Choose to Reuse: Reusable Nappy Week, 25th April – 1st May 2022
Co-ordinated by the UK Reusable Nappy Week Steering Committee, the Reusable Nappy Week of action, which runs internationally from 25th April – 1st May, aims to encourage the use of reusable cloth nappies, with a series of events, offers and fun educational activities being held across the country and online.
With an estimated three billion single-use nappies being thrown away in the UK every year, this year’s initiative is focused on showing families that by using reusable nappies, even just one a day in place of a disposable, can significantly reduce household waste and reliance on single-use plastic.
Alice Walker, Project Manager at Real Nappies for London, which is also part of the UK RNW Steering Committee says, “Whether using reusable nappies full-time or part-time, all families can play their part in reducing single-use plastic waste to combat climate change. Reusable Nappy Week is about showing everyone just how easy it can be to incorporate reusable nappies into a baby changing routine and that it doesn’t have to be all or nothing to make a difference.”
Reusable nappies are a great way for parents/carers to connect with others in their local community. Through nappy, baby clothes and maternity wear Give & Take events, held on Wed 27th April and Fri 29th April, they can donate and collect baby items for free, gain reusable nappies advice and give back to their local circular economy. There are also opportunities to hire reusable nappies via the UK Cloth Nappy Library Network, as well as find the nearest local Washable Nappy Laundry Services, to help families get started.
Real Nappies for London, a waste prevention project administered by the Women’s Environmental Network, currently works in partnership with nine London Boroughs (Barnet, Bexley, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Islington, Lambeth and Waltham Forest) offering parents with a baby under 18 months, and parents-to-be, living in the borough, with a reusable nappy voucher worth up to £54.15 redeemable for a pack of reusable nappies or for a trial washable nappy laundry service.
North London Waste Authority (NLWA) funds the reusable nappy subsidy scheme on behalf of its constituent boroughs and advocates for their use across North London. Its Managing Director, Martin Capstick, said:
“The reusable nappy scheme had an impressive uptake of subsidy vouchers in 2020-2021 with an estimated 1,000 tonnes of waste avoided by almost 3,500 families. The scheme is an important part of our work to promote resource efficiency, minimise climate impact and improve the local environment through a comprehensive and sustainable programme of waste prevention and recycling activities.”
Alice Walker says, “We want our events to raise awareness among councils and residents alike of what the research shows – local authorities can save millions of pounds a year in waste disposal costs and recycling contamination costs, while enabling parents to make savings on nappy costs at the same time doing their bit to reduce single-use plastic waste.”
As part of the fun online activities and educational in-person events being organised by Real Nappies for London, parents/carers already using reusable nappies will advocate the benefits and demonstrate how easy reusable nappies are by taking part with the RNW Daily Challenge found on Instagram Filters. There will also be a Big Reusable Nappy Week Giveaway launching Mon 25th April via the reusablenappyweek.org.uk website, as well as other offers and giveaways happening during the week led by various UK based retailers and manufacturers.
To find out more and how to get involved, visit Real Nappies for London and follow #ReusableNappyWeek on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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Notes to Editor
Contact: Alice Walker, Real Nappies for London: alice@wen.org.uk | 020 3150 2023
For photo opportunities: London – Reusable Nappy Give & Take and Fashion Show:
- Wed 27th April, 10am – 12pm – Coram’s Fields, 93 Guilford St, London WC1N 1DN.
- Fri 29th April, 10am – 12pm – Real Nappy Life, 18 Westow St, London SE19 3AH.
All Real Nappies for London events: https://www.realnappiesforlondon.org.uk/reusable-nappy-week-2022/