i-Foria Italia: recycling absorbent hygiene products
i-Foria Italia is an innovative scale-up developing advanced technologies for the circular bioeconomy. It aims to transform waste, industrial byproducts and renewable organic resources into sustainable, efficient solutions with a high added value.
It has developed, patented and validated a technology for recycling absorbent hygiene products such as nappies, incontinence aids and sanitary pads. The technology has been developed at a demonstration plant, funded by Horizon Europe, that has validated both the industrial process and its replicability across Europe.
Absorbent hygiene products are one of the most challenging fractions in urban waste management as they contain cellulose, superabsorbent polymers, plastics and non-wovens. As a result, their environmental impact and disposal costs are high and recycling rates in Europe are low.
This project aims to meet the growing demand for sustainable, scalable and industrial solutions. The demonstration plant separates the different fractions of post-consumer nappies and recovers polymers, cellulose and superabsorbent polymers. It then returns these materials into industrial production cycles.
- Tens of thousands of nappies were recycled during the demonstration period.
- Secondary raw materials are returned to production cycles.
- It significantly reduces both the amount of waste sent to landfills and CO₂ emissions.
- The climate change impact of this technology is estimated to be 65% less than incineration and landfill (source: LCA study, University of Venice).
- The industrial model can be replicated across Europe and integrated into urban and industrial collection and treatment systems.