Japan Turns Used Adult Diapers into Renewable Fuel

As of 2025-10-12T06:21:47+00:00, Japan is grappling with a growing mountain of used adult diapers, a byproduct of the country's aging population. In response, Japanese manufacturers have been actively developing recycling solutions to curb the environmental impact of this waste.

Last month, leading consumer goods company Kao Corporation signed an agreement with the town of Kamikatsu in Tokushima Prefecture to begin a demonstration experiment by the end of this year. The project aims to produce an energy source that can serve as an alternative to fossil fuels using diapers collected in the town. Kao has been involved in a similar trial with Saijo city in neighboring Ehime Prefecture since 2021, which has proven successful in reducing the volume of diapers by one-twentieth.

Concurrently, Unicharm Corporation, another major diaper manufacturer, has collaborated with two municipalities in Kagoshima Prefecture to begin selling diapers made from pulp recovered and sterilized from used products. This "horizontal recycling" approach transforms the waste into raw materials to reproduce the original item.

These innovative recycling initiatives are part of the Japanese government's 2020 guidelines promoting the reuse of used diapers to curb incineration and carbon emissions. As the demand for adult diapers is expected to grow amid the country's declining birth rate, these efforts are crucial in addressing the mounting waste challenge.