News

The coalition Government has announced that it will be carrying out a waste review on current policies and interventions to ensure that we are moving towards a “zero waste” economy an you have an opportunity to input.

The terms of reference for the review talk about waste prevention being necessary to protect the environment and conserve natural resources but also warns that value for money will be key, in order to enable the government to tackle the fiscal deficit.

The Defra led review will set new goals for 2014, 2020 and beyond; and this is a key opportunity to ensure that Real nappies are included in future waste policy.  
Real Nappies could be particularly important in the debate as encouraging their use would help the government to encourage waste prevention and reuse: “stopping waste at its source”.

You can view the full terms of reference for the review here.

Approximately 4% of all waste to landfill is disposable nappies, which equates to 3 billion nappies, weighing nearly 700,000 tonnes.  Disposable nappies are one of the, if not the biggest single identifiable products in the domestic waste stream.

Go Real will be responding to Defra’s Call to Evidence by entering a submission on behalf of the Real Nappy sector.  But you can also have your say as an individual by completing a survey and taking part in online discussions up until 9th September.

Some of the outcomes that we would like to see come out of the waste review are:

Support to help build a national awareness scheme which reaches every parent with high quality Real Nappy information, which eventually can fund itself.

Government backing to support really useful Real Nappy promotional schemes such as trial kits and financial support for parents, across the whole of the UK.

Better information for parents on the most environmental nappy method including clearer advice on the claims behind products and services such as eco-disposables and nappy recycling schemes.

Research into the best way to wash Real Nappies and the potential health benefits and social impacts. 

A commitment from companies producing disposable products to demonstrate greater environmental responsibility, including an investment of profits into providing funding for environmental projects or Real Nappy schemes!

An agreed set of standards for all nappy manufacturers to ensure the whole industry work towards shared environmental and social goals. 

Support for local nappy networks to help them deliver on the ground advice in their local communities.

Increased presence of Real Nappies within the NHS including training for midwives and health visitors, inclusion in antenatal sessions and increased use on maternity wards

Prevention of the monopoly of advertising by disposable companies within the NHS and through supermarket dominance.