page_title: Disposable product
section_title: Medical and hygiene products
hierarchical_section_title: Disposable product / Examples of disposables / Medical and hygiene products
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Zahnbürste English: A green toothbrush. Français&#160;: brosse à dents verte
context_page_description: A disposable is a product designed for a single use after which it is recycled or is disposed as solid waste. The term is also sometimes used for products that may last several months to distinguish from similar products that last indefinitely. The word "disposables" is not to be confused with the word "consumables", which is widely used in the mechanical world. For example, welders consider welding rods, tips, nozzles, gas, etc. to be "consumables", as they last only a certain amount of time before needing to be replaced. Consumables are needed for a process to take place, such as inks for printing and welding rods for welding, while disposable products are products that can be thrown away after it becomes damaged or otherwise unuseful.
context_section_description: Medical and surgical device manufacturers worldwide produce a multitude of items that are intended for one use only. The primary reason is infection control; when an item is used only once it cannot transmit infectious agents to subsequent patients. Manufacturers of any type of medical device are obliged to abide by numerous standards and regulations. ISO 15223: Medical Devices and EN 980 cite that single use instruments or devices be labelled as such on their packaging with a universally recognized symbol to denote "do not re-use", "single use", or "use only once". This symbol is the numeral 2, within a circle with a 45° line through it.
  Examples of single use items include:
  Hypodermic needles 
  Toilet paper
  Disposable towels, paper towels
  Condoms and other contraception products
  Disposable enemas and similar products
  Cotton swabs and pads
  Medical and cleaning gloves
  Medical dust respirators (dust masks)
  Baby and adult diapers, and training pants
  Shaving razors, safety razors, waxing kits, combs, and other hair control products
  Toothbrushes, dental floss, and other oral care products
  Hospital aprons 
  Disposable panties in postpartum
  Contact lenses
caption: A disposable toothbrush
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