19/05/2005 - Parents will
need to do more than just think about the
type of nappy they buy if they want to look
after the environment according to a major
study published today (Thursday) by the Environment
Agency.
The study, which looks at and evaluates the
environmental impacts arising from every stage
of the life cycle of disposable and reusable
nappies, found that there was little or nothing
to choose between them.
Tricia Henton, Director of Environmental
Protection at the Environment Agency said:
“This study was carried out to establish the
true environmental impacts of using disposable
and reusable nappies. Although there is no
substantial difference between the environmental
impacts of the three systems studied, it does
show where each system can be improved.
“We hope manufacturers of disposable nappies
will use this study to improve the environmental
performance of their products, particularly
the quantities going to landfill. Similarly,
if parents using reusables want to improve
their impact on the environment they will
need to look more closely at how they launder
nappies, for instance, can the nappies be
washed in a bigger load at a lower temperature?
“The type of nappy that parents buy is a
matter of personal choice, but it is important
that they can make an informed choice. Studies
like this help to inform people about the
impact that their actions have on the environment.
Life cycle thinking plays an important role
in informing the environmental debate.”
For each nappy type studied, all the materials,
chemicals and energy consumed during manufacture,
use and disposal were identified and the resulting
emissions to the environment accounted for.
The study is based upon an average UK child
wearing nappies for the first two and half
years and is supported by behavioural surveys
carried out in 2002/3 covering more than 2000
parents and guardians of children who use
or have used nappies.
It looked closely at a wide range of activities
associated with disposable and reusable nappies
which affect the environment. These included:
the energy and material used in the manufacture
of the nappy;
the daily number of changes required for the
different types of nappy;
how reusable nappies are washed – temperature,
size of loads, type of detergents etc.
The study, which was carried out by independent
environmental consultants, is the most comprehensive
and thorough independent study of its kind
ever undertaken in the UK.
