About Nappies
It is currently estimated that between 80 and 90% of the nappies used in the UK are disposable, but reusable nappies are better for the environment, and for baby, cheaper in the long term, and modern designs and materials mean they are easy to use and wash.

Better for baby

Plastic ‘disposable’ nappies contain paper pulp, absorbent gel granules and chemical additives in the plastics and perfumes and concerns are mounting about the possible health risks:
- Sodium polyacrylate, the superabsorber that makes ‘disposables’ so absorbent, was removed from tampons in 1985 because of its link to toxic shock syndrome.
- The gels and chemicals are claimed to be non toxic, however, no independent UK or European testing appears to have been carried out.
- A baby’s skin will absorb more than 60% of what is placed upon it.
- Recent research suggests that plastic disposables keep baby’s testicles at a higher than normal temperature, which might pose a risk to future fertility.

Better for the environment

- Around 4% of all waste is made up by disposable nappies.  In the UK we throw away around 3 billion disposable nappies a year, that’s 8 million a day that go to landfill site near you.
- We are running out of room in landfill sites and as the plastic used in disposable nappies may take up to 500 years to degrade, that means every disposable nappy ever made still exists.  Even when they do decompose, they produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas
- A disposable nappy requires 3.5 times more energy to produce than a washable nappy.
- 7 million trees are forested to produce Britains nappies each year, around 70 square miles of forest.  That’s approx. 4.5 trees per child.
- disposable nappies have almost twice (1.8 times) the environmental impact of home laundered nappies and over two and a half times (2.6 times) that of service laundered nappies.
- Waste prevention at source is the most effective way of reducing our rubbish.

Reusable Nappies

Although traditional square terry towelling nappies are still widely available, pre-folded nappies used with washable or biodegradable liners and brightly coloured waterproof wraps are now the nappy choice for many.
You can kit out your baby in real nappies for the whole of your baby’s nappy wearing life, for the same amount of money as 7 weeks of disposables.

Modern washing machines will adequately clean even the dirtiest nappy at 60 degrees and soaked nappies at 40 degrees.
By using an energy efficient washing machine and leaving nappies to dry naturally, you will not only save on your electricity bill, but also reduce the impact of your nappy cycle on the environment.
By using eco-detergents in the wash and substituting regular fabric softener with white vinegar you will not only reduce the number of chemicals to which your baby is exposed, but will also have softer, more absorbent nappies.
Nappy laundering services are convenient and widely available.

Real nappies are made of natural fabrics such as;
Bamboo is very absorbent and naturally germ and mould resistant, Bamboo has a rapid growth cycle that requires no chemicals and little water; it is naturally bacteria resistant and biodegradable. It has a very high absorbency level and absorbancy increases with washing.
Hemp is a very sturdy and absorbent fibre. They are an economical alternative to cotton because of their superior life span. It is often said that hemp does not wear out, it wears in.