Welcome to Fife Real Nappy Network
Washable nappies can help families stay green … and cut costs
Parents who opt for old-fashioned washable nappies over disposables can cut carbon emissions by up to 40%, according to a government report released yesterday.
Global warming impact could be reduced by nearly one fifth (16%) if the nappies are washed in full loads, using an energy efficient machine, and then dried on a clothes line, the report said.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), who commissioned the report, said this figure could rise to two-fifths (40%) if the nappies were used for a second child, making the impact of washable nappies on the environment a third (36%) lower than disposable nappies.
However, the Environment Agency report underlined that reusable nappies only carry environmental benefits if they are washed and dried correctly.
Their research found that tumble-drying washable nappies in half loads at a high temperature could cancel out their environmental benefits because of the extra electricity used, and produce as much as 75% higher carbon emissions than average.
The Women's Environmental Network (WEN) yesterday welcomed the report but said that using average figures to demonstrate environmental impact made "some pretty poor assumptions".
The charity also questioned the report's suggestion that people using washables ended up using more nappies than those who used disposables, saying their own research found no difference.
Kay Wagland, spokeswoman for WEN, said: "They are assuming four out of every five loads of washing are half full. Whatever you are washing, you are recommended to fill up your machine properly and use a low temperature.
"They are assuming a quarter of all nappies are tumble- dried. You are recommended not to do that because it shortens their life.
"Best practice is clearly to use washables and wash and dry them in the right way. Why aren't Defra and the Environment Agency giving out the message?"
A Defra spokeswoman said: "It's not the Government's job to tell people what sort of nappies to use. Our role is to provide information on the environmental impacts so that people can make informed choices appropriate to their own lives. This report supports the previous findings on the environmental impacts of different kinds of nappies, although it does highlight the importance of laundry choices."
A study by WEN in 2006, based on nappy use over a two and a half year period, found that on average, buying and washing reusable nappies cost between £182.50 to £359. Disposable nappies were found to cost from £615.16 up to as much as £922.74.
However, if washable nappy users chose to use a laundry service, which collects and returns the nappies after laundering, a further £6 to £11 could be added to their weekly costs.
Waste Aware Scotland, a programme set up to change the public's attitude towards domestic waste, has encouraged the use of washable nappies, highlighting the environmental benefits as well as the cost savings.
Anna Beswick, assistant campaign manager at Waste Aware Scotland, said: "I think the key message is that ultimately, it's the choice of parents or carers.
"However, the new report does show that reusable nappies have a lot of benefits. From a waste perspective, although there have been improvements in the design of disposable nappies, they still end up in landfill sites.
"Reusable nappies, obviously by their nature, don't end up in landfill for a long time.
"This report shows that reducing carbon emissions is achievable for parents, depending how they're managing and using the nappies.
"Following the manufacturers' washing instructions and hanging washing out to dry are all options that can maximise environmental benefits.