Diaper Shortage Feared After Plant Explosion In Japan
A diaper shortage is feared to be on the way after an explosion at a Japanese chemical plant that crippled production of one of the elements of disposable diapers.
An explosion at a plant in the coastal city of Himeji has impacted the production of acrylic acid, an important part of disposable diapers, ABC News reported. The plant, operated by Nippon Shokubai Co., is one of the world’s largest producers of acrylic acid and was rocked by powerful blasts on Saturday.
The acrylic acid is used to make superabsorbent polymers or SAP, the part of the diaper that absorbs liquid. Close to 20 percent of all the SAP in the world comes from Nippon Shokubai, and the company has a 10 percent global market share of acrylic acid.
Making the diaper shortage even more imminent is the fact that the Japanese plant has been ramping up production of SAP to meet a growing global demand, especially from China, ABC News reported.
Before the explosion, the plan produced 460,000 tons of acrylic acid each year, selling it to clients like Procter and Gamble. The company has reached out to other producers to be sure the clients’ needs are met and try to head off the possible diaper shortage, ABC News reported.
Operations at the Japanese plant are expected to be halted for a long time, Fox Business News reported. Prospects of a diaper shortage could be even more likely given that other makers of SAP resins are already working at full-production, the report stated, leaving little room for back-up production.
Tags : diaper plant, diaper plant explosion, diaper shortage, disposable diaper shortage, Nippon Shokubai Co.
Posted: October 1, 2012
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Oct 1, 2012
Holy crap! Literally
Oct 1, 2012
Booooo…off to Walmart I go.
Oct 2, 2012
Diapers and explosions being mentioned in the same sentence invoke very colorful and gross images for a person when they have many friends with small children!
Oct 2, 2012
This is kind of freaking me out, my son isn't potty training yet! ToT
Oct 2, 2012
Two words: Cloth diapers.
Oct 2, 2012
G diapers…
Oct 2, 2012
I better go out now and get some for my daughter!
Oct 2, 2012
I wonder if parents will be deterred at all by discovering the super absorbent polymers in their disposable diapers is what caused the explosion and that they have been putting that stuff on their baby… (!)
Oct 2, 2012
thinking about using cloth diapers WOW ACRYLIC ACID WOW! NOT GOOD:(
Oct 2, 2012
Banina, we used the Bum Genius pocket diapers. Loved them! You'll find that cloth-diapering parents tend to be fiercely loyal and all argue that what they use are the best, and I'm no different. Bum Genius is the best! =D
Oct 2, 2012
We used cloth. Not only are they as easy as disposables, but the cost was significantly less. It's higher up front, but pays off quickly. And it was so nice not having to run to the store at midnight because we had no diapers available. Toss a load in the wash, and perfect. It does suck though if you don't have easy access to a washing machine. But even $3 to wash and dry a load of 24 or however many you buy is cheaper than spending $15 on a bag of disposables.
Oct 2, 2012
Try some cloth diapers.
Oct 2, 2012
so true oh yes I thought so now a quick question where can I buy the cloth from I know it may sound weird but I am so serious of buying cloth diapers seriously thanks
Oct 2, 2012
Wow the non safety factor over seas must be horiffic.
Oct 2, 2012
STOCK UP Ladies.
Oct 2, 2012
My last pay check was $9500 working 12 hours a week online. My sisters friend has been averaging 15k for months now and she works about 20 hours a week. I can't believe how easy it was once I tried it out. The potential with this is endless. This is what I do, Buzz17.cøm.
Oct 2, 2012
Just another excuse to raise gas prices.
Oct 2, 2012
sorry Aria, bum genius are good but fuzzi buns are the best!
Oct 2, 2012
Butts could be exploding all over the planet. Definitely time to use cloth.
Oct 2, 2012
Good, now maybe parents will have to do with cloth diapers like we did when our children were little. Maybe this will be a lesson well learned.
Oct 2, 2012
I am surprised that at least the explosion came before the pampaer shortage. We definitely don't want explosions when there's no pampers around!
Oct 2, 2012
Tina…target & toys r us sell them online and even on ebay you can find them. We have been cloth diapering for a year now & will never go back. The best way is to find work at home moms who make them…better quality & cheaper prices usually. Look on facebook for : Oeko Popo, That's sew baby, wunder unders, and so many more!
Oct 2, 2012
I bought mine through Kelly's Closet, an online shop. But there are many others too.
Oct 2, 2012
Rach, them's fightin' words! =D
Oct 2, 2012
cloth diapers, I had to use b-4 disposable. piece of cake and better for baby.
Oct 2, 2012
Walmart, K-Mart just about anywhere..
Oct 3, 2012
thank you so muchHeather Taylor Kemp
Oct 3, 2012
sorry about the typo
Oct 3, 2012
Single mom, so no!
Oct 3, 2012
Glad we use cloth even if there want a shortage! Acrylic acid? Yuuuuck!
Oct 3, 2012
Cloth is sooo easy! And cute! Plus so easy to save money!
Oct 3, 2012
Check out diaperswappers.com
Oct 4, 2012
Not everyone can use cloth diapers…some do not have washer's and the public laundry here does not allow me to wash mine. I'd love to cloth diaper, but I'm kind of stuck on that until our washer is fixed. A really good disposable diaper is Honest diapers. They don't have this crap in them and my friend who cloth diapers uses them when her daughter is in daycare.