A process for producing a nonwoven web material with improved edge quality, and the product thereof, are disclosed. The process may include the steps of forming a batt of polymeric fibers； consolidating the batt in a z-direction and thereby forming a nonwoven web material, conveying the nonwoven web material to a nip between a bonding roller and anvil roller, and impressing a pattern of bond impressions into the nonwoven web material, the bond impressions lying along a cut path. When the web is subsequently cut along the cut path, fibers proximate the cut path are immobilized by the bonds, providing for relatively neater, cleaner cut edges and reducing the number of loose fibers that may be released into the plant environment in downstream processing operations.
