#REUSABLENAPPYWEEK

Reusable and toxic-free alternatives to single-use baby nappies already exist, and there are a series of advantages related to these reusable products, including benefits for the environment, public health, cities’ budgeting and for consumers’ pockets.

What are reusable nappies?

There are several types of reusable baby nappies. Cotton, bamboo, hemp, microfibre, and a mixture of several of these  are the materials generally used in the absorbent part, while waterproof PUL fabric is used for the protector. What differentiates these nappies from single-use ones is that they are laundered and reused many times and considerably reduce waste generation. The only waste is the excreta of the babies which is predominantly treated by the sewerage system.

The different reusable nappy systems can be divided into the following categories:

💩 All-in-ones shaped, fitted nappies with velcro or popper fastenings, which include a waterproof cover. No folding or pinning is required.
💩Shaped nappies – similar to all-in-ones, but wraps or pants have to be purchased separately to provide the waterproof cover. These do not require folding. They are fastened by velcro or poppers.
💩 Prefolds – require folding and a separate waterproof wrap/pant, with fasteners used in some cases.
💩 Wraps/pants are used to hold up nappies and to prevent leakage. They are made from different materials and combinations of materials, such as: nylon, polyester, cotton, wool, PVC, EVA, hemp and polyurethanes. Wraps/pants are not considered as durable for use as nappies, and hence may need to be replaced. For any given size, the frequency of replacement is dependent on the care they receive. Some wraps/pants are adjustable and are designed for use from birth to potty; others are replaced when necessary to fit a growing baby.

Advantages:

Waste prevention: A family that chooses reusable baby nappies can prevent 99% of the waste that would be generated by using single-use ones. These reusable nappies can reduce nearly 900kg of waste generated by one child during the first 2 years of age. 

If only 20% of children using nappies switched to reusables, the amount of waste that could be prevented in the EU-28 would be more than 1 million tonnes being generated annually, going from 6.7 to 5.4 million tonnes. Moreover, these nappies can be reused when the baby has grown up, meaning that they could be used by other children, relatives, friends, or others.

Savings: 

💩 Local authorities: This potential waste reduction can be translated into really high economic savings for the municipality, due to lower management and treatment costs (for example, lower collection costs thanks to a reduction in the frequency of collection), as well as a reduction in the costs coming from incineration and landfill.

💩 Consumers: One of the biggest costs in the early years of being a parent are the cost of nappies. According to a survey passed to different environmental organisations working across Europe, the price of a single-use baby nappy across Europe ranges from €0.11 to €0.61 per unit, depending on the country. Considering an average of 6 changes per day from birth to two years (4,380 single-use baby nappies in total) costs can range between €482 and €2,672 per child. On the other hand, a set of 24 all-in-one reusable baby nappies would be needed for the first couple of years of a baby’s life. The price of these reusable nappies varies between €12- €25 per unit, meaning an average total cost of €288 – €600 per child from birth to two years.

The use of reusable nappies results in significant economic savings (between €200 and €2,000) compared to single-use ones. The saving increases if you take into account the fact that reusable baby nappies can be used by different siblings or bought second-hand. Even taking into account the laundering costs, the savings could be up to €1,800 for a first child and significantly more for subsequent children.

CO2 emissions: As indicated previously, on average a single-use baby nappy would result in a

global warming impact of approximately 550kg of CO2 equivalents used over the two and a half years a child is typically in nappies. The carbon footprint of a nappy can be reduced by 40%, equivalent to some 200kg of CO2 equivalents, over the two and a half years, by swapping to reusables. This reduction is possible by washing nappies in a fuller load, outdoor line drying all of the time, not washing above 60°C and reusing nappies either with a second child or acquiring them via the second-hand market.

Resource use: Single-use baby nappies use 20 times more land for production of raw materials and require three times more energy to make than reusable nappies. Although water usage can be higher for reusable nappies, the difference compared to single-use ones is not that representative if washed in a water-efficient front-loading washing machine and line-dried. 

The impacts of reusable nappies are highly dependent on the way they are laundered and, in  contrast to single-use nappies, it is consumers’ behaviour after purchase that determines most of the impacts from reusable nappies.Therefore, the more conscientious  the consumer is during the use of these products (e.g: washing, etc.), the lower is the overall impact.

Health: Also, reusable baby nappies reduce chemical exposure for the baby as the materials next to their skin are almost always plastic-free materials like cotton or bamboo.

Addressing single-use baby nappies requires a systemic approach from their production to their disposal. Apart from the significant environmental, economic and health issues highlighted, it’s also a social justice issue, as the options with the lowest upfront cost are often those with the most potential to damage our health and planet – and so people with the least economic power have the greatest exposure to these dangerous products.

Everyone should have access to better, safer and circular nappies!