LIFE CYCLE AND END-OF-LIFE WASTE MANAGEMENT OF DISPOSABLE DIAPERS: A MINI-REVIEW
- Thabani Malusi Xulu - Discipline of Chemical Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal College of Agriculture Engineering and Science, South Africa
- Ntandoyenkosi Malusi Mkhize - Chemical Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal College of Agriculture Engineering and Science, South Africa
- Samuel Ayodele Iwarere - Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Pretoria, South Africa
- Siphumelele Lucky Nkomo - Discipline of Geography , University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Available online in Detritus - Volume 22 - March 2023
- Pages 86-98
Released under CC BY-NC-ND
Copyright: © 2022 CISA Publisher
Abstract
Waste management is a crucial priority issue for all countries in this environmentally conscious era. Proper waste management of disposable diapers is one of the issues at the forefront. The unprecedented growth of the world urban population has left many cities grappling with disposable diapers clogging landfills. It is a problematic issue that if not mitigated could overburden existing waste management systems. This mini-review article aims to critically review relevant life cycle assessment studies (LCA) on single-use disposable diapers and the environmental impact incurred at each stage of its life cycle. Different technical and non-technical disposable diaper waste management approaches have been explored in literature, but studies directed towards pyrolysis conversion of disposable diapers post-consumer waste are notably very scarce. The review further examines the potential of pyrolysis as an end-of-life waste management option for disposable diapers. Finally, this study highlights gaps in the literature and recommends the scope for future research.Keywords
- Disposable diapers
- Waste management
- Life cycle assessment
- End-of-life management
- Pyrolysis
- Environmental impact
Editorial History
- Received: 28 May 2022
- Revised: 13 Dec 2022
- Accepted: 14 Dec 2022
- Available online: 27 Dec 2022
References
Achankeng E. (2003). Globalization, urbanization and municipal solid waste management in Africa. In: Proceedings of the African Studies Association of Australasia and the Pacific 26th annual conference, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia, 1-3 October 2003, pp. 1-22
Association of Plastics Manufacturers: Plastics - the Facts 2014/2015. An analysis of European plastics production, demand and waste data (website). http://www.plasticseurope.org/documents/document/20150227150049final_plastics_the_facts_2014_2015_260215.pdf. (accessed 12.05.20)
Al-Salem S.M., Antelava A., Constantinou A., et al. (2017). A review on thermal and catalytic pyrolysis of plastic solid waste (PSW). Journal of Environmental Management 197: 177-198
Aumônier S and Collins M. (2005). Life Cycle Assessment of Disposable Nappies and Reusable Nappies in the UK. Environment Agency
Adam R. (2008). Skin care of the diaper area. Pediatric dermatology 25(4): 427-433
Arena U., Ardolino F., and Di Gregorio F. (2016). Technological, environmental and social aspects of a recycling process of post-consumer absorbent hygiene products. Journal of Cleaner Production 127: 289-301
Buzanowski W.C., Cutié, S.S., Howell R., (1994). Determination of sodium polyacrylate by pyrolysis—gas chromatography. Journal of Chromatography A 677(2): 355-364
Bose S., Kumar A., and Mishra V. (2019). Sustainable energy recovery from recycling and incineration of waste absorbent hygiene products. In: IEEE International Conference on Sustainable Energy Technologies and Systems (ICSETS),26 February-March 2019, pp. 019-02. Bhubaneswar, India: IEEE Publishing
Cordella M., Bauer I. Lehmann A., et al. (2015). Evolution of disposable baby diapers in Europe: Life cycle assessment of environmental impacts and identification of key areas of improvement. Journal of Cleaner Production 95: 322-331
Colón J., Mestre-Montserrat M., Puig-Ventosa I., et al. (2013). Performance of compostable baby used diapers in the composting process with the organic fraction of municipal solid waste. Waste management 33(5): 1097-1103
Clancy G., Fröling M. and Svanström M. (2013). Changing from petroleum to wood-based materials: critical review of how product sustainability characteristics can be assessed and compared. Journal of Cleaner Production 39: 372-385
Counts J., Weisbrod A. and Yin S. (2017). Common diaper ingredient questions: Modern disposable diaper materials are safe and extensively tested. Clinical pediatrics 56(5_suppl): 23S-27S
Danhof I.E. (1982). Pharmacology, toxicology, clinical efficacy, and adverse effects of calcium polycarbophil, an enteral hydrosorptive agent. Pharmacotherapy: The Journal of Human Pharmacology and Drug Therapy 2(1): 18-28
Dey S., Kenneall, D., Odio, M., et al (2016). Modern diaper performance: construction, materials, and safety review. International journal of dermatology 55: 18-20
EDANA, 2005. Sustainability Report: Baby Diapers and Incontinence Products. EDANA, Brussels. Available online at: http://www.edana.org/docs/defaultsource/ default-document-library/sustainability-report-baby-diapers-andincontinence-products.pdf?sfvrsn¼4 (accessed 12.05.20)
EDANA, 2011. Sustainability Report 2011. EDANA, Brussels. Available online at: http://www.sustainability.edana.org/Objects/10/Files/sustainabilityReport2011.pdf (accessed 12.05.2020)
EDANA, 2008. Sustainability Report 2007e2008: Absorbent Hygiene Products. EDANA, Brussels. Available online at: http://www.edana.org/docs/defaultsource/ default-document-library/sustainability-report-2007-2008-absorbenthygiene- products.pdf?sfvrsn¼2 (accessed 31.03.14)
Espinosa-Valdemar RM, Sotelo-Navarro PX, Quecholac-Pina X, et al (2014). Biological recycling of used baby diapers in a small-scale composting system. Resources, Conservation and recycling 87: 153-157
Fava J.A., Curran M.A. and Boustead I. (1990). Energy and environmental profile analysis of children’s disposable and cloth diapers, Peer Review Panel. Comments on Franklin Associates, Ltd. Report. Kansas
FAO. Statistics. Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations;2013. Available online: (http://faostat3.fao.org/faostat-gateway/go/to/home/E) Last accessed (12/10/20202)
Godfrey L. and Oelofse S. (2017). Historical review of waste management and recycling in South Africa. Resources, 6(4), p.57
Gerina-Ancane A. and Eiduka A. (2016). Research and analysis of absorbent hygiene product (AHP) recycling. Eng. Rural Dev. Jelgava 5: 904-910
Geyer R., Jambeck J.R., and La K.L., (2017). Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made. Science advances 3(7): e1700782
Hakala, S., Virtanen, Y., Meinander, K., Tanner, T., 1997. Life-cycle Assessment, Comparison of Biopolymer and Traditional Diaper Systems. Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT), Espo (Finland). Available online at: http://www2.vtt.fi/ inf/pdf/tiedotteet/1997/T1876.pdf (accessed 12.05.20)
Hirvonen, P., 2017. The potential of waste tire and waste plastics pyrolysis in southern Savonia region
Hoornweg D. and Bhada-Tata P. (2012). What a waste: A global review of solid waste management
Ince B.K., Cetecioglu Z. and Ince O. (2011). Pollution prevention in the pulp and paper industries. Environmental Management in Practice, 224-246
Itsubo N., Wada M,. Imai S., et al. (2020). Life cycle assessment of the closed-loop recycling of used disposable diapers. Resources 9(3): 34
Ichiura H., Nakaoka H. and Konishi T. (2020). Recycling disposable diaper waste pulp after dehydrating the superabsorbent polymer through oxidation using ozone. Journal of Cleaner Production 276: 123350
Islam M.R., Parveen M., Haniu H., et al. (2010). Innovation in pyrolysis technology for management of scrap tire: a solution of energy and environment. International Journal of Environmental Science and Development 1(1): 89
Jung S.H., Cho M.H., Kang B.S., et al (2010). Pyrolysis of a fraction of waste polypropylene and polyethylene for the recovery of BTX aromatics using a fluidized bed reactor. Fuel processing technology 91(3): 277-284
Kosemund K., Schlatter H., Ochsenhirt J.L., et al (2009). Safety evaluation of superabsorbent baby diapers. Regulatory toxicology and pharmacology 53(2): 81-89
Komilis D.P., Ham R.K. and Stegmann R. (1999). The effect of landfill design and operation practices on waste degradation behavior: a review. Waste management & research 17(1): 20-26
Kakonke G., Tesfaye T., Sithole B.B., et al. (2019). Review on the manufacturing and properties of nonwoven superabsorbent core fabrics used in disposable diapers
Kalargaris I., Tian G. and Gu S. (2017). Combustion, performance and emission analysis of a DI diesel engine using plastic pyrolysis oil. Fuel Processing Technology 157: 108-115
Kashyap P., Win T.K. and Visvanathan C. (2016). December. Absorbent hygiene products—An emerging urban waste management issue. In Asia-Pacific Conference on Biotechnology for Waste Conversation
Kaza, S., Yao, L., Bhada-Tata, P. and Van Woerden, F., 2018. What a waste 2.0: A global snapshot of solid waste management to 2050. World Bank Publications
Khanyile A., Caws G.C., Nkomo S.L., and Mkhize N.M. (2020). Thermal characterization study of two disposable diaper brands. Detritus, 9, 138-149
Lavagnolo, M.C., Grossule, V. (2018). From 3R to 3S: An appropriate strategy for Developing Countries. Detritus 04, 1-3.
DOI 10.31025/2611-4135/2018.13749
McCormack, P., Lemmo, J.S., Macomber, M., Holcomb, M.L. and Lieckfield Jr, R., 2011. Measurement of respirable superabsorbent polyacrylate (SAP) dust by ethanol derivatization using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) detection. Journal of occupational and environmental hygiene, 8(4), pp.215-225
Mirabella N., Castellani V. and Sala S. (2013). Life cycle assessment of bio-based products: A disposable diaper case study. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 18(5): 1036-1047
Mangesh V.L., Padmanabhan S., Tamizhdurai P., et al. (2020). Experimental investigation to identify the type of waste plastic pyrolysis oil suitable for conversion to diesel engine fuel. Journal of Cleaner Production 246: 119066
Mendoza, J.M.F., Popa, S.A., D'aponte, F., Gualtieri, D., & Azapagic, A. (2019). Improving resource efficiency and environmental impacts through novel design and manufacturing of disposable baby diapers. Journal of Cleaner Production 210: 916-928
Morakanyane R., Grace A.A., O’reilly P (2017). conceptualizing digital transformation in business organizations: a systematic review of literature. Bled eConference, 21; 428-444
Nylander G. (1991). Disposable Diapers-Cloth Diapers: A Comparison: a study made at the Request of Mölnlycke AB and Stora Cell AB. STFI
Nkosi N and Muzenda E. (2014). A review and discussion of waste tyre pyrolysis and derived products. In Proceedings of the world congress on engineering, 2-4 July 2014, London, UK, Vol. 2: 2-4
Ng, F.S.F., Muthu, S.S., Li, Y., & Hui, P.C.L. (2013). A critical review on life cycle assessment studies of diapers. Critical reviews in environmental science and technology. 43(16): 1795-1822
Lam S.S., Mahari WAW, Ma N.L., et al. (2019). Microwave pyrolysis valorization of used baby diaper. Chemosphere 230: 294-302
Little, A.D. (1990). Disposable versus reusable diapers: Health, environmental and economic comparisons. Report to Procter and Gamble Available online at: https://p2infohouse. org/ref/31/30950.pdf.(accessed 02/04/2022)
Lehrburger C., Mullen J. and Jones C.V. (1991). Diapers: Environmental impacts and lifecycle analysis (No. 677.21 L524d). Massachusets, US: sn, 1991
O’Brien K., Olive R., Hsu Y.C., et al. (2009). Life cycle assessment: Reusable and disposable nappies in Australia. Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane
Peng Y. (2017). Perspectives on technology for landfill leachate treatment. Arabian Journal of Chemistry 10: S2567-S2574
Quina M.J., Bordado J.C. and Quinta-Ferreira R.M. (2011). Air pollution control in municipal solid waste incinerators. The impact of air pollution on health, economy, environment and agricultural sources 331-358
Sawic.environment.gov.za. (2020). National Waste Information Baseline Report; DEA: pretoria, South Africa, 2012. [online] Available at: http://sawic.environment.gov.za/documents/1880.pdf (Accessed 2 Feb. 2020)
Scarlat N., Fahl F., Dallemand J.F. (2019). Status and opportunities for energy recovery from municipal solid waste in Europe. Waste and Biomass Valorization, 10(9), pp.2425-2444
Scarlat N., Motola V., Dallemand J.F. (2015). Evaluation of energy potential of municipal solid waste from African urban areas. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 50: 1269-1286
Sharfuddin S.D.A., Abnisa F., Daud WMAW et al. (2016). A review on pyrolysis of plastic wastes. Energy conversion and management 115: 308-326
Scott D.S., Czernik S.R., Piskoz J., et al. (1990). Fast pyrolysis of plastic wastes. Energy & Fuels 4.4: 407-411
Sithol B.B. (2006). Pyrolysis in the pulp and paper industry. Encyclopedia of Analytical Chemistry: Applications, Theory and Instrumentation
Sauer B.J., Hildebrandt C.C., Franklin W.E. et al. (1994). Resource and environmental profile analysis of children's diaper systems. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry: An International Journal 13(6): 1003-1009
Sandgren J. (1993). Screening life cycle assessment for comparison of cloth and disposable diapers used in Norway. Det Norske Veritas Industri Norge
Shin J.H and Ahn Y.G. (2007). Analysis of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzo-furans in sanitary products of women. Textile Research Journal, 77(8): 597-603
UK Environment Agency, 2005. Life Cycle Assessment of Disposable and Reusable Nappies in the UK. Environmental Agency, Bristol (the UK). Available online at: http://www.ahpma.co.uk/docs/LCA.pdf (accessed 23.05.20)
UK Environment Agency, 2008. An Updated Life Cycle Assessment Study for Disposable and Reusable Nappies. Science Report: SC010018/SR2. Environmental Agency, Bristol (the UK). Available online at: http://publications. environment-agency.gov.uk/pdf/SCHO0808BOIR-e-e.pdf (accessed 31.03.14). toxicology and pharmacology 53.2 (2009): 81-89
Vizcarra A.T., Lo K.V. and Liao P.H. (1994). A life‐cycle inventory of baby diapers subject to Canadian conditions. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry: An International Journal 13(10): 1707-1716
Van Rensburg M.L., Nkomo S.L. and Mkhize N.M. (2020). Life cycle and End-of-Life management options in the footwear industry: A review. Waste Management & Research 38(6): 599-613
Villalba G., Segarra M., Fernandez AI (2002). A proposal for quantifying the recyclability of materials. Resources, Conservation and Recycling 37(1): 39-53
Wilske B., Bai M., Lindenstruth B., et al. (2014). Biodegradability of a polyacrylate superabsorbent in agricultural soil. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 21(16): 9453-9460
Weisbrod A.V. and Van Hoof G. (2012). LCA-measured environmental improvements in Pampers® diapers. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 17(2): 145-153
Young L. (1994). Sunnier economic climate brightens the worldwide outlook for plastics. Mod. Plast
Youcal Z. (2018). Pollution control technology for leachate from municipal solid waste: landfills, incineration plants and transfer stations. Butterworth-Heinemann