Sustainability in Disposable Hygiene pt. 2 with Seif Shaarawy and Luke Burkholder

In one way or another, today’s disposable hygiene products benefit almost everyone … babies, parents, women, older adults, and more. Protecting the planet for future generations is a goal that an increasing number of companies and consumers are embracing. So, what can we as an industry do to help?

For disposable hygiene manufacturers, reducing their carbon footprint takes many forms. Processes, machinery, operating procedures, safety, and cost are among the many factors that can’t be overlooked. In Part 2 of this sustainability series, Seif Shaarawy, Bostik's Operations Director, and Luke Burkholder, Technical Account Manager at Bostik, discuss the challenges that come with sustainable production and the steps Bostik has taken toward creating and supporting more sustainable products and operations.

Reducing Product Weight Helps to Cut Costs, Material Consumption, and Waste

The four big challenges producers face in reducing the weight of their product are resource management, waste management, societal improvements, and process efficiency. Seif and Luke discuss the importance of the disposable hygiene industry working together to address these challenges. Reducing weight—doing more with less—has been a trend for decades. But now, it’s not just about cost and convenience; the very health of the planet is at stake. Substrates, adhesive add-on, and product design are all considered. An obvious target for weight reduction is the core. This can include changing the ratio of SAP to fluff, or using a compound/pre-compound core or channel core (learn more about channel core with our video). Luke concludes this episode by explaining how crucial a role the adhesive plays in enabling weight and waste reduction. 

 

Go to Episode

 

Outline of the Episode

• [03:27]    What is the essence of being a responsible manufacturer?
• [04:46]    Reusing is a step up from recycling
• [09:04]    Scope 1, 2, and 3:  three categories for emissions
• [11:57]  The transition to LED lighting and smart processes
• [15:40]    Why safety and health of stakeholders must be a top priority
• [20:59]    The challenges that generally come with sustainable production
• [23:19]    A 2018 report by the United States Environmental Protection Agency
• [26:16]    What weight reduction in product design means for producers in the disposable hygiene industry
• [30:19]    The ways you can change the product to take out weight
• [33:05]    What role are adhesives playing in supporting the producers of their core?

Recommended Resources

You can find Seif Shaarawy and Luke Burkholder on LinkedIn, or you can leave, or you can leave them a message through our email at [email protected].
 

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Host: Jack Hughes

Music by Jonathan Boyle

Produced and edited by: Jack Hughes with help from Paul Andrews, Michele Tonkovitz, Emory Churness, Nikki Ackerman, and Green Onion Creative.