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Review
Towards a greener future of sustainable and circular practices in resource recovery from discarded disposable diaper (D3): a systematic review and meta-analysis
Journal of material cycles and waste management
2025
Abstract
Improper disposal of disposable diapers (D3) poses significant environmental, public health, and economic challenges, necessitating a systematic evaluation of sustainable waste management practices, circular economy approaches, and policy interventions. This systematic review synthesizes findings from 16 peer-reviewed studies, selected from 5762 articles retrieved across Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and Scopus, based on their relevance to biodegradable alternatives, recycling technologies, life-cycle assessments, and policy frameworks, to assess sustainable practices, including circular economy strategies, D3 management strategies, evaluation of recycling and upcycling technologies, and identification of actionable policies and industry recommendations. These findings indicate that biodegradable materials, while reducing landfill waste, face challenges in terms of scalability, cost, degradation, and recycling technologies, such as mechanical and chemical processing, which have the potential to recover valuable materials but remain constrained by high operational costs and contamination issues. Life-cycle assessments (LCA) highlight the trade-offs between disposable and reusable diapers, with waste-to-resource initiatives, such as diaper-to-fuel conversion and fiber recovery, offering environmental benefits but encountering logistical and regulatory barriers. Policy analysis revealed that existing regulations inadequately support sustainable D3 management, emphasizing the need for extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs, government incentives, and standardized waste collection systems. By synthesizing the current research, this review provides a structured framework for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and researchers to implement scalable solutions aligned with both sustainable waste management practices and circular economy principles, ensuring an integrated approach for reducing the environmental impact of D3.
Details
- Title
- Towards a greener future of sustainable and circular practices in resource recovery from discarded disposable diaper (D3): a systematic review and meta-analysis
- Authors/Creators
- Darween Rozehan Shah Iskandar Shah - University of Kuala LumpurNur Faradila Anuar - Universiti Teknologi MARAMuhammad Ismail Jaafar - Faculty (United Kingdom)Wan Mohd Ahsri Wan Daud - Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaNasrin Aghamohammadi - Murdoch University
- Publication Details
- Journal of material cycles and waste management
- Publisher
- SPRINGER; NEW YORK
- Number of pages
- 22
- Identifiers
- 991005789484107891
- Copyright
- © The Author(s) 2025
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Harry Butler Institute; School of Environmental and Conservation Sciences
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Review
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InCites Highlights
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Citation topics
- 6 Social Sciences
- 6.115 Sustainability Science
- 6.115.1244 Municipal Solid Waste
- Web Of Science research areas
- Environmental Sciences
- ESI research areas
- Environment/Ecology