Procter & Gamble Co. is seeking a patent that would help it develop recyclable versions of absorbent products including diapers, sanitary products and potentially even Swiffer pads. Because many absorbent products today use multiple kinds of plastic and other materials, they’re hard to separate during trash sorting and nearly always end up in landfills, the consumer-products giant said in its patent application, published last week. By reducing the number of components and using more sustainable ones, P&G said it could simplify the separation process and make the recycling of single-use goods more feasible.
“The more materials to be separated in the absorbent article recycling operation, the more complex and expensive the recycling operation becomes,” it said in the patent application. “The proliferation of regulations limiting landfill waste, along with rising costs, have made traditional disposal of waste in landfills less desirable.”
Environmentally conscious customers are asking for new ways to reduce their carbon footprints. More than 80% of global respondents feel strongly that companies should help improve the environment, according to Nielsen data from 2018. Younger generations of Americans say they’d be willing to pay more for a product if they knew the brand supported environmental initiatives, a survey by Bloomberg and Morning Consult found.