Funding crisis signals end to Real Nappy Week campaign

The Network is coming to the end of its government funding to hold the week-long series of events promoting washable nappies.

With three billion nappies thrown away each year, campaigners believe there is still a need to encourage parents to switch to the washable alternative (photo: Cornish Real Nappy Project)

It said: “This is likely to be the last year WEN has the funds to co-ordinate Real Nappy Week, as government funding for real nappy promotion via WRAP ends on 31 March 2007.”

As a result of this funding deadline, the Network has switched this year's Real Nappy Week from its traditional summer slot to the week of March 11.

The group said it had been the victim of its own success, with the re-usable alternatives to disposable nappies increasingly being seen as “mainstream” in British society.

Kay Wagland, real nappies projects officer at WEN, told letsrecycle.com yesterday: “The success of Real Nappy Week has been recognised over the past 10 years and the government has decided to divert resources to waste priorities elsewhere. This means the Women's Environmental Network has received around a tenth of the funding, compared to last year, to co-ordinate this year's campaign.”

Government-funded development organisation WRAP – the Waste and Resources Action Programme – has said that the real nappy campaigning has reduced nappy waste going to landfills by as much as 26,000 tonnes in England alone.

Disposable
But with almost three billion nappies still being thrown away in the UK every year, the Network stressed the continuing need to encourage the alternative.

Ms Wagland said: “While reusable nappies are increasingly being seen as a mainstream option and laundering services are a convenient choice, the market is still dominated by disposable nappies.”

She added: “There is a need to continue reaching to many more parents and carers with accurate information and support about cloth nappies, so they have real choice.”

This year's Real Nappy Week will kick off with a daily nappy fashion shows at the Excel Baby Show in London, organised by WRAP. Other events are likely to include roadshows, “nappuccino” coffee mornings, and real nappy stalls.

Last year's Week – its 10th anniversary – was backed by over 90% of local authorities and saw over 600 events taking place.