Attached to Hygiene

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

For manufacturers looking to stay abreast of today’s top trends, Euromonitor International’s annual lists are a valuable resource. Knowing when and how—and why—consumers are spending their money can make a big difference in your company’s success.

Host Jack Hughes is joined by two Euromonitor experts to discuss their Top 10 Global Consumer Trends of 2023. Alison (Ali) Angus is Euromonitor’s Head of Innovation Practice. Liying Qian is Head of Tissue and Disposable Hygiene at the strategic market research provider. This first of three episodes explores the process for identifying the top consumer trends, then reviews the selections for 2023.

Outline of the Episode

• [10:58] The 7-month process of identifying each year’s top 10 trends.
• [10:50] Budgeteers — The cost-of-living crisis has forced consumers to think carefully about how they spend their money. Manufacturers reduce the cost of basic products and emphasise the benefits of higher-end products to make purchases easier.
• [22:05] Here and Now — The stress of the last few years has left consumers feeling a need to splurge. Retailers target special occasions and offer payment plans that spread out costs to allow immediate consumption.
• [23:16] Eco Economic — The emphasis on repairing, restoring, and using less are supporting sustainability by default. Retailers and other organisations are making it easier for consumers to save their money–and the planet.
• [24:24] Authentic Automation — Shoppers want a human element to enhance the technology they use and make their lives easier. Think relatable robots, virtual tools to connect with others, and even chat bots.
• [25:09] Control the Scroll — Users are looking for more efficient ways to get value out of their screen time through optimisation and consolidation. Solutions include tailored marketing and personalised recommendations.
• [27:35] Game On — Gaming platforms are a new gathering place for people of all kinds to have fun. Businesses are finding ways to reach them through product placement, playable advertising, and more.
• [29:01] Revived Routines — Many are looking look to get out and about, and to socialise. They want to return to activities that are both healthy and fulfilling.
• [30:16] Thrivers — People feel world-weary and burned out. Some have decided they don’t need to be ‘the best’ and instead just want to enjoy their lives. They embrace products that help them feel better.
• [31:24] She Rises — The women’s rights movement is surging. Female consumers are advocating for equality and equity by breaking barriers, combatting stigma, and demanding products designed with their needs in mind.
• [31:58] Young and Disrupted — Generation Z are coming of age, creating families, and taking control of their futures. They know what they want, and they expect companies to meet their needs.

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

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 [email protected].

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

Most absorbent hygiene products today are disposable. With this comes convenience, cleanliness, and affordability. But it also brings negative impacts on the environment.

For this reason, some consumers are choosing reusable options. However, these products may lack in the areas of performance, practicality, and price. So how do manufacturers like you offer reusable options to your customers while still meeting their needs?

Frantisek Rhia-Scott, founder and design director at Confitex, proves how necessity drives creation. In the first of two ‘Attached to Hygiene’ episodes, Frantisek tells host Jack Hughes how the absorbent apparel company brought a much-needed incontinence product to the market.

A reusable absorbent incontinence product with a greater purpose

Frantisek started Confitex over 10 years ago while he was a competitive downhill skier. He wanted athletes to be able to continue their race without having to take the time to ‘answer the call of nature’. In talking to family and friends, he soon saw a bigger and more widespread need for such an article.

Market research proved quite beneficial: He learned that as many as one in three experience incontinence at some point in their life. Further research helped Frantisek identify consumer niches, product issues, and possible solutions.

Sustainability must serve the society, economy, and the environment

The absorbent hygiene industry is in a race to find increasingly sustainable solutions—especially as regulations increase. But it’s a balance. Products need to be better for the environment and affordable, or it’s not a sustainable business model. To adapt, the industry needs to work even harder on finding viable solutions, especially regarding efficient production.

Outline of the Episode

• [03:42] How the competitive skier used his sport and love of fashion to design reusable underwear
• [05:25] Why Confitex is at the forefront of the industry trend of sustainability
• [11:15] The importance to be sustainable both environmentally and economically
• [15:33] Traditional absorbent hygiene styles have certain advantages in the market, including a long-standing history across all distribution channels
• [18:18] The coming challenge of the EU restricting the use of plastic-derived polymers in single-use products
• [22:34] E-commerce offers a financially viable business model for reusables
• [32:50] The challenges that come with marketing reusable absorbent hygiene products
• [33:42]Meeting challenges by combining the best elements of reusable and single-use products

Resources

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

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

Since launching in May 2021, ‘Attached to Hygiene’ has enabled listeners like you to grow your knowledge and influence in the absorbent hygiene industry. Each guest (more than 60 to date) has brought their own perspective and valuable information to you.

This milestone episode—our 50th—is a compilation of many voices and notable pieces of value from the first 49. Our shows have included in-depth discussions on:

• All three main absorbent hygiene markets—baby care, period care, and adult incontinence
• Major regions around the world
• Impact of consumer needs and trends in the industry
• First-hand accounts from incontinence product users on two continents
• Summaries of talks given at 2022’s OUTLOOK and HYGIENIX conferences
• Enjoy listening back to these memorable ‘Attached to Hygiene’ conversations.

Outline of the Episode

• [02:26] Market Overview. Paul Andrews (Ep. 2)
• [06:30] Adult Incontinence. Diane Toonen, Adam Greenberg, and Vicky Wolpoff (Eps. 14, 15); Alan Cottenden and product users (Eps. 30, 32)
• [10:28] Baby Care. Natalia Richer (Eps. 44, 45)
• [13:25] Period Care. Danielle Keiser (Ep. 21, 24); Augusto Quiroz (Eps. 35-37), Chirag Virani (Eps. 38, 39)
• [22:02] Comfort and Confidence. Christophe Morel (Eps. 3, 4)
• [23:11] Consistency. Diane Toonen (Ep. 5)
• [24:40] Convenience. Tina Li (Ep. 6)
• [25:20] Cost. Mike Schumacher (Ep. 7)
• [25:50] Regional Perspectives on the Five Cs. Pietro Landrone and Seif Shaarawy (Ep. 12, 13); Rockey Ye and Tina Li (Eps. 29, 31); Augusto Quiroz (Eps. 35-37); Kelley Reigert (Eps. 35, 36); Raymond Chimhandamba (Eps. 41, 42)
• [36:45] Sustainability. Christophe Morel (Eps. 16, 19); Seif Shaarawy and Luke Burkholder (Ep. 18)
• [42:33] The Future of Absorbent Hygiene. DeeAnn Nelson, Nick Carter, Darius Deak (Ep. 11); Heidi Beatty and Natalia Richer (Ep. 28)
• [48:40] Advice on Preparing for the Future. Sharon Vindarine (Eps. 48, 49)

Resources

To connect with many of the guests featured in this episode or any previous episode via LinkedIn, click their names below. You can also ask questions or leave a message for any of our guests through our email at [email protected].

• Christophe Morel
• Diane Toonen
• Tina Li
• Mike Schumacher
• Russ Stuczynski
• Alan Ramspeck
• Morten-Rise Hansen
• Nicolas Leulier
• Laurianne Libralesso
• DeeAnn Nelson
• Nick Carter
• Darius Deak
• Seif Shaarawy
• Pietro Landrone
• Vicki Wolpoff
• Adam Greenberg
• Luke Burkholder
• Danielle Keiser
• Jan O’Regan
• Jane Wishneff
• Amrita Saigal
• Heidi Beatty
• Natalia Richer
• Alan Cottenden
• Typhaine Raimbourg
• Kelley Reigert
• Chirag Virani
• Raymond Chimhandamba
• Sharon Vinderine

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

The baby diaper market is dynamic and rife with competition; new products and features appear regularly. Keeping up to date on current and emerging trends isn’t easy, but it can give you the competitive edge you need. Fortunately, podcast guest Sharon Vinderine has valuable insights for the North American market. As CEO and Founder of Parent Tested Parent Approved, she sees some of the newest offerings, even before they hit the shelves. In this episode of ‘Attached to Hygiene’, Sharon and host Jack Hughes discuss the latest trends and her expectations for what comes next for absorbent baby products.

Six top diaper needs

According to Sharon, the features parents look for in today’s diapers are fairly straightforward:

• Leak protection that meets expectations
• Improved sustainability
• How the diaper is attached or closed
• Comfort for the baby
• No odour, which for many also means no perfumes
• Product price relative to features

Sustainability and other baby diaper market trends

The popularity of the cloth diaper is not as strong as it was a few years ago. Consumers want more convenient options that offer improved sustainability at different levels. What’s more, the current generation of parents are willing to pay a bit more for sustainability and natural materials—a change from recent years. Sharon attributes this to lessons learned during the pandemic. COVID, she believes, taught people the value of being more cautious regarding their health and that of their children.

Other leading trends in baby diapers include:

• Wetness indicators, especially those with reaction times as short as five seconds
• Brands that offer a subscription model for sales and convenient delivery
• Adorable prints, including customisable options
• Products that use no dyes at all

Recommendations to product manufacturers

Sharon sees many good products on the market, which parents appreciate and approve. Even so, expectations continue to evolve. Here are her top three tips for brands and entrepreneurs:

• Learn what parents think of your product (Naturally, she suggests working with Parent Tested Parent Approved.)
• Invest now in changes; the time and money spent today will have long-term benefits, and the payoff may be sooner than you think
• Add product options that meet more stringent preferences. This will benefit both the consumer and your reputation

Outline of the Episode

• [01:37] What parents are looking for in baby products
• [04:06] Shifting views on sustainability
• [07:50] Current trends in baby diapers
• [10:20] Predictions for future trends
• [14:53] Sharon’s advice to manufacturers and brands

Resources

You can find Sharon Vinderine on LinkedIn or leave her a message through our email at [email protected].

Learn more about Parent Tested Parent Approved by visiting their website.

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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.

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