Experts urge action as nappy waste crisis worsens globally

Earlier toilet training and breakthrough recycling pathways could significantly cut the environmental footprint of disposable nappies and related hygiene products, according to a new roadmap led by UCL researchers and published in Nature Sustainability. The study frames absorbent hygiene products (AHPs)—including nappies, incontinence pads and period products—as a global waste problem largely driven by design choices, user behavior and end-of-life infrastructure gaps.

The authors estimate that 160–200 million tonnes of AHP waste are generated each year worldwide, with most ending in landfill or incineration. Where waste collection is inadequate, used products are frequently dumped or burned, exporting plastic pollution and increasing risks from contaminated water and pathogen spread. The paper argues that this is not a single-technology failure but a system-level issue.

A first priority focuses on reducing and reusing: encouraging earlier toilet training and increasing the adoption of reusable products. The team notes that earlier toilet training may also support children’s bladder and bowel health, but emphasizes that practical barriers—limited guidance, caregiver time pressures and the perceived convenience of disposables—must be addressed through healthcare support and workplace or childcare changes.

Second, the study calls for scaling recycling technologies capable of handling the complex material mix of AHPs. Used products contain plastics, fibres and super-absorbent polymers, while contamination from human waste and medicines complicates processing. Existing approaches recover only part of the material stream, motivating research into full-component recovery and improved decontamination that removes pathogens and residual pharmaceuticals.

Third, the roadmap highlights the development of fully compostable products designed for industrial composting or anaerobic digestion. The authors caution that many items marketed as “biodegradable” do not meet complete compostability requirements, particularly regarding maintaining dryness and ensuring safe breakdown under real-world conditions.

Crucially, the composting route depends on regulatory and economic permissions—such as constraints on compost containing human waste—before it can be deployed widely. The researchers argue for different strategies in different regions: high-income countries may benefit most from recycling and demand reduction, while lower-income settings may require locally viable composting or disposal options.

Finally, the paper stresses affordability and equity. Because hygiene products are essential rather than optional, environmental policies must avoid shifting burdens onto vulnerable households. The study also builds on UCL’s Big Toilet Project, which examines how rising toilet training age affects nappy use patterns.