Aged care facility residents in Pāpāmoa are trialling reusable incontinence underwear in an effort to curb waste.

The Pacific Coast Village project has been labelled a first for a New Zealand aged-care facility.

Incontinence pads account for 34% of all waste Pacific Coast Village sends to landfill – more than four tonnes a year.

A recent Australian study predicted adult incontinence waste would be four to 10 times greater than baby nappies by 2030, due to an ageing population.

Pacific Coast Village operations manager Erika Rans said the facility wanted to find a “dignified solution to a delicate problem”.

“Incontinence affects many people and can be accompanied by embarrassment and social isolation, so any solution to incontinence product waste has to put people’s physical and emotional welfare first.”

A number of residents are taking part, trialling a New Zealand-designed reusable underwear product, made from organic cotton, and designed to outperform disposable products in comfort and ease of use.

Participants said they were highly satisfied with the product after the first month of the trial.

“Initial feedback from the trial has been very positive, and we’re now exploring how this approach could be expanded across the wider Generus Living group,” Rans said.

“The outcomes and learnings from this case study will also help inform the broader aged care sector, which is following the trial with strong interest.”

Money from Tauranga City Council‘s Resource Wise Community Fund is helping support the trial.

Incontinence pads account for 34% of all waste Pacific Coast Village sends to landfill, Tauranga City Council says. Photo / Tauranga City Council

Council sustainability and waste manager Dan Smith said the trial was a great example of the type of local initiative the Resource Wise Community Fund was designed to support.

“Pacific Coast’s project has potential to have a huge impact on waste reduction, not only in our city, but importantly nationwide.”

Pacific Coast Village is implementing a broader waste reduction programme alongside the reusable incontinence underwear trial.

This included educational workshops and ongoing communication to encourage environmentally responsible practices among residents and staff, as well as a comprehensive review of waste systems within the care facility, with several new initiatives introduced as part of the project.

Applications were open for the 2025/26 Resource Wise Community Fund, which offers between $2000 and $25,000 to an organisation or business that wants to deliver effective waste minimisation projects that align with Tauranga City Council’s Waste Management and Minimisation Plan 2022-2028.

For more information, visit www.tauranga.govt.nz/waste