Nappies impact on environment equally

For years, the environmental credentials of cloth nappies have been trumpeted, much to the despair of guilty parents using disposables.

However, new research from Britain shows cloth and disposables have exactly the same impact on the environment.

A four-year Environment Agency research project found the impact of burying disposable nappies in landfill sites was matched by the energy consumed and greenhouse gases generated by washing cloth nappies or transporting them to laundries.

The Australian Consumers Association agrees, saying it’s a drain on water to wash cloth nappies, but disposables use more energy and create landfill.

About 95 per cent of Australian parents use disposable nappies, which make up about one per cent of the 22 million tonnes of landfill waste each year.

Non-biodegradable nappies can take up to 400 years to break down.

The findings of the UK study were welcomed yesterday by leading mainstream disposable manufacturer Huggies.

"Parents can now make a guilt-free choice based on other important factors, such as performance, cost and convenience," a spokesman said.

But Victorian parents choosing cloth insist they’re better for babies and the environment.

Tania Avtarovski, owner of an online cloth nappy store, has seen business triple since last October.

She now sells hundreds of nappies a week from her Taylors Lakes home.

"I say I use cloth nappies and people cringe," she said.

"They think it’s all about terry towelling and stains, but it’s really very easy.

"There’s no soaking. Everything is breathable and so comfortable." 

Meanwhile, ecochild.com.au founder Carly Earl said buying green didn’t have to be more expensive.

"If the nappies you choose are biodegradable and chlorine-free, then it’s a lot better than mainstream products," she said.

Parents can also choose from a growing range of biodegradable disposables.

Recent releases include BabyLove Ecobots, which are endorsed by Choice and Planet Ark.

Safeties Nature Nappy, due for national release this month, claim to be 100 per cent biodegradable.

But Melbourne mum Victoria Crombie still believes cloth is better for baby and the environment.

A former scientist and now green baby goods retailer, she uses cloth nappies for her daughter Zoe, 18 months, when she can.

"At least half the time I use cloth, and the other half biodegradable disposables," she said.

 

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Here’s the link to the article: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22014238-421,00.html

 

And here’s the link to the research: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/commondata/acrobat/nappies_1072099.pdf

 

And also Sunrise did a story on it which I didnt’ see (the Fairies won out), but I did get onto 3AW and they phoned me back to chat (Um argue) about it.  So here’s some comments I wrote for another website:

 

 I’m quite familiar with the research so I thought I’ll give you a bit of info.

The study assumes 48 brand new nappies per child. I wrote to them asked asked if they were sure, or did they mean 48 nappies per family?  But no, 48 new nappies per child (so according to this study I’ll soon have 144 nappies)

Washing every second day (even when I have 144 nappies and only one child in nappies, I’ll still need to wash every second day).

Top loading washing machine and soaking (although most modern cloth nappy manufacturers recommend a pre-wash which would negate the extra water usage of the soaking, but not the napisan since modern nappies are adviced not to use this).

Hot washing (most MCN manufacturers recommend warm washing and only hot washing if you have a smell or repelling problem)

Tumble drying (MCN manufacturers recommend line drying as it allows the UV rays to sterilise the nappies and is cheaper)

Ironing (MCN manufacturers don’t recommend ironing)

Fabric softener (MCN manufacturers don’t recommend fabric softener).

100% cotton nappies (MCN can now also come in hemp/cotton blends and bamboo which use less water & pesticides to grow).

So anyway, it’s a good study in the comparison of how people used to use old cloth v disposables, but it doesn’t show any of the benefits of modern cloth and how much more environmentally friendly they can be.