Unicharm develops dry washing technology to advance disposable diaper recycling

Unicharm Corporation announced the development of a new technology known as the Dry Washing Method, as part of its disposable diaper recycling initiative RefF (Recycle for the Future). The innovation is designed to support the global recycling of disposable diapers, particularly in regions facing water scarcity.

The key technological advancement lies in the substantial reduction of water usage during the recycling process. According to the company, the dry washing method reduces water consumption to approximately one-fiftieth of that required by conventional recycling processes previously used by Unicharm.

Historically, recycling disposable diapers demanded large amounts of water, which posed a major challenge in areas with limited water infrastructure. The Dry Washing Method addresses this issue by applying principles similar to those used in dry cleaning, combining reusable solvents with proprietary sterilization and bleaching technologies. This approach enables hygienic processing while significantly conserving water, making it possible to convert used disposable diapers into new reusable resources.

 

The RefF project began in 2010 with the goal of promoting horizontal recycling. In 2019, Unicharm achieved a global milestone by successfully producing recycled pulp with quality equivalent to unused materials through ozone treatment technology. The company has since continued to develop and apply recycling technologies for plastics and superabsorbent polymers in commercial products.

According to the roadmap outlined by Unicharm, technological development is scheduled to begin in 2026, followed by the construction of a large-scale recycling plant in 2028. Full-scale operations and collection activities, in collaboration with neighboring municipalities, are expected to commence in 2029. After establishing the technology in Japan, Unicharm plans to expand its implementation to international markets.