Real Nappy Week 2010 gets underway

Events are being held by local authorities, waste companies and community groups nationwide to encourage the use of reusable nappies, while online discussions and question and answer sessions will be run via the website of the real nappy campaign 'Go Real'.

An estimated 690,000 tonnes of nappy waste is created each year, 90% of which goes to landfill, and this year's week aims to show people that using non-disposable nappies, made from materials such as cotton and hemp, isn't an unusual thing by bringing them together to build a “real community” under the banner 'Go Real Together'.

This is the third year that Cornish non-for-profit company ReZolve Kernow has organised the week-long initiative as part of its work running the year-round 'Go Real' campaign, and the second it has done so without funding from the Waste and Resource Action Programme.

Instead, the 'Go Real' campaign is funded by its members, with ReZolve revealing that its membership has grown from 50 members as last year's campaign launched (see letsrecycle.com story), to almost 200, including councils, retailers and manufacturers.

Theme

Speaking to letsrecycle.com about this week's events, the marketing manager for the 'Go Real' campaign, Rebecca Rapson explained that: “This year, our theme is 'Go Real Together', we're aiming to draw together people who already reuse and people who want to reuse.”

Explaining that the aim was to build a “real community”, she said that, as well as staging actual events, the emphasis would be on using online and digital media to allow people to link up and share ideas.

“If you're sat at home thinking about it on your own thinking about, it might seem quite daunting but if you go to an event or our website you can discover it isn't,” she said.

Success

Commenting on whether or not the campaign was succeeded in encouraging people to use reusable nappies, Ms Rapson acknowledged that there were no recent figures to show an increase in participation.

However, she pointed towards 2008 research from Mintel which showed that 9% of families had used reusable nappies at some time, and that an increasing number of real nappy products were available.

“A lot more companies and products are being introduced to the market,” she said. “More high street orders from Boots etc. do point towards market demand.”

She also pointed towards Mothercare and Waitrose as other examples of retailers selling reusable nappies, and added: “Based on anecdotal evidence it does seem to be increasing.”

Ms Rapson noted that new research from Mintel was due out in August that should illustrate exactly how popular reusable nappies were now.

Launch event

This year's campaign is being launched today with what the organisers have dubbed the 'World's Largest Nappucino', being held at the Eden Project in Cornwall, with 'Go Real's patron, Radio 2 presenter Janey Lee Grace and TV presenter Dick Strawbridge appearing.

The event will be filmed and made available live via the Go Real website with the aim of allowing parents in the UK and worldwide to join in and watch demonstrations on how to use real nappies and the benefits of choosing them.

Ms Grace commented: “I am delighted to be involved in this exciting event and I think that it is a fantastic idea to take the idea of a traditionally small, community event and make it so widely accessible through using technology.”

Events

Elsewhere, in Warwickshire, the county's waste partnership is supporting a series of the 'Nappucino' coffee mornings which aim to give parents to be the chance to touch and feel different types of reusable nappies, as well as offering them a discount on purchases made at the events.

And, in London, Southwark council's waste and recycling contractor Veolia ES is running a free baby-themed 'give and take' event on Friday (April 30), where parents and prospective parents can bring along baby toys and clothes they no longer want and swap them for something they do want.

The event will also be attended by a real nappy expert to show how they can be used and explain the benefits of changing over to reusable nappies.

In Devon, Teignbridge district council is holding a 'Real Nappy Roadshow' in Newton Abbot, with events including a search for the 'fastest real nappy changer in the West', where members of the public can compete to be the fastest to change a real nappy on a doll.

There will also be prize draws, advisors on hand to answer questions about real nappies and giant 'nappy mountain' illustrating the 52 tonnes of disposable nappies thrown away ever year.

Ben Bryant, Teignbridge council's recycling officer said: “Real nappies offer huge benefits over their disposable counterparts, saving money and being better for the environment. Real Nappy Week is a great chance for people to find out more, take part in fun competitions and even start a completely free trial.

“We're firm believers that real nappies really are best for babies, the environment and your pocket, and Real Nappy Week is the perfect time for parents to find this out for themselves.”

Community group

Meanwhile, East London community group the Hackney Real Nappy Network is holding a range of events during the week, including a baby cloths and maternity wear swap, a Nappucino and a Real Nappy Party.