Utrecht Science Week: Boudewijn Visscher on the Future of Washable Incontinence Materials

During Utrecht Science Week, Boudewijn Visscher, Senior Lecturer and Senior Researcher in Sustainable Healthcare at HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, discusses the opportunities and challenges. Through the WIN-Z research project, researchers are investigating how washable incontinence materials can be made safe, affordable and practical to use in healthcare.

Why have disposable incontinence materials remained the standard in healthcare for so long?

Disposable incontinence materials are practical, relatively inexpensive and easy to use. As a result, there has long been little incentive to look for alternatives. Washable incontinence materials can be more sustainable, but their use in long-term care remains limited.

The transition requires changes across the entire system. This includes washing, logistics, costs, hygiene, procurement and workflows. Acceptance among clients and healthcare workers also plays an important role. With WIN-Z, we therefore want to look beyond the material itself and consider the entire chain. The aim is to bring together sustainability, financial feasibility, logistics, practicality and the dignity of clients.

Are there innovations that could make washable materials the new standard?

Several washable materials have now been developed and tested in small-scale pilots. These pilots look not only at the materials themselves, but also at how they can be washed and reused.

The challenge is to develop an integrated system that genuinely fits into everyday healthcare practice. With WIN-Z, we therefore aim to develop an approach that works not only in a pilot setting, but can also be implemented on a larger scale. Ultimately, the goal is to develop a proven approach that healthcare organisations across the Netherlands can adopt.

Is reusing incontinence material really safe?

Safety naturally comes first. That is why we work together with various parties, including laundries, manufacturers of detergents and hygiene experts. Together, we examine which measures and tests are needed to ensure the quality and hygiene of the materials.

So the question is not simply whether a material can technically be washed, but rather how to organise a safe and reliable system for reuse.

Isn’t washable incontinence material much more expensive?

At first glance, washable materials appear to be more expensive. The purchase price per item is higher than that of disposable materials. However, when you look at the total costs over a longer period, a different picture emerges.

Initial research indicates that washable materials can be cheaper per year than disposable materials. Of course, this requires taking all costs into account, including washing, logistics and labour. This is precisely why WIN-Z is examining the entire system rather than just the cost of the material itself.

Isn’t disposable material, when you take everything into account, still more sustainable than washing?

In the Netherlands, an estimated 85 million kilograms of waste from incontinence materials are generated every year. These materials are generally incinerated after a single use. This not only means that materials are lost, but also requires raw materials, water and energy and generates CO₂ emissions.

Washable materials can help prevent part of this waste stream. Manufacturers working on these alternatives are also increasingly focusing on the use of sustainable materials. The question therefore is not simply whether washing requires energy, but how the entire system – from production and use to washing and logistics – compares with single-use materials.

Utrecht Science Week: WIN-Z – Washable Incontinence Materials as the New Standard Towards Zero Waste

This interactive session focuses on how washable incontinence materials can be more widely implemented in healthcare. Different parties from across the value chain will share their experiences and challenges, including healthcare organisations, suppliers, laundries, policymakers and health insurers.

The session combines short presentations with an open panel discussion. Jan Peter Niezink, Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility at ’s Heeren Loo, will share experiences with washable incontinence materials. The discussion will then explore what is needed across the entire value chain to make washable materials more widely applicable. The ambitions of the consortium partners will also be collected, followed by a speech from Has Bakker, Provincial Executive of the Province of Utrecht, and the official signing ceremony of the consortium. The event concludes with drinks.