In a major breakthrough for sustainable diapering, Unicharm Corp. has introduced the world’s first “horizontally” recycled disposable diapers at shopping centers in the southwest of Japan. These innovative diapers are part of the company’s concept of “horizontal recycling,” where used products are transformed into their original item. The recycled diapers will be available in 68 stores by retailer Aeon Kyushu Co.
Unicharm collaborated with two local governments in Kagoshima Prefecture to recycle the diapers using a specially designed process that involves the use of ozone to eliminate bacteria and odors. The company began manufacturing recycled adult diapers in 2022, initially providing them to hospitals and care homes for the elderly.
Tsutomu Kido, senior executive officer of Unicharm, expressed the company’s commitment to transforming a resource-intensive standard into a cyclical one. The diapers have been approved by experts for their hygiene, and a packet of 42 diapers for children costs 1,078 yen ($7), slightly more expensive than the company’s regular disposable ones.
A photo shows Tsutomu Kido holding some of the company’s products in Kumamoto Prefecture on April 20, 2024.