Woosh, Borouge & BlueAlp close diaper-plastic loop with ISCC‑certified pyrolysis oil
- Woosh, Borouge International and BlueAlp demonstrated industrial-scale recovery and chemical recycling of plastics from used diapers into ISCC PLUS-certified pyrolysis oil in Europe.
- Polyolefin nonwovens and films were mechanically separated and pyrolysed at BlueAlp's Oostende plant to yield liquid hydrocarbon feedstock for new polymers.
- Woosh runs a give-back collection network in Belgium serving over 30,000 children daily and launched a diaper recycling plant in 2025 processing thousands of tonnes per year.
- EU‑28 generated an estimated 6.73 million tonnes of disposable diapers in 2017, underlining the scale of the targeted waste stream.
Problem
Disposable diapers are largely single‑use and typically incinerated or landfilled despite containing recoverable polyolefin nonwovens and films; an estimate for the EU‑28 put generation at 6.73 million tonnes in 2017.
Process demonstration
Woosh, Borouge International and BlueAlp demonstrated an industrial‑scale loop in Europe: Woosh collects a dedicated give‑back stream of used diapers and mechanically separates plastic fractions to the quality defined with Borouge and BlueAlp; BlueAlp converted the recovered fractions at its Oostende plant using pyrolysis into ISCC PLUS‑certified pyrolysis oil that meets specifications for producing new polymers, including diaper applications.
Scale and implications
Woosh’s collection network serves over 30,000 children daily and its diaper recycling plant, launched in 2025, processes thousands of tonnes per year; the runs show a credible, scalable pathway to return difficult‑to‑recycle hygiene plastics to the value chain and support expansion into additional markets.
Source: Borealis