Dry babies make happy mothers and fathers

Whether girl or boy, urination delivers a large amount of fluid in a small area. To ensure that the fluid is absorbed as well as possible, an ingenious high-tech system is required. Firstly, a skin-friendly fleece, the topsheet, absorbs the moisture. The underlying ultra-thin layer, also referred to as a distribution layer, then ensures the rapid and uniform spreading of the liquid across the entire diaper. The underlying layer can absorb multiple times its own weight of liquid. These so-called super absorbers consist of high-tech fibers (mostly in powder form), which swell when liquid is absorbed, transforming into a gel and ensuring that no liquid is released, even under pressure. In this way, the urine is securely contained.

Consumers pay attention to quality

Freudenberg Performance Materials in Jacarei, Brazil, supplies its customers in South and North America with nonwovens for the topsheet and distribution layer, known as ADL* for short. The latter is becoming increasingly important. “Whereas diapers used to have to be as cheap as possible, consumers in Brazil and also worldwide are now paying much more attention to quality and want to ensure that their babies stay dry as long as possible”, explained Sonia Mancilha, Head of Supply Chain Management in South America.

Using high-tech to improve footprint and handprint

“A diaper without ADL would need to be changed more frequently because the super absorber would not be able to absorb as such intense doses of liquid. This would result in a significantly higher number of diapers being consumed. As a result, using a distribution layer also makes a contribution to sustainability”, Marcus Simon explained. As Business Segment Manager Medical at Freudenberg Performance Materials in Weinheim, Germany, he was intensively involved in the production of the special polyester nonwoven and has worked with customers on its further development. “We have continuously improved the ADL and have meanwhile been able to reduce the amount of material used without compromising performance.” Through the course of their history, diapers have become ever thinner and more absorbent.

Life cycle assessment: cloth or disposable?

Opinions are divided on the life cycle assessment of the different diaper systems. According to the German Federal Environment Agency, reusable cloth diapers are not automatically more environmentally friendly. Although fewer raw materials are consumed in their production, they need to be boil-washed after each use. In addition, pesticides, mineral fertilizers and large volumes of water are often used in the cultivation of the cotton used in cloth diapers.

However comfortable and easy diaper changing is for today's babies and parents, sooner or later everyone has to face the next challenge: getting the child out of diapers. All children around the world are able to master this between one and a half and four years. Which still leaves plenty of time for Mathias and Miguel to conquer their little worlds in peace.