Used nappies are among the less obvious materials that could end up in a building. In Indonesia, however, a team of engineers explored exactly that possibility while looking for ways to reduce both construction material use and the growing volume of disposable waste. They collected used nappies, cleaned and sterilised them, then shredded the material and added it to concrete and mortar mixtures. The nappies were not used as a replacement for concrete itself. Instead, they supplied part of the material normally provided by sand. After testing different mixtures for strength, the researchers applied the findings to a small house measuring about 387 square feet. The finished structure contained processed nappy waste in its concrete and mortar, offering a real-world test of whether a product designed for a few hours of use could become part of a building intended to last for years. The approach also suggested that discarded nappies could find a second purpose while reducing demand for conventional construction materials.
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