DIAPERS CAN ALSO BE RECYCLED: SEEKERS OF RANCID SMELLS SNIFF OUT GREEN BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
2024/08/05
Absorbent Hygiene Materials (Diapers) Recycling Treatment, Restoration, Resource and Reuse
Yi Chun Green Technology recycles and restores leftover materials from discarded or defective diapers and factory scraps. Their pioneering efforts in developing a production process for reclaimable raw materials are aimed at perfecting a circular mechanism of reuse that interconnects the upstream and downstream segments of the industry chain, thereby endowing even greater amounts of waste with renewed life.
Yi Chun Technology Co., Ltd. Jennifer Shen (third from the left), vice president of the Sales Department, Bruce Wu (first from the left), vice president of the Research and Development Department, and their team at Yi Chun Technology Co., Ltd.
While most people perceive diapers as filthy objects, there are those who view them as potential treasures and work to uncover their hidden value. If it weren’t for Jennifer Shen, vice president of the Sales Department at Yi Chun Green Technology, demonstrating various samples crafted from recycled diapers and explaining the intricate process from conceptualization to execution, it would be difficult to imagine the miraculous transformation of waste into wonder - of diapers into 'green gold'.
1.With proprietary water treatment and decomposition technology, Yi Chun Green Technology is able to outperform overseas manufacturers, converting diapers into raw materials, such as plastic, paper fiber,
and SAP. (Image provided by Yi Chun Green Technology)
2.The three major materials recovered and recycled from diapers can be used to produce a variety of products, such as tissue paper, pallets, plastic barrels, and packaging bags. (Image provided by Yi Chun Green Technology)
Addressing the Challenge of Diaper Waste Disposal By Actively Seeking Feasible Solutions
Yi-Chiu Group works in the recycling and reuse of waste oil and glass, as well as conducts investments in the long-term care and health industries. Due to the diverse business portfolio of its parent company, there's a deep understanding at Yi Chun Green Technology of the challenges posed by composite, non-degradable,high-moisture, and bulky waste diapers - the high costs of transportation, fluctuating incineration prices, and reduced life spans caused by the tendency to increase incinerator temperatures. However, there have been no
satisfactory solutions.
It wasn't until a serendipitous encounter with Dr. Bruce Wu, who had spent over a decade developing patented technology to extract recyclable resources from waste diapers, that a breakthrough seemed possible.Even though the technology was still in its experimental stages at the time, Shen emphasizes how the chairman, Chia-Hung Chin, realized the imperative of addressing the diaper waste issue in an aging society like Taiwan and decided to take immediate action.
Along with the ambitious vision of the company’s general manager, Jonathan Chin, who was barely in his twenties, “he believed that if they were going to do something, it should be to do something different.
Despite the challenges and lack of precedent, they saw an opportunity to try something new and set about achieving commercialization.”
Verified Patented Technology for Cleaning and Recycling Takes Global Lead in the Pursuit of Circular Opportunities
Demonstrating an unwavering determination from top to bottom, Yi Chun Green Technology completed the construction of its demonstration plant in the Dayuan District of Taoyuan County in 2020. Collaborating with
the Taiwan branch of Kimberly-Clark Corporation, they utilized defective products and scraps from diaper factories to conduct crucial process tests including cleaning, sterilization, crushing, decomposition, and material recovery.
"I believe many people are curious about how to remove fecal matter from diapers," Shen points out. Prior to sterilization, there is an additional cleaning step that serves as a testament to Yi Chun Green Technology's
innovation. With meticulous front-end processing, the subsequent decomposition becomes effortless. "Since diapers are not made of a single material, the plastic, paper fibers, and SAP absorbent salts are separated physically after being cleaned and shredded. We then recover highly purified materials."
After use, diapers undergo recycling treatment by entering the Yi Chun Technology Co., Ltd. plant in theLuzhu District of Taoyuan County, where they undergo six rounds of cleaning processes before material
decomposition and restoration take place. (Image provided by: Yi Chun Technology Co., Ltd.)
An Upcoming Milestone: Transitioning the Recycling Production Line to Commercialization
With the successful validation of its patented technology at its Dayuan demonstration plant, Yi Chun Green
Technology is actively constructing a new plant in the Luzhu District of Taoyuan County, which is scheduled
to officially commence operations in the second quarter of 2024 after obtaining licensing. In addition to scaling up, Shen mentions that they are also incorporating automation equipment and digital traceability management.
"Based on the current equipment capacity, we can process up to 50 to 60 metric tons per day, resulting in the recovery of approximately 6 metric tons of plastic pellets, 6 metric tons of paper fibers, and 3 metric tons of recycled SAP materials," she explains. Compared to the approximately 420 metric tons of waste diapers produced daily by care facilities in Taiwan, this will help handle half of the processing capacity in northern Taiwan, setting a new milestone for Taiwan's circular economy industry.
Shen emphasizes, "At this stage, the economic benefits are minimal, but the environmental benefits are unquestionable, especially on the international stage where no other company can achieve such complete material restoration. Therefore, every small step we take serves as a giant leap for the world." After all, if the value of recycling can be even found in diapers, then even more types of waste will be able to be properly managed and repurposed!
Yi Chun Technology Co., Ltd. Jennifer Shen (third from the left), vice president of the Sales Department, Bruce Wu (first from the left), vice president of the Research and Development Department, and their team at Yi Chun Technology Co., Ltd.
While most people perceive diapers as filthy objects, there are those who view them as potential treasures and work to uncover their hidden value. If it weren’t for Jennifer Shen, vice president of the Sales Department at Yi Chun Green Technology, demonstrating various samples crafted from recycled diapers and explaining the intricate process from conceptualization to execution, it would be difficult to imagine the miraculous transformation of waste into wonder - of diapers into 'green gold'.
1.With proprietary water treatment and decomposition technology, Yi Chun Green Technology is able to outperform overseas manufacturers, converting diapers into raw materials, such as plastic, paper fiber,
and SAP. (Image provided by Yi Chun Green Technology)
2.The three major materials recovered and recycled from diapers can be used to produce a variety of products, such as tissue paper, pallets, plastic barrels, and packaging bags. (Image provided by Yi Chun Green Technology)
Addressing the Challenge of Diaper Waste Disposal By Actively Seeking Feasible Solutions
Yi-Chiu Group works in the recycling and reuse of waste oil and glass, as well as conducts investments in the long-term care and health industries. Due to the diverse business portfolio of its parent company, there's a deep understanding at Yi Chun Green Technology of the challenges posed by composite, non-degradable,high-moisture, and bulky waste diapers - the high costs of transportation, fluctuating incineration prices, and reduced life spans caused by the tendency to increase incinerator temperatures. However, there have been no
satisfactory solutions.
It wasn't until a serendipitous encounter with Dr. Bruce Wu, who had spent over a decade developing patented technology to extract recyclable resources from waste diapers, that a breakthrough seemed possible.Even though the technology was still in its experimental stages at the time, Shen emphasizes how the chairman, Chia-Hung Chin, realized the imperative of addressing the diaper waste issue in an aging society like Taiwan and decided to take immediate action.
Along with the ambitious vision of the company’s general manager, Jonathan Chin, who was barely in his twenties, “he believed that if they were going to do something, it should be to do something different.
Despite the challenges and lack of precedent, they saw an opportunity to try something new and set about achieving commercialization.”
Verified Patented Technology for Cleaning and Recycling Takes Global Lead in the Pursuit of Circular Opportunities
Demonstrating an unwavering determination from top to bottom, Yi Chun Green Technology completed the construction of its demonstration plant in the Dayuan District of Taoyuan County in 2020. Collaborating with
the Taiwan branch of Kimberly-Clark Corporation, they utilized defective products and scraps from diaper factories to conduct crucial process tests including cleaning, sterilization, crushing, decomposition, and material recovery.
"I believe many people are curious about how to remove fecal matter from diapers," Shen points out. Prior to sterilization, there is an additional cleaning step that serves as a testament to Yi Chun Green Technology's
innovation. With meticulous front-end processing, the subsequent decomposition becomes effortless. "Since diapers are not made of a single material, the plastic, paper fibers, and SAP absorbent salts are separated physically after being cleaned and shredded. We then recover highly purified materials."
After use, diapers undergo recycling treatment by entering the Yi Chun Technology Co., Ltd. plant in theLuzhu District of Taoyuan County, where they undergo six rounds of cleaning processes before material
decomposition and restoration take place. (Image provided by: Yi Chun Technology Co., Ltd.)
An Upcoming Milestone: Transitioning the Recycling Production Line to Commercialization
With the successful validation of its patented technology at its Dayuan demonstration plant, Yi Chun Green
Technology is actively constructing a new plant in the Luzhu District of Taoyuan County, which is scheduled
to officially commence operations in the second quarter of 2024 after obtaining licensing. In addition to scaling up, Shen mentions that they are also incorporating automation equipment and digital traceability management.
"Based on the current equipment capacity, we can process up to 50 to 60 metric tons per day, resulting in the recovery of approximately 6 metric tons of plastic pellets, 6 metric tons of paper fibers, and 3 metric tons of recycled SAP materials," she explains. Compared to the approximately 420 metric tons of waste diapers produced daily by care facilities in Taiwan, this will help handle half of the processing capacity in northern Taiwan, setting a new milestone for Taiwan's circular economy industry.
Shen emphasizes, "At this stage, the economic benefits are minimal, but the environmental benefits are unquestionable, especially on the international stage where no other company can achieve such complete material restoration. Therefore, every small step we take serves as a giant leap for the world." After all, if the value of recycling can be even found in diapers, then even more types of waste will be able to be properly managed and repurposed!