Dutch childcare organization to recycle diapers on a large scale

Samenwerkende Kinderopvang has become the first childcare provider in the Netherlands to implement a large-scale diaper recycling program. In collaboration with the Belgian brand Woosh, the organization aims to reduce the environmental impact of the 3.5 million diapers it discards annually. Currently, about 400,000 tons of diapers and incontinence products are burned in the Netherlands every year, accounting for 8 percent of household residual waste. Collected diapers will be processed at a specialized recycling facility in Bruges, where plastics will be converted into new raw materials and organic components will be used for energy production.

General director Corona Sanders-Koek stated that the initiative is part of the company's broader sustainability goals, which already include achieving carbon neutrality. The transition to recyclable diapers will not affect costs for parents, as the price difference is offset by lower waste management expenses. By May 2027, all 230 childcare and toddler centers under the organization will fully adopt this program, helping to align with national waste reduction targets.