The green revolution is inspiring innovative solutions around the globe. And now, engineers and researchers have found a way to build homes out of used diapers.
The built environment using bio-based composite materials is surging ahead. Researchers continue to explore frontiers for eco-friendly solutions. Even the most unconventional options, like used diapers, are under scrutiny.
As any parent can confirm, babies swiftly amass a considerable diaper count. While this comforts both children and caregivers, it takes a toll on our environment. The predicament arises from the composition of diapers—laden with plastic and petroleum derivatives—which can endure for up to 500 years before disintegrating.
Challenging the conventional disposal route, a collective of engineers and researchers has pioneered an ingenious strategy for repurposing these soiled diapers. The outcome promises to be astonishing, ushering in a new chapter of sustainability.
The House That Nappies Built
A unique study featured in Scientific Reports has unveiled an intriguing avenue where used diapers find purpose beyond disposal. Researchers from Japan’s University of Kitakyushu ingeniously harnessed old diapers to supplant sand in concrete and mortar, showcasing the feasibility of constructing resilient structures.
The process involved meticulous steps: collected diapers were thoroughly cleansed, sterilized, dried, and shredded. In an innovative blend, the diaper shreds were combined with gravel, water, sand, and cement in varying ratios, culminating in the creation of both concrete and mortar.
Post a 28-day curing period, the engineered samples underwent rigorous pressure tests to determine their structural viability. This data informed the calculation of permissible sand replacement with diaper shreds, aligning with Indonesian building codes.
Research revealed that diaper-infused concrete matches traditional strength. “The research also demonstrated that disposable diaper concrete’s mechanical properties and microbial content, in specific compositions, are identical to traditional concrete.”
The innovation’s potential extended across various construction scenarios. In a three-story dwelling, diaper shreds could replace up to 10% of sand in the concrete underpinning beams and columns, while a single-story abode saw this proportion escalate to 27%.
Diaper substitution reached 40% and 9% of sand for non-load-bearing partition walls and garden paving, respectively. In the case of a complete 387-square-foot single-story home, crews could integrate diaper shreds, accounting for 8% of the aggregate sand in concrete and mortar.
This study heralds an inventive avenue, illustrating the possibility of sustainable construction practices and underlining the potential of everyday items to revolutionize traditional building materials.
What it Means for the Earth
This innovative approach holds the potential to substantially curb the disposal of used diapers in landfills, avoid incineration, and curtail their detrimental impact on marine ecosystems.
Environmental guardians like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emphasize the significance of this step, given the staggering volumes of discarded diapers annually.
In the United States, a staggering 3.3 million tons of disposable diapers were dumped in 2018, as per the latest EPA data, while in Australia, some 1.5 billion end up in landfills each year, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Simultaneously, the extraction of sand, an indispensable ingredient in construction materials like concrete, exacts environmental tolls and financial burdens. As sand scarcity looms, the urgency of seeking sustainable alternatives becomes evident.
Amid these challenges, there’s a pressing demand for affordable housing solutions, particularly within low- and middle-income communities. The United Nations (UN) Commission on Social Development acknowledges homelessness as a global predicament warranting innovative strategies and inclusive partnerships.
Liu Zhenmin, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, has repeatedly called for intensified efforts to combat homelessness, emphasizing accessible and economical housing solutions, expanded social safety nets, and strategies to mitigate climate change’s repercussions. This multifaceted endeavor underscores the interconnectedness of environmental preservation, housing inclusivity, and social progress.
Still Far from Ready
While the research team’s proof-of-concept home underscores the viability of its structure, its implementation on a broader scale remains a work in progress. Several challenges persist. The researchers have not established a safe and efficient protocol for collecting and processing significant volumes of used diapers. Additionally, they aim to assess the newly formulated building materials’ capabilities in terms of insulation and soundproofing, determining their suitability for human habitation.
Siswanti Zuraida, an engineer at the University of Kitakyushu and a co-author of the study, acknowledged that, despite the promising proof-of-concept, waste management and other stakeholders have yet to be integrated into the research.
Around the globe, researchers are exploring diverse alternatives to enhance concrete’s environmental friendliness and reduce landfill contributions. These include repurposing items like vehicle tyres plastic bottles, disposable coffee cups, construction waste, and biochar – a carbon-sequestering material derived from agricultural and forestry byproducts. The application of used diapers in road paving has also been experimented with.
Rackel San Nicolas, an engineer from the University of Melbourne who was not involved in the study, expressed skepticism, stating she would “never use it in concrete, that’s for sure.”
While the concept raises intrigue, its transition to practical implementation faces various considerations, from technical feasibility to social acceptance.
References
Application of non-degradable waste as building material for low-cost housing
See the House Engineers Built From Dirty Diapers
Used diapers can replace sand in concrete and mortar, study finds
