Running until Sunday April 30, the campaign highlights the advantages of using washable nappies, thereby reducing the number of disposable nappies being sent to UK landfill sites.
This year will see 16 fashion shows, 60 “Nappucino” coffee mornings and hundreds of displays run among more than 500 events to highlight the benefits – and bright designs – of modern re-usable nappies.
 The Real Nappy Week campaign has been promoting the use of washable nappies for 10 years |
Run by the Women's Environmental Network, the event is being supported by the Local Government Association this year, with four in every five UK councils on board.
The campaign is being sponsored by WRAP and also supported by the Waste Aware Scotland campaign and Sustainable Wales.
Biba Hartigan of WEN said: “We are bowled over by the level of interest there is in Real Nappy Week this year. So many people have cottoned on to how cute real nappies look, how well they perform, and their potential to save money and save waste. With so many activities and so many styles on display, parents are really spoilt for choice.”
LGA
The LGA said nearly three billion nappies are thrown away each year, with 90% ending up in landfill – costing councils thousands of pounds a year in landfill fees.
The chairman of the LGA's environment board, Cllr David Sparks, said: “It's fantastic that over 80% of UK councils are supporting this year's Real Nappy Week and highlighting the environmental benefits of using reusable nappies.”
“Nearly eight million nappies are thrown away every day in the UK. By opting for washables, as well as saving waste, parents can save an estimated 500 on the cost of nappies for one baby. It can cost at little as 50 to get kitted out with real nappies.”
Many councils run year-round cash incentive schemes encouraging parents to use reusable nappies, Cllr Sparks said. “Paying families to take up reusables gives them the chance to save money, understand they are almost as easy to use as disposable ones and helps reduce damage to the environment in the process,” he explained.
Activities
Among this year's activities, East Sussex county council will be offering free starter packs of washable nappies to all babies born during Real Nappy Week. Buckinghamshire county council is launching a programme handing out washable nappy kits for childminders, and will give 30 cash incentives to the first 30 childminders who switch to real nappies.
| Related links: |
Councils including North West Leicestershire, Christchurch and Wokingham are holding free coffee mornings – known as “Nappuccinos” – where families can find out more about real nappies.
Register for free to comment