The real nappy vs disposables debate…
The survey that this information is based on is the May 2005 Life Cycle Assessment of reusable and disposable nappies commissioned by the Environment Agency. The Women’s Environmental Network published a press release at the time, and I will be using details from this to show why the data used gives such an inaccurate impression.
The survey compared real nappy use to disposable, and measured the environmental impact from raw material stage through manufacturing, to their use, disposal and emissions back into the environment.
My first concern is that the number of surveyed people varied so significantly – over 2000 respondents for disposable nappies compared with only 117 for real nappies. Of these, all but 32 used terries, and this meant that for some questions, as few as two respondents were able to answer, giving rise to severely flawed data.
The biggest impact of real nappies identified by the survey was energy production and use. However, many of the people surveyed admitted that they were recalling using real nappies several years before, and the data was based on old-fashioned nappies and recommendations. This means that they were generally boil washed in machines which did not have the energy efficiency that we can rely upon today. So by simply washing their nappies at 60 degrees in an A or higher rated washing machine, modern parents can reduce the energy use by a massive 17%. Other shocking results drawn from the survey are that some parents iron their nappies, and many tumble dry them. The first in completely unnecessary, the second easy to avoid, and these skew the results significantly. For our full list of recommendation for nappy use and care, please click here.
The survey also worrying stated that the average ownership of real nappy users is 47.5 nappies. This is based on only two respondents, and the report itself identifies it as a “weak assumption”. In addition, modern shaped nappies are more absorbant than ever – with fabrics ranging from bamboo to hemp and cotton, and designed to minimise leaking. This means that far fewer nappies are needed than in the past - we typically recommend 12-16 nappies, and even if that is stretched out to 24, this reduces the impact of the CO2 emissions of the survey by a further 6.9%.
This is further reduced by passing nappies on to siblings or selling them on once you’re done.
The main environmental impact of disposables comes from when they are thrown away, and there is no way of doing this in a greener way. Disposable nappies make up about 2.6% of the average household rubbish in a year. (Source: Enviros Consulting Ltd and University of Birmingham with Risk and Policy Analysts Ltd, Open University and Maggie Thurgood, (March 2004), ‘Review of Environmental and Health Effects of Waste Management: Municipal Solid Waste and Similar Wastes.’), equivalent in weight to nearly 70,000 double-decker buses. (Source: Waste Watch calculation). If lined up from front to end, the buses would stretch from London to Edinburgh. (Source: Waste Watch calculation). Using real nappies reduces the amount of waste sent for incineration and also the amount of energy and non-renewable resources used to produce disposables.
By doing just a few easy things, conscientious parents can ensure they further minimise the impact on the environment of the nappies they choose. These are listed below:
• wash nappies at 60°C and wraps at 40° to 60° - do not boil wash;
• use A-rated appliances to reduce energy and water consumption;
• minimise tumble drying – line dry or use an airer;
• don’t use fabric conditioner – it is unnecessary and it reduces absorbency;
• use eco-friendly washing powders;
• try potty training early around two years of age;
• use real nappies for more than one child;
• buy second hand nappies where possible;
• use organic (non bleached) products; and
• don’t iron nappies.
At www.cleangreennappy.co.uk,
Posted by Esma
Dear Esma,
Thank you so much for writing such words of wisdom, and lets face it, ‘common sense!’. I too was appalled by the governments sweeping statements which were misleading and ‘wrong!’ quite frankly! I only hope that not too much damage has been done and that people can see past government ‘white washes’ and keep on making the ‘real nappy’ choice.
I get many potential customers for my nappy supply & laundry service quoting the government ‘report’ and their so called findings to me and have to reassure them time and time again that it was totally inaccurate and very narrow minded! I will certainly be recommending that they read this blog!
I presume that the Real Nappy Campaign was costing the government money & resources that they wished to use elsewhere and so this ‘report’ and alleged findings gave them the green light to pull the funding and shut it all down. BUT at who’s expense now? Our planet I reckon!
Hi and thanks for your blog, it was good reading. Ive had lots of other mums quote this report to me, saying Im mad to use cloth nappies and that the environmental impact is pretty much the same for disposables and cloth. I cant convince them that the report is flawed and based on outdate information because it has been reported in the media, and we all know that if its in the paper then it has to be true - sigh!
I am looking forward to the new updated report to come out, and hope that the EA have done their homework properly this time and actually ask real mums who are using cloth nappies how they use them. Im sure the results will be a lot different then. Im also hoping that the media will give as much positive press to this as they did negative press to the findings of the original report but am not holding my breath.
Sadie
Hi I used terry nappies for my Son & now I help support parents using my childcare, by having a range of shapped and terry nappies. I wash them at the setting etc, before I did this the amount of disposables that went into the dustbin was unbeliveable. I think disposable nappy adverts should be banned, they make out children can’t sleep be active without their make of nappy. My son just before the age of 2 was able to climb out of his cot, wearing a terry nappy, it never got in the way of him doing anything, children wearing disposables can still be in them at the age of 4 yrs and now they make night time pants for older children. Most children wearing washable nappies will be potty trained between the ages of 2-3 yrs, thats at least a years difference.
Hi Esma!
Yes I agree - putting the parent back in control of the waste, and potty-training, is vital. Somehow parenting has become this major-spend commoditisation, with all these ‘time-saver’, ‘get-your-life-back’ products advertised only showing the benefits of the product, not the downside, which in this particular instance is that the effort-saving you’ll gain by using disposables is that you’ll be using them for double the amount of time - perhaps longer!
Two things puzzle me since reading your email, which I wonder if you can clarify. Firstly, I have been washing my nappies at 60degrees - can I drop this down to 40 and still be assured of a clean and hazard-free load when I hang my nappies up to dry? And secondly, what about the benefits of ecoballs? I presume that the carbon footprint is mainly made up of soap suds - is this true? Because otherwise I don’t understand where the carbon footprint could be: unless it counts as the waste which any normal human would pass on any normal day? I have been using ecoballs on my nappies since August, jumping in at the deep end with a full pail of nappies of various dirty degrees, and I’ve never been happier with my choice to use cloth nappies because I know the soap isn’t being washed into the sea, and also that it isn’t on her skin all day in and out. Not to mention the cost saving in not having to buy powder every second week…
Please let me know,
All the best,
Jo