Wet wipes as a cause of environmental problems: a mini review

Our everyday life cannot be imagined without using various hygiene and cleansing products, wet wipes in particular, that protect us from undesirable pollution and contamination, and even could be used as a medical treatment. Besides all these positive aspects wet wipes can be very harmful for the different natural environments. The aim of this study was to analyze and summarize data from literary sources regarding wet wipes as a cause of environmental problems. According to the theoretical analysis, it was established that in the countries of the European Union, the use of individual wet wipes was 68 billion (by 2017, reference year) that equates to 511,000 tons of waste per year. In China, waste wet wipes make up 0.2% of all household waste. In Ukraine, according to 2015 data, the market share of wet wipes was 23%. The global market for wet wipes has a growing trend and is expected to increase its production from 2023 to 2030 by 3.8%. Wet wipes pose a threat to the environment because they contain toxic compounds (surfactants, plastic) and have low biodegradability. As a result, a number of environmental problems arise: 1) accumulation of wet wipes in the environment; 2) increase in greenhouse gas emissions; 3) pollution of water, soil, groundwater; 4) an increase in microplastics in the environment. To eliminate the environmental problems associated with wet wipes while maintaining the functionality of the products, it is suggested, first of all, to use eco-safe, biodegradable base fabric materials and non-toxic solutions for wetting. In addition, an important place is occupied by the formation of a conscious attitude of consumers of wet wipes to their disposal.