In hospitals and eldercare settings, managing excreta is one of the most essential—yet often challenging—tasks.
For those of us working in this field, it becomes part of daily routine.
But for people outside the profession, both giving and receiving toileting assistance can carry a heavy psychological burden.
Among various toileting support tools, the portable toilet is widely used in hospitals, care facilities, and home-based care.
This article focuses on a product introduced in the Silver Industry Newspaper: the “Wans Care Toilet Disposal Bag,” designed to support hygienic and simplified handling of waste in portable toilets.
We will explore real-world caregiving challenges, the patented features of this product, and the growing demand for such solutions in Japan.
What Is a Portable Toilet?
There are three main tools commonly used when a person cannot reach the regular toilet: diapers, urinals, and portable toilets.
Among these, the portable toilet is often selected when:
- The individual retains the will and sensation to defecate or urinate.
- Walking or moving to the bathroom is difficult.
- There is a risk of falling during bathroom transfers.
- Care providers aim to support independence in toileting.
In short, when people retain their basic excretory function but require assistance with the overall process, a portable toilet becomes a practical and dignity-preserving solution.
It is commonly used in hospitals, care homes, and private residences.
Benefits in Home Care
Lower Long-Term Cost
Portable toilets are excluded from rental under Japan’s long-term care insurance because they come in direct contact with the body.
However, those with certified care needs can purchase them with insurance support, often covering 90% of the cost.
Additionally, unlike diapers, there are no daily consumable costs, as the waste can simply be flushed, making this a cost-effective long-term option.
Easy Installation, No Construction Required
A portable toilet can be placed wherever needed without major home modifications.
Compared to bathroom remodeling or installing safety rails, the initial hurdle is low and ideal for trial use.
Promotes Independence and Dignity
Many users feel strongly about avoiding bedridden states or using diapers.
Portable toilets respect these wishes and also meet the caregivers’ desire to maintain the user’s dignity.
Supporting toileting independence can also sustain motivation and self-esteem.
Challenges with Portable Toilets
Space Requirements
Portable toilets require a moderate amount of space, which can be difficult in small or cluttered rooms.
The presence of a toilet in a living space can also raise concerns about odor and hygiene.
Burden of Cleaning
These toilets use a bucket to collect excreta, which must be removed and cleaned.
The process often involves odor, splash risk, and psychological discomfort in directly handling another person’s waste.
In my own experience caring for a parent at home, the hardest part was figuring out where to wash the bucket.
Unlike hospitals and facilities with dedicated sinks and disinfectant protocols, home users must improvise.
Also, plastic buckets easily retain odor and stains, making it hard to keep them truly clean over time.
Infection Control Risks
In hospitals and facilities, patients with infectious diseases may use a portable toilet in isolation.
Carrying excreta out of the room can pose biohazard risks.
At home, infection control is even more difficult, increasing the potential for disease transmission.
Caregiver Workload
Using a portable toilet often implies that the user has a high fall risk, meaning assistance is required.
Toileting can’t wait—caregivers must respond immediately and handle all aspects, including cleaning afterward.
This often leads to “solo care,” increasing both physical and emotional stress on caregivers.
“Wans Care Toilet Disposal Bag”
The Wans Care Toilet Disposal Bag helps reduce both the cleaning burden and psychological stress by providing a disposable, antibacterial, absorbent lining that fits directly into the bucket of a portable toilet.
This product is not only useful in long-term care but also in disaster shelters, outdoor settings, and other environments where sanitation is limited.
It’s based on patented technology registered under Japanese utility model No. 3180962.
Patented Design for Leak Prevention
The bag’s base features a dual-seal structure with two parallel heat-sealed lines.
Source: U3180962 (partially modified)
- The first seal (③) includes a slanted line that creates a gusseted, bowl-shaped base, allowing the bag to sit snugly within the bucket.
- The second seal (④) is positioned just below the first and forms a buffer zone or “pocket” (⑤) between the two.
This design offers two key advantages:
- If the upper seal fails, the second seal acts as a fail-safe, preventing leaks.
- The two closely spaced seals reduce strain on any one point, dispersing pressure and making the bag more resistant to tearing.
Source：Amazon
Antibacterial Effect of Silver Ions (Ag⁺)
The bag material incorporates antibacterial metals, particularly silver ions (Ag⁺), which are widely used in medical and consumer products for their antimicrobial and deodorizing properties.
Mechanism of Action:
1. Adsorption and Membrane Disruption
The bacterial cell membrane contains negatively charged phosphate groups. Ag⁺ ions are attracted to these sites via electrostatic interactions, destabilizing the membrane.
Note: This illustration is one example of a cell membrane structure and does not represent a bacterial cell wall.
Additionally, Ag⁺ acts as a catalyst in reactions with water or hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), generating hydroxyl radicals (•OH)—highly reactive molecules that oxidize lipids and proteins in the membrane, ultimately destroying its structure.
2. Intracellular Interactions
Once inside the cell, Ag⁺ binds to thiol groups (–SH) in proteins via coordination bonds, using the lone pair of electrons on the sulfur atom.
It also interacts electrostatically with DNA’s phosphate backbone.
These interactions alter the three-dimensional structure of enzymes and genetic material, disrupting metabolic function and halting bacterial replication.
As a result, microbial growth is inhibited, reducing both infection risk and odor generation.
Cost Comparison and Usage Tips
At approximately ¥4,000 for 30 bags (¥133 each), Toilet Disposal Bag is competitively priced.
In contrast, disposable diaper use (1 outer + 4 pads/day) can cost around ¥340/day or ¥10,200/month.
| Product | Estimated Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Wans Care Bag | Approx. ¥4,000 |
| Diapers (outer + pads) | Approx. ¥10,200 |
※Product prices are based on Amazon listings as of June 29, 2025.
To reduce both cost and labor, the bags can be used selectively:
- At night only
- When the caregiver is fatigued or unwell
- During illness or episodes of frequent bowel movements
Comparison with Similar Products
| Product | Structure | Price (30 pcs) | Unit Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wans Care Toilet Disposal Bag | Bag + absorbent sheet | ¥3,861 | ¥129 | Antibacterial silver ion, dual-seal design |
| Anjyu Sukkiri Poi | Bag + absorbent sheet | ¥3,585 | ¥120 | Simple one-piece structure |
| Daiichi-Eizai Toilet Sheet | Sheet only | ¥3,630 | ¥121 | Economical sheet-type |
| BOS Deodorizing Bag | Bag + coagulant | ¥3,585 | ¥120 | Solidifies waste rapidly |
※ Based on Amazon Japan prices as of June 29, 2025. Usage experience is not evaluated here.
Most products are priced similarly (¥120–130 per bag), but Wans Care stands out as the only one explicitly using silver ions for antibacterial action—ideal for hygiene-sensitive environments.
A Growing Market for Eldercare Products
As Japan’s population ages, the demand for eldercare products continues to grow. Recent developments include:
- Oji Holdings reported increased sales of adult diapers and exited the child diaper market.
- Kao saw decreased sales of baby diapers.
- Kewpie plans to withdraw from the baby food market by 2026.
These trends show a shift in demand from childcare to eldercare. Products like Ones Care aren’t just “convenient”—they represent solutions to pressing social challenges in caregiving.
Closing Thoughts
Portable toilets can help preserve dignity and promote independence in toileting.
But they also come with real burdens for caregivers—especially when support is limited and the future uncertain.
Products like Wans Care offer a practical, hygienic, and cost-effective solution that can ease the workload and support quality of life for both caregivers and users.
As Japan’s home care population grows and labor shortages intensify, such tools may become essential—not optional.
I support the introduction of innovative care products by offering product reviews, field reports, and assistance with market development in Japan.
If you’re interested in collaboration, or if you’d like real-world feedback from care settings, please contact us via the blog contact form.
I also welcome inquiries from caregivers and nurses seeking product suggestions for their care environments.
References
- Japan Toilet Labo: https://www.toilet.or.jp/projects/pickup_05
- Medical Aid Co., Ltd.: https://medical-aid.co.jp/products/sanitary/agcsheet/genri.html
- Kewpie Corporation: https://lp.kewpie.com/newsrelease/2025/3738/
- Amazon (as of June 29, 2025):Dr.’s One Portable Toilet Sheet by Daiichi Eisei, Odorless Portable Toilet Disposal Bag by BOS, Sukkiri Poi Disposable Bag for Portable Toilets by Anju
- Utility Model Registration No. 3180962 (U3180962), “Waste Disposal Bag”, Registered on December 19, 2012, Published on January 17, 2013
- Silver Industry Newspaper: “Improving Indoor Odors with Toilet Disposal Bags” “Mixed Financial Results Due to Rising Material and Labor Costs”
Published on June 10, 2025 - John McMurry, Organic Chemistry, 8th edition, Tokyo Kagaku Dojin, 2012
- Bruce Alberts et al., Essential Cell Biology, 4th edition, Nankodo, 2016
