How green are your nappies? - Let’s get a few things straight

Inverclyde Real Nappy Network Press Release: 20th May, 2005

The Environment Agency published a report on 19th May 2005 that gave the impression that there is no real difference in the environmental impact of disposable and cloth nappies. Representatives for disposable nappy users claimed that parents now have an informed choice and no longer need to feel guilty. Whilst every parent has the absolute right to choose what they buy for their child, this report does not give them an informed choice.

Here's a few real facts:

8-9 million nappies are thrown away every day in the UK alone

Disposable nappies take 500 years to decompose (a banana in a landfill site will take 100s of years to decompose!!)

The chemicals in disposable nappies have been linked to various cancers, reduction in sperm counts, respiratory diseases

4 and a half trees are felled for every baby in disposable nappies

On one hand the government is spending £2.2 million to promote cloth nappies through initiatives like Real Nappy Week (20-25th June 2005), but on the other hand commissioning a biased, worst-case scenario report that misses so many points.

For example, over 2000 disposable nappy users took part but only 117 cloth nappy users. For some questions, it was relevant to only 32 of the cloth users, and in one case only relevant to 2 users!!! That is just for starters.

The assumptions made about cloth users were inaccurate too. They assumed that people wash small loads of nappies, then tumble dried them. They didn't take into account that most people nowadays have A rated washing machines (by using one, people will reduce the environmental impact of washing nappies by 17%). Nor did they look at drying outside on the line or in an airing cupboard. What about fleece nappies that dry naturally in no time?

They also assumed that people drove to buy nappy liners and sanitiser every week, which is an inaccurate time scale, (every few months is more likely), and didn't consider using washable liners (like fleece or silk) or using non-chemical sanitisers like lavender or tea tree oil.

Other factors weren't taken into account like the ever expanding mountain of nappies going in landfill (8-9 million extra per day), the fuel it takes to transport them there, the length of time they take to decompose. Plus other factors like how money much people can save with cloth nappies, their health benefits... the list goes on.

Corinna Gregory of the Inverclyde Real Nappy Network said “My heart sank when I heard the report about nappies on the BBC news yesterday morning. I have used cloth nappies on my son since he was born and would never consider any alternative! I have saved hundreds of pounds, I have been in control of what goes next to his skin and yes I HAVE done my bit for the environment. I'm so cross that all the good work that people like myself are doing has been put back a good few steps by this report."

Notes for Editors

1. Inverclyde Real Nappy Network...

An independent, voluntary organisation working with local council and health professionals, where parents and parents-to-be can find out information about cloth nappies: their health, environmental and cost benefits, how to use them and where to buy them.

Point of Contact: Corinna Gregory 01505 874275 or 07760 470936

2. See Environment Agency for details of the report into different types of nappy (19/5/05)

3. See WEN media statement for a response to the report from the Women’s Environmental Network

4. See Real Nappy Campaign for more information and photos