer differentiated products, operational reliability, and supply chain agility.

Being the largest spunlace manufacturer in India, Welspun can make over 27,000 metric tons per year across two facilities, but capacity alone doesn’t define us. Our unique value proposition lies in our versatility. Welspun offers spunlace, needlepunch, thermal bond and advanced hybrid composites making us a comprehensive solution provider, with the distinction of being the only Indian spunlace producer to offer certified organic cotton solutions.

From a supply standpoint, our global operations are designed for agility. Our manufacturing base in India benefits from strategic proximity to key ports, and we maintain contracts with major shipping lines to ensure speed and reliability. Additionally, with warehousing and distribution capabilities in major consumer markets including the U.S., Europe, the U.K., Middle East/GCC and Asia Pacific, we offer customers faster turnaround and reduced lead times.

Today, over 70% of our business is export-driven, which speaks to our ability to deliver consistently across continents. Welspun’s robust and responsive global supply chain, combined with our scale, sustainability and innovation, enables us to be a trusted partner to leading brands around the world.

NWI: How do growth opportunities for Welspun compare across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific?
KP: North America continues to be Welspun’s most strategic market, driven by high disposable income and a strong preference for value-added, performance-oriented textiles. Our advanced capabilities in dyed and printed nonwovens are particularly well-aligned with the kitchen and home segments, where demand for durable, aesthetic and functional textiles is growing rapidly. Our long-standing customer relationships and robust distribution infrastructure provide a solid foundation for sustained growth.

The European and U.K. market have emerged as a hub for innovation and sustainability-led expansion. The region’s emphasis on circular economy models, eco-certified materials and advanced technical textiles aligns seamlessly with our portfolio of organic cotton spunlace and hybrid nonwovens. The UK-India FTA and the potential India-EU trade agreement further enhance our competitiveness and agility in this market.

In Asia-Pacific, we are witnessing a significant rise in the beauty and personal care segment, particularly in countries like South Korea, Japan and Southeast Asia. This trend is transcending regional boundaries and influencing global product development. Welspun is well-positioned to capitalize on this shift with our high-quality, skin-friendly nonwovens, traceable sourcing, with robust manufacturing capacities. Our solutions cater to the evolving needs of global beauty brands seeking premium, sustainable, and innovative materials.

NWI: How has Welspun responded to global challenges like inflation, trade shifts, and energy costs?
KP: At Welspun, we’ve addressed global inflationary pressures with strategic foresight. We have proactively shifted focus toward value-added applications that meet evolving consumer and industrial demands. Our procurement strategy focuses on robust risk management viz, securing cotton, sustainable and biodegradable fibers, implementing effective currency hedging, and optimizing the supply chain to ensure cost efficiency and operational continuity.

Trade barriers can be challenging, but they have pushed us to be more innovative and responsive. Recent years have seen us expand Spunlace applications across various sectors, strengthening our focus on adaptability.

Escalating global energy costs have posed significant challenges across industries, yet Welspun has cultivated resilience by prioritizing circularity, and investing in renewable energy solutions.

Water stewardship serves as a fundamental principle of our approach. In our Spunlace operations, we have invested in advanced water replenishment and recycling systems that allow us to reuse process water multiple times. This not only minimizes freshwater dependence but also reduces the energy required for pumping, heating, and treatment.

Our facilities feature significant investments in solar power generation and renewable energy agreements, each driving progress toward our goal of 100% renewable energy usage by 2030. These strategic initiatives are supported by clear interim milestones, including an initial target of 20% by 2025.

Our strategies go beyond managing energy costs, it’s about transforming how we consume resources. By combining water circularity, renewable energy, process efficiency and waste-to-energy innovation, we are lowering our carbon footprint, and strengthening our value proposition for global customers who demand both competitiveness and sustainability.

NWI: What efforts has Welspun made to keep up with trends in the global wipes market—like sustainability, plastic-free, etc.? Are these efforts working?
KP: In response to global demand, in markets where single-use plastic directives are reshaping the wipes market, we’ve proactively developed 100% plastic-free, biodegradable wipes. These solutions are made from natural and sustainable fibers like cotton, lyocell, bamboo and hemp, without compromising on performance or consumer experience.

Our brand portfolio, including Purokott and Comfina, directly addresses this need for eco-friendly, skin-safe wipes. We’re proud to be ahead of the curve, driven by forward-thinking insights and evolving consumer values. Our facilities operate with purified water systems and GMP-certified environments to ensure the highest hygiene standards.

Welspun is pushing the boundaries of functional innovation by redefining performance standards for dry wipes in the food service industry. Contrary to the widely held scientific belief that cellulose fibers are not Quat-compatible, Welspun’s dry wipes are engineered to be Quat-compatible, enabling consistent and effective release of cleaning agents at required ppm levels on food service surfaces, thereby, delivering high-performance hygiene without compromising on biodegradability.

These efforts are reshaping how our global customers perceive value. Our partners see us as more than a supplier, we are a sustainability partner driving real impact, innovation, and compliance in an increasingly conscious world.

NWI: Beyond wipes, where is Welspun seeing the most opportunity? What is driving these opportunities?
KP: Welspun’s next phase of growth is centered around value-added technical textiles, with strong momentum in segments such as medical textiles, personal protective equipment (PPE), industrial wipes, apparel, and incontinence products. These areas are experiencing rising demand for specialized, high-performance solutions driven by increasing standards for hygiene, safety, comfort and sustainability.

Our needlepunch technology is well-suited for industrial wipes and apparel applications, offering durability and versatility. In the medical and PPE segments, we are seeing accelerated adoption due to global health awareness and regulatory shifts, which are demand more reliable and innovative textile solutions.

What sets Welspun apart is our state-of-the-art manufacturing infrastructure, which integrates multiple nonwoven technologies under one roof, supported by advanced finishing capabilities and robust R&D. By co-creating with customers and focusing on consumer-centric innovation, we continue to deliver solutions that go beyond specifications, enhancing everyday health, hygiene and well-being.
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