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Lifecycle study reveals benefits of reusable nappiesOctober 23, 2008 Reusable nappies can be 40% more environmentally friendly than disposable ones, according to a lifecycle study published by Defra, reports letsrecycle.com This is in stark contrast to a study issued in 2005, which prompted Tricia Henton, head of environmental protection at the Environment Agency, to claim that reusable nappies were no better for the environment than disposable ones. The new report found that disposable nappies, if used for an average of two and a half years, "would result in a global warming impact of approximately 550kg of carbon dioxide" whereas, if reusable nappies were laundered and dried to best practice the carbon impact could be reduced to 470kg. Biba Hartigan, of the Women's Environmental Network (WEN), which established the Real Nappy Campaign, said of the report: "At last, this report supports what WEN has been stating for decades, real nappies are best for the environment with 40% carbon savings to be made over disposables. It's easy to make a difference with a sensible washing routine." The new report is based on modern reusable nappies versus disposable ones and takes into account different washing methods and the most popular types of reusable nappy. The 2005
Environment Agency report came under fire because it was based on old
fashioned terry nappies, not the more widely-used shaped and pre-folded
reusables. |
