Bradshaw dumps reusables

Two year old report ends two year old campaign

Ex-environment minister Ben Bradshaw has dropped funding for the Real Nappy Campaign. Citing a 2005 Environment Agency report that concluded real nappies were not necessarily better for the environment. The Exeter MP's decision is at odds with other Government departments whose stated aim is reducing landfill waste; not least Defra which the Environment Agency is a part of.

It is estimated that some 67million is spent by councils annually disposing of disposables. Started in 2005 the Real Nappy Program run under the auspices of WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Plan) cost 2.3 million annually to run.

Some have questioned why a report available in 2005 was not acted on sooner, while others have questioned the validity of the reports methodology. Of 2000 people interviewed only 32 used real nappies while the rest used disposables. Additionally researchers assumed 47.5 new nappies per infant. This figure is open to question as are the assumptions that all nappies are bought new, washed at 90C, bleached and ironed.

The conclusions drawn by the report have also been questioned. These include the conclusion that a tenth of real nappy users iron their nappies.

Various commentators have pointed out that even if all of the reports' assumptions and conclusions are correct the Governments response should be to encourage real nappy use but with some additional care guidance such as wash at 60C, no need to bleach or iron etc. Indeed a quick trawl of local government web-services suggests that the real nappy campaign already provides this advice.

For advice on looking after your sustainable supply of real nappies you could do worse than visit here


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