52. Reusable Absorbent Products pt. 2 with Frantisek Riha-Scott

As manufacturers and consumers both know, there are many benefits to reusable absorbent hygiene products. But there are also drawbacks. In the second half of this two-part ‘Attached to Hygiene’ episode, reusable article inventor Frantisek Riha-Scott speaks on the challenges. The Founder of Confitex delves further into the topic of reusable, single-use, and hybrid products with host Jack Hughes.

As Frantisek sees it, fusing the best elements of reusable and disposable products can address both consumer and retailer concerns around reusables. A hybrid article can also assist with a more economically and environmentally sustainable future for the absorbent hygiene market.

Overcoming the ‘Triple P Challenges’ of absorbent hygiene products

Frantisek sees the ‘Triple P Challenges’ of pricing, performance, and practicality play into making the hybrid approach workable. This is because each factor has a valuable role in manufacturing a product that is sustainable and cost-effective for both producers and consumers. He offered Confitex as an example.

• Pricing: Manufacturing with automated production can be done on any continent, and much more swiftly than the previous manual process. This reduces geopolitical risks and those surrounding multiple regulatory structures. The ability to produce more unlocks lower supply chain costs from buying in quantity, as well as increased product sales. Together, they lead to a better cost structure for the company.
• Performance: Automation also allows for the manufacturing of absorbent products with a thinner profile than before, whilst also achieving increased absorbency and leak protection, and stronger moisture retention.
• Practicality: The innovative design and market-leading technology of the product provides many practical advantages for consumers because they are easier to launder reducing a major consumer concern. They can be washed at high temperatures and even thermal dried without affecting their performance.

Outline of the Episode

• [1:00] Fusing the best elements of reusable and single-use absorbent products can address both consumer and retailer concerns.
• [2:00] Setting new standards to measure product performance is crucial for environmental and economical sustainability.
• [4:55] Without there currently being industry standards for marketing claims, consumers can get confused.
• [6:41] The need for new protocols to create harmonised standards that are relevant to actual working performance.
• [12:48] A new anatomically correct lab testing device designed to simulate on-body wear for more accurate results.
• [16:36] Hybrid solutions can address practicality, the innovative design, and the market.
• [21:00] Inflation is one of the biggest threats to single-use products.
• [23:54] How hybrid solutions can potentially create more wealth for the entire industry.

Resources

You can find Frantisek Riha-Scott on LinkedIn or leave him a message through our email at [e-mail].

Get Connected with Attached to Hygiene

Take our Listener Survey.

Sign up for our email newsletter!

Click to sign up and every two weeks receive:

• Overview and highlights of our most recent episode
• Additional information about industry topics like sustainability, absorbent core, period care, and others
• Bostik exclusive content including whitepapers, glossaries, 1-pagers, a