49. Evaluating Baby Products to Earn Parents' Trust pt. 2 with Sharon Vinderine

'Attached to Hygiene' Goes on Hiatus

After successfully airing and sharing 57 episodes of ‘Attached to Hygiene’, the podcast will be taking a production break. When the show that is designed to enable you to grow your knowledge and influence in absorbent hygiene returns, expect fresh content and valuable insights from experts at Bostik, throughout the industry, and a new host.

On behalf of Bostik and the entire podcast team, we thank you, our listeners, for your dedication to the show and we look forward to returning in the future.

We would like to also take this opportunity to thank Jack for his energy, vision, and enlightening interviews that have brought Bostik’s ‘Attached to Hygiene’ podcast to life.

Please use this pause as an opportunity to get caught up on any episodes you missed or relisten to your favourites.

Outline

[00:01]Announcement

[00:19]Jack’s personal farewell

Connect with Attached to Hygiene Podcast Team

•Follow Disposable Hygiene Adhesives on LinkedIn.

•Email us with questions, comments, or ideas for future episodes at [email protected] or take our listener survey.

•Sign up for the Attached to Hygiene newsletter to be informed when the podcast returns.

Additional Resources available:

•Listen to past episodes

•Access Bostik Academy: Absorbent Hygiene*

*Please note that access to Bostik Academy is only available to Bostik Customers and Partners.

Music by Jonathan Boyle

Produced and edited with help from Paul Andrews, Liz Brunner, Michele Tonkovitz, Emory Churness, Nikki Ackerman, and Green Onion Creative. Post-production for Attached to Hygiene is done by PodcastBoutique.com.

Legal disclaimer.

57. Product Safety: The Value of Voluntary Guidelines with Luminita Barbu

Over the last few years, consumers have become increasingly interested in the safety of products. But they are not alone in their concern. Our industry strives to provide products that can be used with confidence. Governmental bodies create laws and directives to help ensure shoppers are protected from bad actors.

To get insights into the current climate around standards and directives, Host Jack Hughes speaks with Luminita Barbu, Regulatory Affairs Director at EDANA. Together they explore the European Union’s rules and the industry’s actions to protect the health of product users. Though much of the conversation focuses on the EU, it offers insight into what may soon come to other regions of the globe.

The EU’s General Product Safety Directive (GPSD)

As Luminita explains, the GPSD applies to product categories that do not have specific directives associated with them. Through the GPSD, all products are regulated in regards to product safety and consumer health. However, quality standards may not always be clear as to how they are best applied to any given industry. This leaves a critical need that, in some cases, is filled by organisations within the industry itself.

The synergy of regulations and voluntary guidelines

Trade associations bring together industry players seeking to comply in the best way possible and promote safety. They can be more agile, helping manufacturers, suppliers, and others to establish and implement changes. This results in improved flexibility for adapting to innovations and evolving information.

The EDANA Stewardship Program

Luminita describes EDANA as serving the absorbent hygiene industry in several ways. It can:

• Assist with providing valuable information to those crafting regulations
• Help to define and promote best practices on consumer safety, substances of interest, sustainability, and fair trade
• Create standards for raw materials, testing protocols, and supplier conduct
• Make recommendations regarding communications with consumers in a way that is honest, productive, and accessible

Outline of the Episode

• [04:28] Regulations affecting the absorbent hygiene industry
• [08:00] Absorbent hygiene articles have a long history of safety
• [12:33] The General Product Safety Directive
• [14:36] Building trust with the consumer
• [17:00] Safety is achieved with a synergy of mandatory regulation and voluntary standards
• [19:20] Ensuring safety is the role of the entire supply chain
• [24:30] The advantages of voluntary guidelines, and what makes them an effective tool
• [27:09] What absorbent hygiene can learn from other industries

Resources

You can find Luminita Barbu on LinkedIn or leave them a message through our email at [email protected].

For more information on EDANA, visit edana.org.

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, and other helpful learning materials

Connect with Jack Hughes on LinkedIn. You can also find us at Bostik | Absorbent Hygiene on LinkedIn or by visiting the Attached to Hygiene Podcast on our official website.

You can email us with questions, comments, or ideas for future episodes at [email protected].

Host: Jack Hughes

Music by Jonathan Boyle

Produced and edited by: Jack Hughes with help from Paul Andrews, Michele Tonkovitz, Emory Churness, and Nikki Ackerman from Green Onion Creative.

Post production for Attached to Hygiene is done by PodcastBoutique.com.

Legal Disclaimer

56. What Incontinence Users Want from Their Products with Alan Cottenden

Daily management of incontinence can be complicated. Many sufferers rely on absorbent hygiene products to cope with their condition. Although their experiences vary widely, some needs (leak protection, discretion, and affordability, etc.) are fairly common. How well these are met can make or break the product users’ trust in a brand forever.

So how can producers better serve consumers? One simple approach is to talk to product users. In this episode of ‘Attached to Hygiene’, host Jack Hughes revisits an earlier discussion featuring guest moderator Alan Cottenden who spoke with a user panel from Europe. As Emeritus Professor of Incontinence Technology at University College London, Alan has extensive expertise with incontinence products and user experience.

Panellists Tonneke, Chris, and Rebecca relate how current market products help them live more active lives. They also explore what innovations they hope to see in the future from the market.

Managing incontinence with absorbent hygiene products

Incontinence affects an individual's daily life on many levels and to differing degrees. For some, it is just a small ‘oops’ during a sneeze or other physical activity. For others, it can be a sudden and complete release of the bladder or bowels. To live as normally as possible, users rely on a product's effectiveness for absorption, odour control, and more.

Methods for coping are many, from choosing particular clothes (and bringing spares), to planning their agendas around bathroom breaks. The absorbent hygiene products they use are a key aspect of their planning. Some shift between as many as 5 or 6 different articles depending on planned activities. And, whilst users appreciate recent product improvements, each has a wish list that would make living with incontinence just a bit easier.

Outline of the Episode

• [04:49] Understanding user experience helps you address their concerns
• [06:03] Introduction of panellists and their conditions
• [12:57] Incontinence of any type can limit options or make living a full life difficult
• [16:38] Secrecy, discretion, and the reactions of others to incontinence
• [22:51] The panellists’ experiences … Do current products meet their needs?
• [29:14] Skin health and managing issues caused by incontinence
• [33:05] Changes that would improve user experience with incontinence products
• [39:00] Why consumers may mix and match various product types
• [43:42] Users want more sustainable products, but they can’t sacrifice performance or afford expensive solutions
• [49:51] The impact of a product’s appearance on discretion and attitude

Resources

You can find Alan on LinkedIn. You may wish to leave him a message through our email at [email protected].

If you'd like to donate to any of the preferred charities of our panellists, you can do so via the links below.

• Bladder Health UK
• Bekkenbodem4all
• The Simon Foundation for Continence
• Progress Educational Trust

For additional information, download our 1-page PDFs, ‘Fit is Key to Comfort and Performance in Adult Incontinence’ and ‘Core Performance in Adult Incontinence’.

Or, request a copy of our complete ‘Adult Incontinence’ whitepaper'.

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, and other helpful learning materials

Connect with Jack Hughes on LinkedIn. You can also find us at Bostik | Absorbent Hygiene on LinkedIn or by visiting the Attached to Hygiene Podcast on our official website.

You can email us with questions, comments, or ideas for future episodes at [email protected].

Host: Jack Hughes

Music by Jonathan Boyle

Produced and edited by: Jack Hughes with help from Paul Andrews, Michele Tonkovitz, Emory Churness, and Nikki Ackerman from Green Onion Creative.

Post production for Attached to Hygiene is done by PodcastBoutique.com.

Legal Disclaimer

55. The Consumer Trends Impacting Absorbent Hygiene pt. 2 with Liying Qian and Ali Angus

This episode is sponsored by Cotton Incorporated and their free B2B Resource CottonWorks.com.

Learn more about their free sourcing directories at CottonWorks.com/Nonwovens-Sourcing.

Host Jack Hughes continues his conversation with Euromonitor’s Ali Angus, Head of Innovation Practice, and Liying Qian, Head of Tissue and Disposable Hygiene. In recent episodes, they reviewed the market research firm’s Top 10 Global Consumer Trends of 2023 and began to explore those with the clearest impact on the absorbent hygiene industry. This episode looks at the final three trends with the biggest impact on hygiene.

‘She Rises’: Women bring their needs and expectations into the open

To combat years of stigma, the topic of menstruation and related issues are being discussed honestly. Companies are seeking better ways to speak about and meet the consumer’s needs. Another example: the ‘fem tech’ industry is partnering with absorbent hygiene manufacturers to incorporate technology that can perform health screenings and other functions into menstrual products that shoppers use regularly.

‘Authentic Automation’: Pairing smart machines with human needs

As the ability of computers to do more for us increases, so does their ability to drive a more personalised experience. The lack of universally-accepted terminology to describe flows, volumes, or even product capacity for menstruation and incontinence can make shopping difficult. Smart tools and quizzes can help consumers clarify their needs and narrow down product options. When these bots alone aren’t enough, manufacturers and retailers may also have consultants standing by to help.

‘Young and Disrupted’: Pushing companies into a new way of interacting

Gen Z, a highly vocal yet diverse generation, wants genuine connections to brands. They challenge manufacturers on both performance and social issues. Companies may find themselves in new and uncomfortable conversations in the most public of venues. (One example: menstruation for transgender users.) Moreover, these shoppers want sincere responses, and they expect to see them put into action.

Outline of the Episode

She Rises

• [03:10] The intersection of ‘fem tech’ and absorbent hygiene articles
• [05:10] Improving user experience with smart wearables

Authentic Automation

• [08:03] Using automation to help customise the shopping experience
• [10:15] Tools helping to shorten the consumer shopping journey

Young and Disrupted

• [17:22] Gen Z challenges brands on both performance and social issues
• [19:50] Brands are pushed to participate in conversations that were uncomfortable not very long ago

Final Recommendations

• [23:40] Read and truly understand the trends, what drives them, and how they pertain to your absorbent hygiene consumers
• [25:05] Consider how facets of these trends are manifesting in other industries and consider how they can be adapted to your own

Resources

You can find Ali Angus and Liying Qian on LinkedIn or leave them a message through our email at [email protected].

If you’d like to read Euromonitor’s full Top 10 Global Consumer Trends 2023 report, you can visit their website.

You can also follow Euromonitor on:

• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram

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, and other helpful learning materials

Connect with Jack Hughes on LinkedIn. You can also find us at Bostik | Absorbent Hygiene on LinkedIn or by visiting the Attached to Hygiene Podcast on our official website.

You can email us with questions, comments, or ideas for future episodes at [email protected].

Host: Jack Hughes

Music by Jonathan Boyle

Produced and edited by: Jack Hughes with help from Paul Andrews, Michele Tonkovitz, Emory Churness, and Nikki Ackerman from Green Onion Creative.

Post production for Attached to Hygiene is done by PodcastBoutique.com.

Legal Disclaimer

54. The Consumer Trends Impacting Absorbent Hygiene pt. 1 with Liying Qian and Ali Angus

Last episode, host Jack Hughes and his guests reviewed Euromonitor’s Top 10 Global Consumer Trends of 2023. This time, Jack is again joined by the market research group’s Ali Angus, Head of Innovation Practice, and Liying Qian, Head of Tissue and Disposable Hygiene. Together they take a closer look at how three of those trends impact absorbent hygiene manufacturers.

‘Budgeteers’: Seeking the best value for their money

Inflation and other economic realities have made consumers price-sensitive. Many opt for less expensive items or items that can be repaired or refurbished. For single-use products like absorbent hygiene articles, they look for products they can use longer without sacrificing performance—or risking their health and wellness. This trend favours added-value purchases at lower costs. Wetness indicators becoming a standard feature is an excellent example. Another is a shift toward reusable products which may be a larger initial investment but save money over time.

‘Eco Economic’: Saving money also helps save the planet

The trends for lower cost, coupled with repair, reuse, and refurbish, unintentionally support sustainability. Fewer products being made means lower consumption of materials and energy. This trend also benefits the makers of reusable articles. Companies may actively promote their products’ economic and environmental benefits. Meanwhile, more consumers are using the same hygiene articles to manage both period care and incontinence needs. Some suppliers are warning against cross-use; others embrace it.

‘Revived Routines’: Supporting a return to the new normal

As consumers resume social activities in public places, they want products that help them feel confident. The use of period care and incontinence articles that fit into more active lifestyles is on the rise. Slim profiles improve comfort and discretion. Tampons with spiral or interlaced grooves improve leakage control for mobility and freedom. Brands position themselves as companions of the consumer, there for them throughout the consumer’s lives and choices.

Outline of the Episode

• [01:52] Summary of the six trends with the strongest impact on absorbent hygiene

Budgeteers

• [08:35] Products that last longer or absorb more add value
• [13:08] How ‘Budgeteers’ affects institutional products and purchases
• [20:00] The mixed impact on Direct-to-Consumer brands

Eco Economic

• [26:02] Reusable diapers and other trends
• [28:25] Cross-utilisation of products
• [30:29] Educating the consumer

Revived Routines

• [37:12] Companies position themselves to provide support for consumer choices
• [39:09] Product changes indicative of the trend
• [41:44] Swimming pants/diapers in China