Beyond the Waste: Reducing the Environmental Burden of Urinary Incontinence

Abstract

Urinary incontinence is a significant public health issue that affects a large proportion of the population in Europe. Incontinence not only affects the quality of life of patients but also strains national health systems and economies. Moreover, continence health care has a considerable environmental footprint. This mini review outlines the environmental consequences of urinary incontinence and current continence care practices. We describe the ecological impact of urinary incontinence management and potential sustainable alternatives. PATIENT SUMMARY: Our mini review describes the environmental impact of urinary incontinence. We also highlight sustainable alternatives that could be used for management of incontinence. Reusable incontinence products represent a key opportunity to reduce the environmental impact.