Change Starts Here: Reusable Nappy Week, 24th – 30th April 2023
Reusable Nappies – Save Money and Reduce Single-Use Plastic
Reusable Nappy Week, taking place from 24th – 30th April 2023, aims to raise awareness about the benefits of reusable nappies. The week will include events, special offers and fun educational activities which will be held across London and online.
The week of action will advocate the positive impact reusable nappies can have on the environment and for cost-savings.
Disposable nappies contribute significantly to the waste and climate crisis in the UK, with an estimated 3.6 billion nappies being thrown away in the UK each year, costing Local Authorities over £140 million per annum for disposal. By choosing to use reusable nappies, parents and carers can reduce their carbon footprint making a positive impact on the environment.
A new Nappy Life Cycle Analysis published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra March 2023), confirms that reusable nappies are better for the environment than single-use disposable nappies. The report revealed that across their lifecycle, reusable nappies have a 25% lower carbon footprint than single-use nappies. A figure that can be improved even further depending on how parents decide to wash and dry the products and the use of renewable electricity. If every child in nappies in the UK were to use reusable nappies from single-use nappies, the carbon saving would be the equivalent of 700 million car miles – that’s 3,000 trips to the moon. The report also revealed that the environmental impact of the end-of-life disposal of a single-use nappy is nine times higher than for that of a reusable nappy.
Real Nappies for London, a waste prevention project administered by Wen (Women’s Environmental Network), runs a reusable nappy voucher scheme offering parents and foster carers with a baby under 18 months, and expecting a baby, with a reusable nappy voucher worth up to £70 which is redeemable for a pack of reusable nappies or towards a trial washable nappy laundry service. The scheme currently operates in nine London Boroughs – Bexley, Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Islington, Waltham Forest and Westminster City Council.
Alice Walker, Project Manager at Real Nappies for London says, “This Reusable Nappy Week, we are thrilled to announce an increase in voucher value of up to £70. It shows a Local Authority commitment to the promotion of reusable nappies and supports Londoners further during the cost-of-living crisis. We’re excited to see the positive impact it will have on reducing single-use plastic waste and helping families to save money.”
The voucher scheme can save households with a baby in nappies up to £324 per year. These savings can be doubled if the nappies are continued to be used on subsequent children.
Cllr Clyde Loakes, Chair of NLWA, said: “The mix of materials in disposable nappies makes them one of the biggest single contributors to plastic waste. The environmental impact of producing them is nearly nine times higher than it is for reusable nappies, and nearly 10 times greater when it comes to their disposal.
“That’s why we are pleased to fund the reusable nappy subsidy scheme, which enables families to reduce waste and save money. We hope increasing the voucher value from £54 to £70 will encourage even more parents to explore the benefits of reusable nappies – which are washable, can be used on multiple babies, offer a cost saving in the long run and have a 25% lower carbon footprint than single-use nappies.
“We all need to adapt our everyday behaviours to protect the planet. On average a baby will require at least 4,000 nappy changes, so even using sustainable alternatives occasionally can make a big difference.”
Councillor Sara Hassan, Women and Girls’ Champion said, “We are proud to be working with Real Nappies for London. We are committed to taking action on climate change and encourage Westminster parents to use reusable instead of disposable nappies. We also want to support families during the cost-of-living crisis and hope that by increasing the voucher to £70 will help parents make the switch.”
As part of the educational events being organised by Real Nappies for London throughout the week, parents and carers will advocate the reasons why they choose to reuse by showing what inspired them to use reusable nappies. Real Nappies for London will also provide useful energy and cost-saving advice for washing and drying reusable nappies.
To find out more and how to get involved, visit: realnappiesforlondon.org.uk/reusable-nappy-week-2023 and follow #ReusableNappyWeek on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.
-ENDS-
Notes to editors
Contact: Alice Walker, Real Nappies for London
020 3150 2023 | alice@wen.org.uk
Key info and links
Reusable Nappy Week 24th – 30th April 2023
Real Nappies for London
Reusable Nappy Voucher Scheme
Nappy Life Cycle Analysis Report