PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The market for absorbent hygiene products (AHP), mainly feminine care items (pads, pantyliners) and baby care items products (nappies), is growing worldwide. The AHP sector expects to grow by 8% within the next four years and, because of a lack of recycling systems, it is also anticipated to be one of the waste categories with year on year growth. Europe accounts for over half of the worldwide AHP market, producing around 30 billion items per day. This makes AHP the third largest European consumer item in landfill: as much as 6.5% of the total European landfill and up to 30% of non-biodegradable waste.
OBJECTIVES
The overall aim of the project LIFE EcoCare was to demonstrate that the environmental impacts of AHP can be mitigated significantly by using a new eco-design technology. The project aimed to build upon an eco-design developed in the LIFE CELSTAB project with a new feminine care pad product which has an absorbent core 10-25% smaller. It would use an engineered multilayer structure with high performing superabsorbent polymers, novel cellulose material and EU locally sourcedfibres. The project aimed to explore how this technology can be used in other AHP products, like adult incontinence and baby nappies. Based on experience from LIFE CELSTAB, the product would use sustainable materials rather than fossil-derived substances as i today's AHP products.
The project aimed to contribute to EU policy objectives including the circular economy package, the revised landfill Directive, the bioeconomy strategy and the 2050 low-carbon economy roadmap.
RESULTS
The EcoCare project demonstrated the effectiveness of new absorbent materials and products in the female and baby hygiene sector. Material reduction targets were reached in both market segments:
- 14% reduction in material was achieved for the beneficiary’s ‘FemCare’ products, namely two panty liners, which have been on the market since April 2021.
- 44% reduction in material was achieved for the ‘BabyCare’ products, namely nappies.
However, the nappies will not be launched until 2024 to allow sufficient time for the bio-based material, such as cotton, cellulose and corn, to replace fossil-based feedstock.
In addition, P&G has begun developing compostable nappies, with a first design already achieved, although a market launch was not expected until at least five years after the project end. The project team also developed a fully plastic-free tampon that was scheduled to be introduced to the market in the spring of 2023.
Finally, P&G published several online articles that reached around 640 000 people. The project was also presented at a conference in Lyon on 8-9 June 2022, the most important event for stakeholders in the non-woven sector.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report (see "Read more" section).
