The Disposable diapers They represent a serious environmental problem due to the large amount of waste they generate. It is estimated that a baby uses up to 6.000 diapers during the first 24 months of life, resulting in millions of diapers thrown away around the world.
The environmental impact of disposable diapers
The volume of waste generated by nappies is enormous. In countries such as France, figures of up to one million tonnes of nappies are already being thrown away every year. In addition to their large volume, nappies take hundreds of years to degrade, which further exacerbates the problem.
Diapers, being sanitary products, not only contain plastic materials, but also organic waste such as urine and feces, which makes recycling them more complex than other materials. Most of these diapers end up in landfills or are incinerated, processes that are not only highly polluting, but also contribute to the increase in greenhouse gases.
The 'Happy Nappy' recycling program
Aware of this problem, the French company Suez Environment has launched an innovative pilot project called Happy Nappy. This program seeks to recycle used diapers through a process that not only helps reduce waste, but also allows for Energy production, compost and other reusable materials. The programme was partly funded by the French Agency for the Environment and Control of Energy (ADEME) and has a total budget of 340.000 euros.
The recycling process begins with the diaper shredding to separate its various components, such as organic waste (which can make up between 50% and 70% of the total), plastics and super-absorbent polymers, which represent between 5% and 10%. Once separated, each material receives appropriate treatment.
Biogas and fertilizer production
Organic waste, such as feces and urine, is mixed with sewage sludge in a process known as codigestion. This process consists of the accelerated fermentation of waste to produce biogas, a renewable energy source that can be used in different applications. In addition, waste can also be transformed into allowance for use in agriculture.
As for plastics and other materials in diapers, they are recycled to create new plastic products, which closes the life cycle of these materials and reintegrates them into the market.
The importance of sustainable technologies for recycling
These types of projects not only help reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, but also contribute to the circular economy, in which products and materials are continuously reused and transformed. It is crucial that the industry continues to develop technologies that allow the recycling of products that, at first glance, seem difficult to recover.
Moreover, the implementation of these programs on a large scale would not only have a positive impact on reducing waste, but would also help create a more sustainable and responsible culture regarding the management of disposable medical products. Some companies are already betting on using more biodegradable materials and recyclable in the production of diapers, which would facilitate the recycling process in the future.
Other global initiatives
Apart from the Happy Nappy project in France, there are other global initiatives dedicated to recycling nappies. In the UK, the company NappiCycle has developed a method that allows recycled nappies to be used to create pavement and other products such as panels and boards. For example, in 2022 they paved a stretch of road with 107.000 nappies, showing that recycled material can be efficient and ecologically responsible.
In Italy, Fater SpA has patented a technology capable of transforming 10.000 tonnes of nappies and absorbent hygiene products into cellulose, mixed plastics and absorbent polymers. This project has earned them recognition as 'Champions of the Circular Economy' by the European Commission.
These international examples demonstrate that although disposable diapers represent a major environmental challenge, there are innovative solutions to address it sustainably.
The key to the success of these projects lies in the combination of advanced technology and collaboration between governments, businesses and research institutions. It is important to continue investing in research and development of sustainable solutions for recycling hygiene products, as they represent a significant part of household waste.
For consumers, paper is also crucial. Using alternatives such as cloth diapers, or even properly disposing of diapers in specialized recycling programs, can make a significant difference to the environmental impact.
As we have seen, thanks to programs such as Happy Nappy, the production of biogas, compost and other recyclable materials from used diapers is a reality that can drastically reduce the amount of waste generated worldwide. These initiatives open the door to new technological solutions that, in the future, could become a global norm.
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