DENAGREEN is a starch-based absorbent material and part of a new initiative to circulate disposable diapers as a resource. Test results have also indicated that it biodegrades in seawater.
Approximately 2.35 million tonnes of disposable diapers are discarded annually in Japan, of which approximately 70% are for adults. Disposable diapers retain moisture and are difficult to burn, creating the issue of high fuel consumption during incineration.
Nagase ChemteX developed DENAGREEN, an absorbent material made primarily from starch, and entered into a joint development agreement with Nagase & Co. and Hayashibara in 2020. In 2023, it announced the successful development of the material as an absorbent.
DENAGREEN can absorb several hundred times its own weight in water, and more than 70% is said to naturally return to the environment through microorganisms in approximately 6 months. A type that biodegrades by more than 90% in seawater over 180 days was also confirmed in tests by a third-party organisation.
The material is currently used as an absorbent in pads for light urinary care made by a domestic sanitary products brand. Going forward, the company aims to build a circular resource-based society by considering the collection, washing and reuse of used disposable diapers.