Japan's rapidly aging population is producing some interesting new business opportunities, including a booming market for adult diapers.
The Nikkei newspaper reported on Thursday that three Japanese paper companies are expanding their manufacturing facilities for what are politely called "incontinence products" due to an expected surge in demand. The Nikkei said adult diapers are expected to outsell baby diapers in Japan by 2020, but according to Unicharm, Japan's biggest diaper maker, the tipping point was in 2011.
The adult diaper market is growing at 6-10 percent a year, and already pulls in 140 billion yen ($1.4 billion) by catering to Japan's elderly population —it has the highest percentage of over-65s in the world, making up more than 20 percent of the population.
The Atlantic, 11 July 2013.
