Closing the loop on diaper plastics: Borouge International, Woosh and BlueAlp partner for recycling
Last update on Jun 3, 2026
Disposable baby diapers remain one of the most prominent examples of a linear consumption model. They are typically used once and then sent to landfill or incineration, with limited material recovery despite containing polyolefin-based nonwovens and films. According to estimates by Cabrera and Garcia (2019), approximately 6.73 million metric tons of disposable baby diapers were generated across the EU-28 in 2017, illustrating the scale of this waste stream.
A collaboration involving Belgium-based diaper company Woosh, Borouge International, and chemical recycling company BlueAlp has demonstrated the recovery and chemical recycling of plastics from used baby diapers into feedstock for new polymer production. According to the companies, this is the first time such a circular process has been demonstrated at industrial scale in Europe.
Separate and traceable waste stream for recycling
The project builds on Woosh’s diaper collection and recycling system. The company’s "give-back diaper" is designed for recycling and is supplied to childcare facilities and households. After use, the diapers are collected through a dedicated take-back system, creating a separate and traceable waste stream for recycling.
Borouge International and BlueAlp worked with Woosh to establish quality specifications for recovered plastic materials that could be processed through BlueAlp’s chemical recycling technology. Woosh subsequently adapted its proprietary mechanical separation process to produce plastic fractions that meet those requirements.
The first industrial-scale recycling runs were conducted at BlueAlp’s facility in Oostende, Belgium. The recovered plastic fractions were processed using pyrolysis technology, which converts plastic waste into a liquid hydrocarbon known as pyrolysis oil. According to the companies, the resulting pyrolysis oil is ISCC PLUS-certified and meets specifications for further processing into new polymers, including materials that could potentially be used in future diaper production.
“Chemically recycling the plastic from used diapers is anything but straightforward. It requires careful pre-processing to meet the specifications of the pyrolysis process,” said Peter Voortmans, vice president Marketing Consumer Products at Borealis. He said the collaboration enabled the companies to address these processing challenges and demonstrate the potential of coordinated value-chain efforts.
Plans to expand operations into France and the Netherlands
Woosh is currently expanding its collection and recycling operations. According to the company, more than 30,000 children use the Woosh give-back diaper system each day across Belgium. Woosh stated that its diaper recycling plant, launched in 2025, processes thousands of metric tons of used diapers annually. The company also plans to expand operations into France and the Netherlands, which is expected to increase the volume of plastic available for recycling.
“We have spent years building the collection network and the technology to make this possible,” said Jeff Stubbe, CEO of Woosh. He said the validation of recovered diaper plastics as feedstock for new polymer production aligns with the company’s objective of creating a circular system for diaper materials.
Valentijn de Neve, CEO of BlueAlp, said the project demonstrates how chemical recycling can be applied to waste streams that are difficult to process through mechanical recycling. According to de Neve, the approach could enable recovered materials to be used in applications with demanding performance requirements, including hygiene products.
The companies describe the project as a proof of concept for circularity in absorbent hygiene products. They argue that, while large volumes of such products continue to be sent to landfill or incineration across Europe, coordinated collection, sorting, and recycling systems can create opportunities for material recovery from waste streams that have traditionally been difficult to recycle.