It's 7 a.m. on a Tuesday, and the cart outside room 214 already holds fourteen used briefs. By Friday, that one long-term care wing will have sent more than a thousand disposable incontinence products to the landfill — and that's one floor in one facility.
That scene repeats across the country. Canadians managing incontinence at home, in residences, and in hospitals generate a significant volume of waste every day, and most of it ends up buried. The conversation is shifting, though. From plant-based materials to washable products to smarter change schedules, there are practical ways to shrink that footprint — and several of them save money over time.
The landfill problem with disposables
A typical disposable brief blends fluff pulp, superabsorbent polymer, and a plastic backsheet. It works well, and for many people it is the right clinical choice. But it is essentially single-use: once soiled, it heads to a landfill, where the plastic components persist for decades. In Canada, municipal composting infrastructure for these products is still rare, so most disposables take the same route either way.
Biodegradable and plant-based options — with tradeoffs
Plant-based briefs replace some petroleum-derived plastics with materials such as cornstarch-based films and bamboo or wood pulp. Under the right conditions — industrial composting facilities with controlled heat and moisture — some of these products break down far faster than conventional disposables.
The tradeoffs deserve an honest look. “Biodegradable” does not mean a product disappears in a backyard composter, and it does not help if the nearest industrial facility is hundreds of kilometres away. They often cost more per unit and may absorb differently. For facilities with access to commercial composting programs, they are a meaningful step forward. For everyone else, they are one option among several — not a silver bullet.
Reusable products and when they work
Washable briefs and reusable underpads have come a long way from the cloth diapers of a generation ago. Modern versions use layered fabrics that wick moisture, contain odour, and hold high volumes. For people with lighter or more predictable needs — overnight protection, intermittent leakage, toileting programs — reusables can cut per-person waste dramatically. Many caregivers pair them with disposable underpads for backup protection, the same combination our urology care kit with incontinence pads and underpads is built around.
The catch is logistics. Reusables only make sense where laundering is reliable and affordable — a facility with an in-house laundry program, or a home caregiver who washes frequently. For heavy incontinence or limited access to laundry, disposables remain the practical standard, which is why most Canadian facilities use a blend of both.
Reducing waste per person: sizing and change schedules
Before switching products, check the basics. A brief that is too large leaks, and one that is too small gets changed more often — both waste product and money. The same logic applies to change schedules: routines built around convenience rather than clinical need generate unnecessary waste. Reviewing absorbency levels, matching products to output, and auditing change frequency cost nothing to implement. A range of absorbency options, like our CliniEco Medical adult incontinence briefs, makes it easier to match the product to the person.
Facility waste management programs
Forward-thinking facilities treat incontinence waste as a stream to manage, not a bin to fill. That means working with waste haulers that accept medical absorbent waste, piloting composting programs where infrastructure exists, and training staff on which products belong in which stream. Several Canadian provinces are also starting to explore extended producer responsibility for absorbent hygiene products — a shift that could reshape how these items are designed and recovered.
CliniEco's sustainability direction
At CliniEco, we think about sustainability the same way we think about care: practically, and without hype. Every product we carry is manufactured to established quality standards — our briefs and underpads are Class I medical devices under the Medical Devices Regulations (SOR/98-282), and our manufacturing partners are certified to CSA/ISO 13485. Products like our Day Comfort adult incontinence briefs are designed for dependable absorbency, so the right product matches the right need: less waste, fewer changes, lower cost per day.
We are working toward clearer labelling, better education on sizing and product selection, and partnerships that support responsible disposal. We won't claim our products are compostable, and we won't pretend a disposable is a zero-impact product. What we can promise is honest guidance and reliable products, so you can choose the most sustainable option that genuinely works for the person in your care.
The goal isn't perfection — it's progress. Start with sizing, look closely at change schedules, and consider reusables where they fit. Every brief kept out of the landfill is a small win for the person you care for, and for the country you care in.
Related reading: explore our long-term care and home care resources.
start with our underpad buying guide for absorbency, sizing and cost.
Related reading
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