Transforming the Diaper System

In March 2024, we joined forces with the University of Southern Denmark, Design School Kolding, Aarhus and Odense municipalities, and Odense Renovation to uncover the possibility of making Denmark's diaper system more circular by 2030.

Annually, roughly 500 million disposable diapers are used and disposed of in Denmark. That is equivalent to 50-100,000 tons of waste, which accounts for approx. 100,000t CO2 emissions.

The project group will uncover the future use and disposal of diapers and incontinence products, including logistics, workflows, and care practice in institutions. More specifically, the project should result in new ways to reduce the total amount of residual waste generated from production and consumption.

This system transformation is expected to reduce approx. half of the CO2 emissions related to diaper production and consumption in Denmark. Additional outcomes are cost savings in care and an improved working environment for care staff, just as it can create new jobs in circular logistics. 

If implemented at a full-scale at the European level, the transformed system has the potential to remove more than 1 million tons CO2e per year.

The innovation project will run for three years and is co-financed by Innovation Fund Denmark via TRACE.

 

Transforming the Diaper System

In March 2024, we joined forces with the University of Southern Denmark, Design School Kolding, Aarhus and Odense municipalities, and Odense Renovation to uncover the possibility of making Denmark's diaper system more circular by 2030.

Annually, roughly 500 million disposable diapers are used and disposed of in Denmark. That is equivalent to 50-100,000 tons of waste, which accounts for approx. 100,000t CO2 emissions.

The project group will uncover the future use and disposal of diapers and incontinence products, including logistics, workflows, and care practice in institutions. More specifically, the project should result in new ways to reduce the total amount of residual waste generated from production and consumption.

This system transformation is expected to reduce approx. half of the CO2 emissions related to diaper production and consumption in Denmark. Additional outcomes are cost savings in care and an improved working environment for care staff, just as it can create new jobs in circular logistics. 

If implemented at a full-scale at the European level, the transformed system has the potential to remove more than 1 million tons CO2e per year.

The innovation project will run for three years and is co-financed by Innovation Fund Denmark via TRACE.
Sources: ABENA and Trace 
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