Turning Diaper Waste into Valuable Resources
Woosh, Borouge International, and BlueAlp have successfully demonstrated a circular recycling pathway for used baby diaper plastics in Europe. Through this collaboration, the companies recovered plastics from used diapers and chemically recycled them into ISCC PLUS-certified pyrolysis oil, which can be used to produce new polymers, including materials for future diaper manufacturing.
This achievement marks one of the first industrial-scale demonstrations of diaper plastic recycling in Europe, creating a viable solution for one of the region’s most challenging waste streams.
Addressing a Growing Environmental Challenge
Disposable baby diapers typically follow a linear lifecycle. After a single use, most diapers end up in landfills or incinerators despite containing valuable polyolefin-based plastics and nonwoven materials. According to estimates, the European Union generated approximately 6.73 million metric tonnes of disposable diaper waste in 2017, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable waste management solutions.
As a result, industry stakeholders have increasingly focused on developing circular economy models that can recover and reuse these materials instead of discarding them.
How the Recycling Process Works
The project builds on Woosh’s closed-loop diaper collection system. The company supplies specially designed recyclable diapers to households and childcare facilities and then collects them after use. This approach creates a dedicated and traceable stream of diaper waste for recycling.
Next, Woosh mechanically separates the plastic components from the used diapers. Subsequently, BlueAlp processes these recovered plastic fractions using its advanced pyrolysis technology at its facility in Oostende, Belgium. The process converts the plastic waste into high-quality pyrolysis oil that meets the specifications required for new polymer production.
Furthermore, Borouge International worked closely with both partners to establish quality standards for the recovered materials, ensuring they could be successfully integrated back into the plastics value chain.
Industry Recognition and Future Expansion
As per Metissue reports on circular economy developments, collaborations between waste management and advanced recycling companies are becoming increasingly important for achieving sustainability targets across industries.
Meanwhile, Woosh continues to expand its operations. The company currently serves more than 30,000 children daily through its diaper collection system in Belgium and operates a recycling facility capable of processing thousands of tonnes of used diapers each year. In addition, the company plans to expand into France and the Netherlands, which will increase the volume of recoverable materials available for recycling.
Supporting a Circular Economy
The success of this initiative demonstrates how companies can work together to transform difficult-to-recycle waste into valuable raw materials. By combining dedicated collection systems, mechanical separation technologies, and chemical recycling processes, the partners have established a practical model for circularity in the hygiene sector.
Ultimately, this project highlights the potential of innovative recycling technologies to reduce landfill waste, lower dependence on virgin raw materials, and support the transition toward a more sustainable and circular plastics economy.
