Investigating Reusable Sanitary and Incontinence Products

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In Australia approximately 660 million disposable nappies/diapers, sanitary and incontinence products go to landfill each year. Disposable nappies/diapers, sanitary and incontinence products account for up to 5-15 per cent of all household waste sent to landfill. 

The study involved Knox City Council, City of Stonnington, Whitehorse City Council, Hume City Council, Maroondah City Council, Maribyrnong City Council and Yarra Ranges Shire Council was conducted earlier this year with the aim of ultimately reducing the volume of single-use products going into landfill.

Community engagement included surveys, workshops and telephone interviews of current and past users of reusable products and potential users, as well as service providers.

There were a total of 1,363 respondents to the surveys, while 15 respondents attended workshops and 7 people took the telephone survey. There was notably few respondents from the City of Maribyrnong, CALD community members and service providers.

More than two thirds of the survey respondents currently used reusable products, mainly period and leak-proof underwear. The key reasons for using them were:

  • Perception the products were environmentally friendly
  • Social responsibility to address climate change
  • Cost effective in the long term
  • Products worked well for them
  • More comfortable

Disadvantages highlighted were that the products were ineffective, unhygienic and uncomfortable.

Other barriers identified were:

  • Initial high cost of purchase
  • Lack of information about reusable products
  • Challenges for changing, washing and storage when in public

Recommendations from the study

There is positive support from respondents for Council involvement in helping to facilitate the increased use of reusable period and continence products over of single use products. 

Councils are encouraged to combine efforts to provide more information about the range of products available and their benefits, and advocate for the reduction of single use products going to landfill.

It was recommended to target young people starting menstruation and people experiencing mild or intermittent incontinence.

Finding ways to better reach members of our CALD community, people living with disability and gender diverse people with information about these options was also recommended.

This research was supported by Sustainability Victoria, funded by the Victorian Government’s Recycling Victoria Councils Fund.

We are now in the process of informing study participants of the research outcomes, and planning ways to help increase usage of reusable menstrual and continence in our community.

The full report and executive summary can be found to the right.

Thank you for providing your feedback.

In Australia approximately 660 million disposable nappies/diapers, sanitary and incontinence products go to landfill each year. Disposable nappies/diapers, sanitary and incontinence products account for up to 5-15 per cent of all household waste sent to landfill. 

The study involved Knox City Council, City of Stonnington, Whitehorse City Council, Hume City Council, Maroondah City Council, Maribyrnong City Council and Yarra Ranges Shire Council was conducted earlier this year with the aim of ultimately reducing the volume of single-use products going into landfill.

Community engagement included surveys, workshops and telephone interviews of current and past users of reusable products and potential users, as well as service providers.

There were a total of 1,363 respondents to the surveys, while 15 respondents attended workshops and 7 people took the telephone survey. There was notably few respondents from the City of Maribyrnong, CALD community members and service providers.

More than two thirds of the survey respondents currently used reusable products, mainly period and leak-proof underwear. The key reasons for using them were:

  • Perception the products were environmentally friendly
  • Social responsibility to address climate change
  • Cost effective in the long term
  • Products worked well for them
  • More comfortable

Disadvantages highlighted were that the products were ineffective, unhygienic and uncomfortable.

Other barriers identified were:

  • Initial high cost of purchase
  • Lack of information about reusable products
  • Challenges for changing, washing and storage when in public

Recommendations from the study

There is positive support from respondents for Council involvement in helping to facilitate the increased use of reusable period and continence products over of single use products. 

Councils are encouraged to combine efforts to provide more information about the range of products available and their benefits, and advocate for the reduction of single use products going to landfill.

It was recommended to target young people starting menstruation and people experiencing mild or intermittent incontinence.

Finding ways to better reach members of our CALD community, people living with disability and gender diverse people with information about these options was also recommended.

This research was supported by Sustainability Victoria, funded by the Victorian Government’s Recycling Victoria Councils Fund.

We are now in the process of informing study participants of the research outcomes, and planning ways to help increase usage of reusable menstrual and continence in our community.

The full report and executive summary can be found to the right.