Trends in the geotextiles industry

A version of this article originally appeared in Geosynthetics 2025 Trends & Innovations.

Continued growth, multiple company mergers and some product innovation were all reflected in the global geotextile market over the last year.

Some of the key drivers for growth, according to industry analysts, have been:

• Boosted urbanization and industrialization of developing countries
• The relative cost-effectiveness and lifespans of geotextiles
• Growing environmental concerns surrounding soil erosion
• Favorable regulations in European economies
• Increased government spending in China
• Wider use of such products in U.S. construction applications

TYPAR Geosynthetics’ director of sales, infrastructure, Keith Misukanis predicts the Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA), established in 2022, will continue to have a profound effect on the industry, as it prohibits federal financing for infrastructure projects unless the construction materials have been produced in the U.S. But there are still gray areas surrounding the rules.

Come together: Mergers, acquisitions are on a roll

One pattern Misukanis has seen over the last 10 years is a boost in company consolidations, particularly among U.S. firms. “Larger distributors have been grabbing up more independents,” he notes. “I think they’re seeing chances for better purchasing, better access to materials and more streamlined distribution.”

Recent acquisitions he cites are Hanes Geo Components buying Terrafix® Geosynthetics and Nilex Inc. (among others); Ferguson buying GeoSolutions; and Core & Main Inc. acquiring Earthsavers Erosion Control LLC, L&M Bag & Supply Co. Inc. and ACF West Inc. “Of geosynthetic manufacturers, there’s been consolidation, with Solmax bringing in TenCate and Propex and [Berry Global Group Inc.] joining with Glatfelter to become Magnera,” he adds.

In the pipeline: Improved protection from PFAS

Misukanis defines the overall industry as risk averse and slow moving when it comes to new innovation. “If you’re building a road and decide to take a new product and it fails, that’s a problem,” he explains. “It leads to the conservative nature of infrastructure building.”

That said, he’s aware of innovation aimed at preventing the migration of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) from geosynthetic composite lining systems to landfills.

“The EPA set very high regulations on requirements for PFAS, so we’re going to see a lot of requirements for their handling,” he says. “Everybody’s going to be working on good solutions, and there will be huge amounts of investments due to federal government regulation.”

Other new innovations

Asked about innovation at AGRU America, Bill Urchik, applications engineer for geosynthetics, points to its integrated drainage system (IDS) that effectively has replaced earlier, more expensive soil/aggregate drainage layers by combining a structured geomembrane with a geotextile overlay to create one closure and containment solution. It offers shear strength performance, long-term drainage performance, a reduction in required geosynthetic material and reduced installation time and cost.

“It provides increased interfacial strength, a big concern for engineers who don’t want their landfills to slide, since that costs a lot of money to repair,” Urchik says. “It’s really gained promise here in the last 10 years.”

Anthony Johnson, AGRU’s VP-technical services, notes that industry engineers increasingly prioritize sustainability in product specs, particularly in regards to PFAS protection. “Whether this be in the civil, environmental or energy sectors, there’s been a trend toward ensuring products protect their environment and do not contribute to the proliferation of undesirable microplastics or PFAS.”

Recently launched at HUESKER Inc. is the active geocomposite Tektoseal Active PFAS. Built of two layers of geotextile using HUESKER’s blend of an ion exchange resin and activated carbon, it can be customized to address project-specific contaminant concentrations while shielding pollutants from PFASs, according to Flavio Montez, CEO of HUESKER Inc.

Greener by the day

Misukanis says the industry at large is highly focused on more sustainable options for the use of geotextiles—many centering around the land-use planning approach low-impact development (LID), or methodologies around managing stormwater runoff to protect water quality. Companies are also looking for better ways to use recycled materials, he says, and moving sites toward Zero Waste to Landfill (describing projects in which 99% of commercial waste is diverted from landfills).

A leader in nonwovens, TYPAR is one of several companies aiming to remove plastic waste from manufacturing and construction projects. “One of the beautiful things about geosynthetics is that they make the resources we have more effective, so more use will reduce the carbon footprint of construction,” he says. “Our R&D department is working on that.”

Montez calls sustainable management at the family-owned HUESKER “second nature to us,” noting that it aims to be CO₂ neutral by 2045. Measures to that effect include optimizing sustainable energy resources and recycling, avoiding waste, reducing CO₂emissions and taking measures toward a circular economy. “For decades, we’ve been making sure we diversify not only our supply chains and product portfolio, but also our geographical positioning, in a future-proof way. We ensure all employees adhere to our strict code of conduct and ask all business partners to do so as well. We also keep an eye on our social environment and focus on supporting local initiatives at our numerous locations around the world.”

One recently launched HUESKER product focusing on environmental consciousness is an ecoLine geogrid made from recycled materials that match technical properties of the original filament. Designed for long-term applications, a version known as the Fortrac eco geogrid reinforces retaining walls built to last 100 years.

Conversely, HUESKER bioLine geotextiles made from naturally renewable, biodegradable raw materials (for example, the SoilTain DW bio) are effective for temporary applications.

Yuse Lajiminmuhip, head of marketing at AGRU, points out that discussing improvements in sustainability can help the public understand the role of geotextile products. “For example, we can talk about how geosynthetics can help reduce the overall amount of aggregate material required for a project, and therefore reduce the number of trucks on the road needed to haul that aggregate to the job site,” he says.

Demand for more sustainable geotextiles is driven by eco-conscious customers and increasingly green building standards, according to a report by Data Bridge Market Research.

“Geotextiles…are being extensively used in erosion control, soil stabilization and drainage systems to enhance the durability and sustainability of infrastructure projects,” the report states. “And the increasing focus on recycling and reuse supports the geotextile market by driving demand for products made from recycled fibers.”

Cost quandary: Clients want lower price tags

Another trend in the industry is the increasing necessity to optimize geotextiles to build on the less-than-optimal land that remains available for building, Misukanis adds. “Housing in the 1950s would all be sitting on flat land that’s nice and easy to work with,” he explains. “Now, construction can happen on more challenging space that requires stabilizing the ground more.”

The Data Bridge report states that the “substantial initial investment for geotextile materials and installation can be a significant barrier, especially in regions with limited budgets. This high upfront cost may deter projects, particularly in developing areas where financial constraints are more pronounced.” However, it adds that innovations including high-strength, multifunctional fabrics and advanced manufacturing processes are boosting versatility, performance and cost-efficiency across the industry.

As Verified Market Reports stated last year, “The initial cost of geotextiles may be higher than traditional materials, [but] the long-term cost savings from reduced maintenance and extended project lifespan make geotextiles a cost-effective solution.”

Growing demand for niche products

While TYPAR specializes in what Misukanis calls “basic building materials” and not highly specialized products, he says the industry is ripe for innovation in niche areas, such as products that could better stabilize railroad beds, or bridge systems or liners that can better protect landfills from leakage. “If we go toward more battery- and electric-powered cars, we’re going to have heavier vehicles on the roads, which calls for a change in materials,” he adds.

Montez also points to enhanced demand for geocomposite materials used in drainage systems, canal linings, sediment capping and other construction applications, especially as they relate to PFAS-contaminated sites. As such, HUESKER’s key products include a polymeric membrane double-bonded with nonwovens to produce the high peel and sheer strengths needed for canal linings, especially in irrigation districts.  Another product matches nonwovens with active media to effectively cap contaminated sediments in streams and rivers, and another combines active media with a hydrophobic polymeric material to absorb oil spills.

And a fourth optimizes a uniquely absorbent natural fiber media to address silt fences in brown field sites near sensitive water areas. “Another trending market is the rehabilitation of asphalt pavements,” Montez adds. “Although this is a very traditional application of geosynthetics, we anticipate a growth in demand due to better understanding of the benefits, which includes the increased life of the pavement, reduced maintenance and reduction in carbon emissions and cost.  HUESKER produces a full range of interlayer grids in Shelby, N.C. made of polyester or glass filaments, with a unique asphalt coating that provides a superior bond within the asphalt layers.”

At AGRU, according to Johnson, clients in the environmental sector are demanding improved performances from geotextiles, including components of composite geosynthetics such as geosynthetic clay liners and geonet/geocomposites. “From geotextiles that exhibit greater resilience to UV degradation to geotextiles that provide increased interface friction performance as part of designed systems, AGRU has been working diligently with customers to advance the technology available and meet the demanding and constantly evolving design requirements of owners and engineers.”

Smart geotextiles are sharing key info

Misukanis and Urchik say they have yet to work closely with high-level “smart” geotextiles that employ electrical fibers, electronic devices and/or sensors, but online sources point to developments such as graphene-coated conductive pavements that monitor fatigue damage; geotextile products that monitor soil conditions in real time; and geotextile-fortified dikes that can monitor water levels, wave loads and storm surges in real time.

An example of HUESKER’s use of smart technology is its geosynthetic building materials that enable both short- and long-term structural monitoring and verification of design models.

As for artificial intelligence, Johnson notes that AGRU is still studying its industry potential. “Like most other entities, AGRU is optimistic regarding recent advances in AI and looking to integrate AI technology as a driver of innovation and quality, he says. “(We’re) currently researching ways to integrate AI tools as a means to further advance the quality of our products, assist engineers with project design and better streamline our support processes.”

Some final encouraging news for geotextile manufacturers: Data Bridge predicts demand for geotextile products will remain healthy into the indefinite future in accordance with the global surge in residential, commercial and industrial construction activities. “In major urban development projects such as the Dubai Creek Tower, geotextiles are crucial for foundation stabilization and soil management,” the report states. “This rising demand reflects the essential role of geotextiles in ensuring structural integrity and soil stability.”

In summary, Montez says he’s optimistic about the future when it comes to geosynthetics and HUESKER’s ability to meet continued industry challenges. 

“Applications are becoming more and more common in civil engineering projects,” he notes. “Associations like GMA along with manufacturers and universities play an important role on the dissemination of technical and practical knowledge. We expect the investments in infrastructure to continue growing here in the U.S., with preference for materials made in America.” Johnson also speaks positively about the industry’s future. “Studies are being performed worldwide to quantify the environmental impact of geotextiles. Those of us in the industry for some time recognize that geotextiles are a critical component for long-lasting infrastructure, which can serve several different functional applications, including filtration, separation, and protection of adjacent materials and/or subgrade. “Through innovation and education AGRU is looking to ways to both increase the efficacy of geotextiles to perform in these applications, as well show the public and those not familiar with these materials they are a sustainable and critical component of our infrastructure.”