Nappies

There is currently a lot of debate around the use of disposable versus reusable nappies. There are environmental effects associated with all types of nappies. The environmental effects of disposable nappies primarily relate to the materials used in their manufacture and how they are disposed of after use, while the environmental impact of reusable nappies is primarily determined by the electricity used in their washing and drying. It is a personal decision for parents to decide on which nappy option they prefer.

A recent update of a report by the United Kingdom Environmental Protection Agency [PDF 172 KB] concluded that reusable nappies can be more environmentally friendly than disposable ones, but that this is determined by how they are used by the consumer. In other words, it’s how you wash and dry your reusable nappies which make the difference as to their environmental impact.

If you’re keen to further reduce the environmental impact of reusable nappies, there are other steps you can take:

• Use an energy efficient washing machine.
• Use an environmentally friendly detergent while avoiding unnecessary chemicals and fabric softeners.
• Air dry nappies instead of using a tumble drier.
• Don't iron them.
• When they are no longer needed, donate them to parents of another baby, sell them or give them away.