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Non-woven fabrics (NWF) form part of an extremely diverse and versatile industry, with almost endless end-use possibilities. The potential for biological colonization is, therefore, equally infinite, as are any preventative strategies which can be employed to prevent such colonization and subsequent spoilage. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the many potential sources of microbiological contamination, and to identify where and how control can be exercised to minimize spoilage potential. For the purposes of simplicity, in the context of the present paper, NWF can be divided into two broad functional categories: those where sterility is desirable (e.g. medical, pharmaceutical & personal/intimate-care applications) and those where sterility would be an advantage, but is not paramount (e.g. household, construction, automotive, geotextile). Clearly, for the former, a more in-depth approach will be required. In addition, consideration may also need to be given to the final fate of the non-woven when considering preserving its physical integrity - there may be the need to consider the balance between shelf-life and durability versus environmental fate (biodegradability) under certain circumstances. Some NWF may be purpose-made for environmental durability in-service and others for biodegradability, depending on the intended function.